an initial airing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an initial airing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the first presentation or broadcast of something, such as a show, idea, or topic. Example: "The documentary received an initial airing on national television last night, attracting a large audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But after an initial airing that's usually it.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

After an initial air and seabed search failed to find any trace of the wreckage, authorities this month announced a new phase over a vastly expanded seabed search area covering 60,000 square kilometers (23,000 square miles).

Independent

If the 39-year-old's arrival at Anfield was met with an initial air of scepticism, that has given way to a quiet sense of optimism, of hope.

BBC

"Time Enough at Last" was a ratings success in its initial airing and "became an instant classic".

Wikipedia

It received a 3.7/10 Nielsen rating/share in the 18 49 demographic, and attracted 9.07 million American viewers during its initial airing, an increase of over 20% from the 3.1/8 rating/share and 7.50 million viewers of the previous episode, "Yes/No", which was broadcast on January 17 , 2012

Wikipedia

It received a 3.0/8 Nielsen rating/share in the 18 49 demographic, and attracted 7.46 million American viewers during its initial airing, an increase over the 2.8/8 rating/share and 6.99 million viewers of the previous episode, which was broadcast on February 14 , 2012

Wikipedia

These ratings, called "live plus seven", include all viewers who use a DVR to record the show and then watch it within a week of its initial airing.

Wikipedia

NMR reported that 30 Rock adds nearly 7.5% to its total audience every week as a result of viewers who use a DVR to record the show and then watch it within a week of its initial airing.

Wikipedia

It received a 2.7/8 Nielsen rating/share in the 18 49 demographic, and attracted 6.76 million American viewers during its initial airing, a decrease of approximately 10% from the 3.0/8 rating/share and 7.46 million viewers of the previous episode, "On My Way", which was broadcast on February 21 , 2012

Wikipedia

It received a 2.8/8 Nielsen rating/share in the 18 49 demographic, and attracted 6.99 million American viewers during its initial airing, a significant decrease from the 3.3/9 rating/share and 7.81 million viewers of the previous episode, which was broadcast on February 7 , 2012 and the lowest rating of the third season to date.

Wikipedia

It received a 3.3/9 Nielsen rating/share in the 18 49 demographic, and attracted 7.81 million American viewers during its initial airing, a significant decrease from the 3.7/10 rating/share and 9.07 million viewers of the previous episode, the Michael Jackson tribute "Michael", which was broadcast on January 31 , 2012

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing television or radio programs, use "an initial airing" to clearly indicate the first broadcast of a specific episode or show.

Common error

Avoid using "an initial airing" when simply referring to regular broadcasts or reruns. This phrase should specifically denote the very first time something was broadcast.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an initial airing" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It describes the first instance a program or episode is broadcast. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Wiki

52%

News & Media

47%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an initial airing" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, typically employed to denote the very first broadcast of a television episode or show. While not exceedingly common, Ludwig AI demonstrates that it finds usage in both news and media contexts. It's advisable to reserve this phrase for instances where you specifically want to emphasize that it was the first time something was broadcast, and not merely a rerun or later showing. Alternatives like "premiere broadcast" or "first broadcast" can be used interchangeably in many contexts. Understanding its specific meaning and context ensures clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

premiere broadcast

Replaces 'airing' with 'broadcast' and 'initial' with 'premiere', emphasizing the first public transmission.

debut showing

Substitutes 'airing' with 'showing', indicating a first-time presentation or screening.

first broadcast

Omits "initial" for brevity, retaining the core meaning of the first transmission.

original broadcast

Replaces "initial" with "original", signifying the first instance of the broadcast.

maiden broadcast

Uses "maiden" instead of "initial", suggesting the inaugural broadcast.

first showing

Replaces broadcast with showing maintaining the original meaning.

inaugural telecast

Replaces airing with telecast and initial with inaugural indicating the first television broadcast.

first screening

Emphasizes the first instance of a film or video being shown.

launch broadcast

Emphasizes the start or beginning of airing.

introductory broadcast

Replaces initial with introductory to describe the first airing.

FAQs

How can I use "an initial airing" in a sentence?

You can use "an initial airing" to refer to the first broadcast of a television show, for example: "The episode's ratings were high during its "an initial airing"".

What's the difference between "an initial airing" and "a premiere"?

"An initial airing" refers specifically to the first broadcast of a show or episode, while "a premiere" refers to the very first public presentation, which can be at a film festival or special event before the official broadcast.

Which is correct, "initial airing" or "first airing"?

Both "initial airing" and "first airing" are correct and commonly used. They are often interchangeable, though "initial airing" might slightly emphasize the formal start or introduction of the program.

What can I say instead of "an initial airing"?

You can use alternatives like "premiere broadcast", "debut showing", or "first broadcast" depending on the context.