<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-09-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001166789</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LIN TV CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TVL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001231106</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHAPMAN GARY R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O LIN TV CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>FOUR RICHMOND SQUARE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PROVIDENCE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>RI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02906</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman, President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock (Restricted)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-09-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2005-09-15</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>52222</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.01</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>127373</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted shares are awarded pursuant to the 2002 Amended &amp; Restated Stock Plan.  The shares are subject to forfeiture and are non-transferable until vested.  The shares vest in five (5) equal installments provided however, that vesting may be accelerated to three (3) equal installments or forfeited completely should the company achieve or fail to achieve certain financial targets.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 4,244 shares acquired through the LIN TV Employee Stock Purchase Plan via monthly payroll deductions at prices ranging from $13.17 to $20.86.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Peter E. Maloney, Attorney-in-fact for Gary R. Chapman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
