appointment television: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Journalistic, Media Analysis, Informal Academic
Quick answer
What does “appointment television” mean?
A specific television program or event that viewers make a point to watch at its scheduled broadcast time, rather than catching it later or on-demand.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific television program or event that viewers make a point to watch at its scheduled broadcast time, rather than catching it later or on-demand.
A cultural or media phenomenon referring to highly anticipated, widely discussed programming that drives real-time viewing and communal experience, often seen as a counter-trend to on-demand streaming.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood and used in both varieties, but is more frequently employed in American media discourse. The concept is equally relevant.
Connotations
In both varieties, it implies quality, event-status, and cultural importance. Slightly more nostalgic in UK usage, given the strong history of scheduled broadcasting on the BBC.
Frequency
More common in American English media writing (e.g., reviews, industry analysis).
Grammar
How to Use “appointment television” in a Sentence
[Show X] is/was appointment television.The era of appointment television.to constitute appointment televisionVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “appointment television” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The show practically demands to be appointment-viewed.
- We appointment-view 'Strictly' every Saturday.
American English
- Fans appointment-watch the series finale together.
- It's not a show you can appointment-view; you just stream it later.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in media industry analysis to discuss programming strategy and audience engagement metrics.
Academic
Found in media studies, sociology, and cultural criticism discussing consumption patterns and communal experience.
Everyday
Used by viewers and in casual conversation to describe a show they always watch live.
Technical
Not typically a technical term; used descriptively rather than in engineering contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “appointment television”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “appointment television”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “appointment television”
- Using it to describe any popular show, rather than one specifically driving live, scheduled viewing. Confusing it with 'binge-worthy' (which is the opposite).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While live sports are a prime example, the term more broadly applies to scripted series, awards shows, or news events where a significant audience deliberately watches the initial broadcast.
It strongly implies a high level of audience anticipation and cultural relevance, which is often associated with quality, but it's more about viewing behaviour than an objective quality judgement.
Yes, but in a modified sense. If a streaming service releases episodes weekly (not all at once) and a large audience watches each episode soon after release, it can create a similar 'appointment' dynamic, sometimes called 'appointment streaming'.
As on-demand viewing dominates, the concept is increasingly nostalgic. However, it is still used to describe shows that buck the trend and generate live, synchronous viewership and discussion.
A specific television program or event that viewers make a point to watch at its scheduled broadcast time, rather than catching it later or on-demand.
Appointment television is usually journalistic, media analysis, informal academic in register.
Appointment television: in British English it is pronounced /əˈpɔɪnt.mənt ˈtɛl.ɪ.vɪʒ.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈpɔɪnt.mənt ˈtel.ə.vɪʒ.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Show X] is the last bastion of appointment television.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of making an 'appointment' with your TV set at a specific time – you wouldn't miss it.
Conceptual Metaphor
TELEVISION VIEWING IS A SCHEDULED MEETING / SHARED RITUAL.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes 'appointment television'?