dead air
Plural
dead airs
1
the absence of any sound or broadcast signal on a radio or television channel, resulting in a period of silence or static noise
Dead air refers to a period of complete silence during a broadcast, such as on radio or television, when no sound or activity is present. It can happen unintentionally due to technical issues or pauses in programming, and it is often considered undesirable because it disrupts the flow of the broadcast and can cause the audience to lose interest. Dead air is usually avoided by ensuring continuous sound, whether through speech, music, or other audio.
- During the live radio show, there was an awkward moment of dead air when the host forgot their lines.
- The technician quickly fixed the issue to avoid too much dead air during the podcast.
- The news channel filled the dead air with background music until the reporter was ready.
- The audience grew restless because the dead air on the broadcast lasted several minutes.
- The sudden dead air made everyone think the live stream had stopped working.