Television or The Television

Which of the following is correct?

• Is there anything on the television tonight?
• Is there anything on television tonight?

The second sentence without the article THE is correct. Why?

When we talk about television in the sense of television programs (UK = programmes) that are broadcast (= transmitted), we DO NOT use the article THE.

• Television became widely available in the 1950s.
• I wonder what is on television tonight.

The word TV (written with capital letters) is pronounced as the individual letters T – V (which sounds like Te-Ve). This use is more common than saying the complete word “television” which has 4 syllables.

• There was a good movie on TV last night.

Sometimes we informally call the television ‘Tele’

• What’s on tele tonight?

BUT…

We use the article THE when we refer to television as the device or the piece of furniture.

• Don’t put the glass on the television, the water may spill onto it.
• The television didn’t fit in the wall unit.
• Don’t sit so close to the TV.

When we talk about more than one television, or televisions in a general sense, we don’t use the article THE.

• While televisions were available in the 1930s, their popularity only increased during the late 1940s.

Summary Chart

I hope this helped you understand when to use the article THE with the word TELEVISION.

Do you watch television to improve your English?

from Woodward English http://www.woodwardenglish.com/television-or-the-television/