free-to-air
No subscription needed
Free-to-air describes television or radio broadcasts that can be received without subscription or payment—just an antenna and a receiver.
The term distinguishes public airwaves from cable, satellite, or streaming services that require fees: Most major sporting events are still available on free-to-air channels.
Common in British and Australian English; Americans more often say "over the air" or "broadcast TV."
Having no limitations
- unencryptedNot in cipher
- no-costRequiring no payment
- complimentaryFree or expressing praise
- gratisAt no expense
available · public · universal · open · unscrambled · accessible · exempt · ad-supported
Broadcast signal receiver
- terrestrialRelating to land
- spectrumContinuous range of values
- transmitterSignal-emitting device
- airwavesRadio frequency spectrum
frequency · reception · signal · analog · digital · network · channels · satellite
Passage for transmission
- networkInterconnected system
- primetimeTelevision's highest-viewership period
- ratingsEvaluative scores assigned
- viewerOne who observes visually
schedule · programming · commercials · news · sitcom · drama · documentary · sports
unrestricted
Having no limitations
- unencryptedNot in cipher
- no-costRequiring no payment
- complimentaryFree or expressing praise
gratis · available · public · universal · open · unscrambled · accessible · exempt · ad-supported
antenna
Broadcast signal receiver
- terrestrialRelating to land
- spectrumContinuous range of values
- transmitterSignal-emitting device
airwaves · frequency · reception · signal · analog · digital · network · channels · satellite · regulation
channel
Passage for transmission
- networkInterconnected system
- primetimeTelevision's highest-viewership period
- ratingsEvaluative scores assigned
viewer · schedule · programming · commercials · news · sitcom · drama · documentary · sports · soap opera
FM
Carrier wave frequency variation
dial · frequency · airtime · DJ · playlist · broadcast · static · modulation · radio show · listener
- satellite TVsatellite dish, satellite signal, dish antenna, DirecTV, Dish Network
- Digital TVHDTV, SDTV, broadcast, satellite TV, cable systems
- commercetrade, banking, merchant, imports, sales
- media genresadventure, comedy, action, documentary, horror
free-to-airpay-per-view
Charged-admission television content
premium · pay TV · paid · paywall · premium cable
free-to-airencrypted
Transformed into cipher
cable · cable television · satellite · scrambled · satellite television
free, air, freedom, freely, freed, freeing, freer, freest, freeman