A period during a broadcast where no audio or video signal is transmitted, resulting in complete silence or a blank screen. It is usually caused by equipment failure, operator error, or a dropped feed. Broadcasters consider it a severe fault because listeners often assume the station has gone offline and will tune to another frequency.
Heard on the job
We had ten seconds of dead air when the automation system crashed before the backup tape kicked in.
Insider tip
Automated silence sensors are routinely installed at transmitter sites to trigger backup audio if dead air lasts more than a few seconds.