pay TV

noun

ˈpā-ˈtē-ˈvē How to pronounce pay TV (audio)
: a service providing noncommercial television programming (such as recent movies and entertainment specials) by means of a scrambled signal to subscribers who are provided with a decoder
—often hyphenated when used attributively
a pay-TV operator

called also pay television

compare pay cable, subscription tv

Examples of pay TV in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Heavyweight European broadcasters including RAI, RTVE and ZDF will be there, as well as pay TV outfits including Sky Italia and HBO buyers covering central Europe. — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026 That range factors in average pay TV costs, NFL Sunday Ticket prices and the lowest subscription tiers for Netflix, Peacock and Prime, covering potential schedule changes later in the season. — Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Media companies' most recent earnings reports — including those from WBD and Paramount — once again put on display the ongoing losses for pay TV advertising and distribution revenue streams. — Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026 In fact, subscribers across nearly every major pay TV provider — including recent additions Comcast Xfinity and YouTube TV — can unlock the full ESPN Unlimited tier experience on the ESPN App at no additional cost. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pay TV

Word History

First Known Use

1954, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pay TV was in 1954

Rhymes for pay TV

See All Rhymes for pay TV

Browse Nearby Words

pay tribute/homage to
pay TV
pay up
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pay TV.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pay%20TV. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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