off-ˈair, a. and adv.
[off- 4 b, off prep. + air n.1]
A. adj. a. Operating on a closed circuit; not involving the broadcasting of programmes.
| 1961 Times 2 June 14/6 (Advt.), The ship of the year..relies on Marconi Marine..for closed circuit television. A completely co-ordinated internal and ‘off-air’ television system—..providing passengers with closed circuit telecine and live television programmes. |
b. Involving the transmission of programmes by broadcasting.
| 1971 Morning Star 10 Dec. 4/1 An attempt to prevent the allocation to ITV of Britain's last off-air television channel. 1975 ITV Evidence to Annan Committee i. 30 The cable companies are eager..to deliver programmes into homes by cable rather than from off-air transmission by the IBA and the BBC. 1977 Rep. Comm. Future of Broadcasting (Cmnd. 6753) xiv. 218 The Cable Television Association..saw no reason why those who currently contribute to off-air television should not also participate in programme making for cable television. |
c. Carried out or done from received broadcast transmissions.
| 1973 B.B.C. Handbk. 1974 45/2 The off-air recording of educational programmes by educational institutions is another problem. 1980 Amat. Photographer 15 Mar. 119 (caption) Transferring film to video tape... Tuner/timer (for ‘off-air’ recording). |
B. adv. From broadcast transmissions.
| 1974 Author Winter 149 A video cassette player/recorder..will..record off-air (you can record BBC 1 while watching ITV or BBC 2). 1975 ITV Evidence to Annan Committee i. 31 The cable companies, if they are to offer anything more than is already available off-air, will be forced to provide a menu of feature films and big sporting occasions. 1977 Gramophone June 124/1 The BBC's Matrix H tapes (including one recorded ‘off-air’) were as good a compromise as I have heard. |