community antenna television: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 / Low FrequencyTechnical / Historical
Quick answer
What does “community antenna television” mean?
An early cable television system that used a central, shared antenna to receive broadcast signals and distribute them via coaxial cable to subscribers within a community.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An early cable television system that used a central, shared antenna to receive broadcast signals and distribute them via coaxial cable to subscribers within a community.
The historical precursor to modern cable TV, where a master antenna system serviced an area with poor over-the-air reception. The term is now largely historical, with its acronym CATV being used to refer generically to cable television.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The technology developed slightly later in the UK and the full phrase is even rarer there. The term 'cable television' is standard in both. In North America, the term has historical significance as the origin point of the cable industry.
Connotations
Primarily historical/technical in AmE; virtually unused in BrE where 'cable' suffices. In AmE, it can evoke nostalgia for early television technology.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in current use in both varieties. The acronym 'CATV' is more common in technical specifications and industry jargon globally.
Grammar
How to Use “community antenna television” in a Sentence
The [PLACE] had community antenna television.[COMPANY] provided community antenna television to [PLACE].Community antenna television was essential in [AREA WITH POOR RECEPTION].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “community antenna television” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The community-antenna television provider upgraded its network.
American English
- He worked in the community antenna television business in the 1960s.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, used only in historical company profiles or legacy industry documents.
Academic
Found in media history, telecommunications, or technology studies papers discussing the mid-20th century.
Everyday
Virtually never used. An elderly person might recall it.
Technical
Used in a limited way within the cable industry to refer to foundational technology; 'CATV' is the standard technical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “community antenna television”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “community antenna television”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “community antenna television”
- Using it as a current term instead of a historical one.
- Confusing it with 'satellite television'.
- Incorrectly parsing it as 'community-antenna television' (with a hyphen) in modern writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is the original form of cable TV. Modern cable TV has evolved far beyond simple antenna signal redistribution to include satellite feeds, fibre optics, and digital services.
It marks the historical origin of the cable television industry, representing the shift from purely broadcast, public airwaves to subscription-based, wired content delivery.
No, it is an obsolete term in everyday language. You will only encounter it in historical or very specific technical contexts. The acronym 'CATV' is still used in the industry.
They evolved into modern cable television systems using hybrid fibre-coaxial networks, digital signals, and offering broadband internet and telephony, far beyond their original purpose of improving broadcast reception.
An early cable television system that used a central, shared antenna to receive broadcast signals and distribute them via coaxial cable to subscribers within a community.
Community antenna television is usually technical / historical in register.
Community antenna television: in British English it is pronounced /kəˌmjuː.nə.ti ænˈte.nə ˈtel.ɪ.vɪʒ.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˌmjuː.nə.t̬i ænˈten.ə ˈtel.ə.vɪʒ.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a single large ANTENNA on a hill, serving the entire COMMUNITY with TELEVISION signals through cables – that's the core idea.
Conceptual Metaphor
TELEVISION AS A SHARED UTILITY (like water or electricity, delivered via a communal infrastructure).
Practice
Quiz
What does the acronym CATV originally stand for?