Page 157 - English Vocabulary in Use (Pre & Intermediate)

45 Television

A Operating a television

t,o

plug it in turn it on (# turn it off) remote control
You may also want to turn it up (= increase the volume because you can’t hear) (# turn it
down); and turn over (= change to a different channel, e.g. from 1 to 3)
Note: You can also say switch on, switch off, or switch over (but mot switch it up/down).
Types of programme

Here are some types of TV programme:
Soap opera: a programme often on two or three times a week, which follows the lives of a
group/community of people; the stories are often exciting, dramatic and hard to believe.
Quiz show or Game show: individuals, teams or families who answer questions or play
different games against each other. The winner gets a prize, e.g. a car, a holiday, money.
Chat show: a programme where a presenter talks to famous people about their lives and
careers; sometimes there is music as well.
Documentary: a film with factual information, often analysing a problem in society.
A series: a number of programmes about the same situation or the same characters in
different situations. This may be a comedy series (the programmes are intended to be
funny), or a drama series (the programmes are intended to be exciting, with interesting
characters and situations).
Current affairs programme: a programme about a current social/political problem. Current
means that it is happening ‘now / at the present time’.

TV in Great Britain

At the moment there are five ‘terrestrial’ channels (or stations)
on TV (BBC 1, BBC 2, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5). If you
pay extra, you can have a satellite dish and receive satellite TV;
or pay to have cable TV — there are many channels available.

Talking TV
Here are some useful words and phrases connected with television:
What's on TV tonight? (= what programmes are showing on TV tonight?)
What time’s the film on? (= what time does it start?)
How long do the commercials last? (= the advertisements between programmes)
What’s your favourite programme? (= the programme you like most/best)
Are they showing the game live (= as it happens) or just recorded highlights? (= parts of the
game after it has been played, e.g. later in the day/evening)
How much is a TV licence? (= money you have to pay the government if you have a TV)

154 English Vocabulary in Use (pre-intermediate & intermediate)