rebroadcast
C1Formal, Technical, Media
Definition
Meaning
To broadcast (a radio or television programme) again.
To transmit or disseminate information, data, or a signal again, either in its original form or with modifications. Can also refer to the act or instance of such a repeated transmission.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in media and telecommunications contexts. As a noun, it refers to the repeated programme itself. The past tense and past participle can be either 'rebroadcast' or 'rebroadcasted', with 'rebroadcast' being more common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The term 'repeat' is more common in everyday UK TV listings, while 'rebroadcast' is often used in technical/industry contexts in both regions.
Connotations
In both, implies a scheduled, official repeat, not just a casual replay. In US media, may be associated with syndication or network scheduling strategies.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English in technical/industry writing. In general conversation, 'repeat' is dominant in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] rebroadcast [Object] (e.g., The station rebroadcast the documentary).[Subject] rebroadcast [Object] to [Recipient] (e.g., They rebroadcast the signal to rural areas).[Subject] rebroadcast [Object] on [Channel/Date] (e.g., They will rebroadcast the debate on Friday).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this word.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Discussions of syndication rights, content licensing, and broadcast scheduling.
Academic
In media studies, discussing programming strategies or signal distribution.
Everyday
Checking TV listings for when a missed programme will be shown again.
Technical
In engineering, referring to signal amplification and retransmission by a relay station.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The BBC will rebroadcast the classic series next month.
- The signal is rebroadcast from a local relay mast.
American English
- The network decided to rebroadcast the championship game on Saturday.
- The podcast was rebroadcast by several affiliate stations.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
American English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The rebroadcast episode attracted a smaller audience.
- We secured the rebroadcast rights for five years.
American English
- Check the rebroadcast schedule on our website.
- There was a rebroadcast fee for the syndicated content.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I missed the show. Will it be on again?
- They showed the football match again yesterday.
- The documentary is so popular that the channel will show it again next week.
- If you missed the live event, you can watch the repeat on Sunday.
- The station has scheduled a rebroadcast of the interview due to high public demand.
- International broadcasters often buy the rights to rebroadcast successful series.
- The regulatory framework governs how often a network can rebroadcast imported content.
- The satellite company was fined for illegally rebroadcasting the encrypted signal.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE (again) + BROADCAST. It's simply broadcasting something again.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISSEMINATION IS SOWING (seeding the airwaves again).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'перевещать' which is not standard. Use 'повторная трансляция' (noun) or 'повторять/ретранслировать в эфире' (verb).
- Do not confuse with 'replay' (повтор) which is more general and often used for sports highlights or recorded video.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'rebroadcasted' as the only past form (both are acceptable, but 'rebroadcast' is often preferred).
- Confusing 'rebroadcast' (scheduled repeat) with 'livestream' (real-time online transmission).
- Misspelling as 're-broadcast' (the hyphen is less common in modern usage).
Practice
Quiz
In a technical telecommunications context, 'rebroadcast' most specifically refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are acceptable, but 'rebroadcast' (unchanged) is generally more common and often preferred in edited writing, similar to 'broadcast'.
They are largely synonymous. 'Rebroadcast' sounds more technical or formal and is favoured in industry contexts, while 'repeat' is the everyday term used in TV listings.
Yes, it's increasingly used for scheduled repeats of live-streamed events or podcast episodes, though 're-stream' or 'replay' are also common.
Typically yes, but it can include minor updates like new advertisements or corrected captions. A significantly edited version would more likely be called a 'new edition' or 'updated version'.