broadcasting
C1Neutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
the activity or business of transmitting programmes or information by radio or television.
the distribution of audio or video content to a dispersed audience via any electronic mass communications medium, often now including streaming over the internet.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers primarily to the one-to-many, simultaneous transmission model. Can refer to the industry, the technology, or the act itself. As a gerund/-ing form, it can also function as a verbal noun.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling identical. The institution names differ (e.g., BBC vs. NBC). The term 'broadcast' as the past tense/past participle is more formally accepted in BrE ('broadcasted' is increasingly common in all varieties but sometimes criticised).
Connotations
In the UK, strongly associated with public service broadcasting (BBC). In the US, connotations are more commercial.
Frequency
Similar high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N of N (the broadcasting of news)Adj N (terrestrial broadcasting)V into N (branch into broadcasting)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “crack the airwaves”
- “on the air (related)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Securing broadcasting rights for the tournament is a major investment.
Academic
The study analysed the impact of deregulation on public service broadcasting.
Everyday
I work in broadcasting, for a local radio station.
Technical
The new standard enables 4K UHD broadcasting over existing bandwidth.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The BBC will be broadcasting the concert live tonight.
- They have broadcast this programme for years.
American English
- The network is broadcasting the game in prime time.
- The show was broadcasted on over 200 stations.
adjective
British English
- She had a long broadcasting career.
- The broadcasting standards are set by Ofcom.
American English
- He works in the broadcasting industry.
- FCC regulations govern broadcasting content.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We listened to the news on radio broadcasting.
- The television is broadcasting a film.
- The broadcasting of the football match starts at eight.
- She wants to find a job in broadcasting.
- Digital broadcasting has improved the picture quality significantly.
- The government debated new laws concerning public service broadcasting.
- The advent of streaming services has fundamentally challenged the traditional broadcasting model.
- His thesis critically examines the political economy of transnational broadcasting.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a farmer BROADly CASTING seeds over a field – the signal is sent out broadly to many receivers.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION IS A FLUID (broadcast 'flow', 'airwaves'), DISTRIBUTION IS SCATTERING (broadcast, scatter).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'радиовещание' (only radio) or 'ретрансляция' (relaying). 'Broadcasting' covers both TV and radio. The Russian 'трансляция' is a closer match.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'broadcast' as a countable noun for a single programme (better: broadcast programme/show). Confusing 'broadcasting' (activity) with 'broadcast' (instance/product).
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is a key characteristic of traditional 'broadcasting'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'broadcasted' is widely used and accepted, especially in American English. However, some style guides and traditionalists still prefer 'broadcast' as the past form.
Traditionally, 'broadcasting' implies a one-to-many, simultaneous push of content (like TV/radio). 'Streaming' is a one-to-one, on-demand pull of content over the internet, though the lines are blurring with live streams.
Yes, the term has expanded. 'Webcasting' or 'internet broadcasting' are common terms for transmitting audio/video content live over the internet.
It refers to broadcasting intended for public benefit rather than purely commercial motives, often funded by public means (e.g., licence fees) and guided by principles like universality, independence, and quality (e.g., BBC).
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