dead air
Unplanned transmission gap
Dead air is silence during a broadcast when there should be sound—a gap in radio or television programming where nothing transmits.
It can result from technical failure, a missed cue, or simply running out of material.
Broadcasters dread dead air because it signals something has gone wrong: The host froze and we had five seconds of dead air.
The term extends to any awkward silence in conversation.
Without motion or change
- microphoneAudio input device
- transmitterSignal-emitting device
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
broadcast · radio · television · studio · technical difficulty · outage · feedback · distortion
Shrink from discomfort
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- discomfortMild physical or mental distress
- awkwardnessLack of grace or ease
flustered · self-conscious · gaffe · faux pas · stammering · fumbling · pregnant pause · nervous laugh
Scheduled performance pause
- breakInterrupt continuity
- lullTemporary period of quiet
- gapUnfilled space between
- stoppageInterruption of flow
halt · cessation · interval · downtime · standstill · suspension · beat · moment of silence
Anxious uncertainty about outcomes
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
unease · nervousness · pressure · edginess · trepidation · waiting · uncertainty · dramatic pause
static
Without motion or change
- microphoneAudio input device
- transmitterSignal-emitting device
- frequencyRate of recurrence
interference · broadcast · radio · television · studio · technical difficulty · outage · feedback · distortion · carrier wave
cringe
Shrink from discomfort
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- discomfortMild physical or mental distress
awkwardness · flustered · self-conscious · gaffe · faux pas · stammering · fumbling · pregnant pause · nervous laugh · trailing off
intermission
Scheduled performance pause
stoppage · halt · cessation · interval · downtime · standstill · suspension · beat · moment of silence · timing
suspense
Anxious uncertainty about outcomes
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
apprehension · unease · nervousness · pressure · edginess · trepidation · waiting · uncertainty · dramatic pause · buildup
- media errorstypo, misquote, factual error, misspelling, correction
- broadcasting rulesFCC, broadcast license, broadcast spectrum, broadcasting license, license renewal
- televisionTV, television, broadcast, TV shows, TV series
- Media Termsbreaking news, TV show, sound bite, press release, comic strip
- radioFM radio, crystal set, AM radio, radio station, radio broadcast
- broadcast termsprimetime, commercial, ad slot, radio spot, TV spot
dead airlive broadcast
Transmission happening right now
programming · background music · audio feed · broadcast signal · station identification
air, death, airy, airs, airing, aired, deaden, deathly, airless