‘The’ and the omission of ‘the’ in media and entertainment – key and notes

When to use the and when not to use the in media and entertainment forms. Can you write down these examples of the and the omission of the in media and entertainment?

• Television, radio, cinema and theatre are used without the when we refer to them in very general terms as art forms or as professions:

1 He works in media.
2 I prefer theatre to film.
3 He went into radio.
4 She’s in theatre.

We say the same if someone is in hospital, carrying out or having an operation. Eg "Doctor Kenny’s in theatre all morning, I’m afraid."

5 He’s hoping to get into film.
6 A lot of actors prefer radio to television.
7 Molly stepped from amateur theatre directly into a leading West-End theatre.

The West End is an area in London where most of the UK’s largest mainstream professional theatres are found. It is similar to the American term ‘Broadway’ which is a street in New York. We use the term in the same way – "He’s on Broadway" "The play’s gone to the West End." In the example above the West End is used adjectivally, hence the hyphen.

• In general, television or TV is used without the when we refer to the medium itself or programmes:

8 "Did you see Eastenders on TV?"
9 One of the people I hate most on (the) television is Janice Chorley.

• But if we’re referring to the TV set itself then we use the:

10 We turned the TV on this morning / We turned the radio on this morning to find out what had happened.

• With radio, cinema, theatre, Web / web and Internet / internet it is normal to use the in most situations:

11 I buy a lot of my clothes on the Internet / internet these days.
12 You can find out train times on the Web / web.
13 It’s got a cinema as well, so people go to the cinema there instead of going into town.

Now for some listening
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