Linear TV is the scheduled, channel-based model the viewer joins in progress: a programmed lineup plays on a timeline set by the operator, and you watch whatever is airing now, rather than picking a title on demand. It is the opposite of VOD's pick-and-play. On the open internet, linear survives in two forms: traditional broadcast/cable channels simulcast over IP, and FAST channels built natively for streaming.
Engineering a linear channel means continuous playout and scheduling: assembling content (live feeds and pre-recorded assets) into an uninterrupted 24/7 stream, generating an electronic program guide, and inserting ads or local content at scheduled break points using SCTE-35 markers.
Linear is appealing because it removes choice fatigue — there is always something on — and because its predictable schedule makes ad inventory easy to plan and sell. Most modern OTT platforms run linear and on-demand side by side from the same content library.
