Words / B1

VYOO-uh/ˈvjuːə/

A viewer watches television (or sometimes online video): viewers complained; viewer figures; a TV viewer. Listener is for radio; audience can be TV, theatre, or a lecture; a spectator watches sport live. View is what you see from a window — different. Do not use viewer for someone reading a newspaper. Complaints to Ofcom often come from viewers.

Meaning

A person who watches television.

Examples

• “Viewers complained that the debate was not fair to both sides.”
• “Viewers wanted an apology after the live debate turned into a shouting match.”
• “Overnight viewer figures fell when the soap opera changed channel.”

Good to know

TV viewer; viewer figures. Radio: listener. Live sport: spectator. General: audience. Newspaper: reader. Not a window view.

Near in meaning

audience

New