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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-05-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001259724</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BRODSKY PETER S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O HICKS, MUSE, TATE &amp; FURST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>200 CRESCENT COURT, SUITE 1600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock (restricted)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.17</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.17</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23417287</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See attached footnotes 3, 4, &amp; 5</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.17</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.17</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-05-05</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-05-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares were awarded pursuant to the Amended &amp; Restated 2002 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan.  The shares are subject to forfeiture and are non-transferable until vested.  The shares vest in five (5) equal annual installments.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options were granted pursuant to the Amended &amp; Restaed 2002 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan.  The options are subject to forfeiture and are non-transferable until vested.  The options vest in four (4) equal annual installments.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes shares held by the following persons or entities that are or may be deemed to be affiliated with Hicks, Muse, Tate &amp; Furst Incorporated:  (i) 18,122,110 shares held of record by Hicks, Muse, Tate &amp; Furst Equity Fund III, L.P., a limited partnership of which the ultimate general partner is Hicks, Muse Fund III Incorporated, (ii) 236,980 shares held of record by HM3 Coinvestors, L.P., a limited partnership of which the ultimate general partner is Hicks, Muse Fund III Incorporated, (iii) 4,692,329 shares held of recrod by Hicks, Muse, Tate &amp; Furst Equity Fund IV, LP., a limited partnership of which the ultimate general partner is Hicks, Muse Latin America Fund I Incorporated, (iv) 31,562 shares held of record by Hicks, Muse, Tate &amp; Furst Private Equity fund IV, L.P., a limited partnership of which the ultimate general partner is Hicks, Muse Latin America Fund I Incorporated, (v) 72,820 shares held of record by HM4-EQ Coinvestors, L.P., a limited partnership of which the ultimate</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">general partner is Hicks, Muse Fund IV, LLC, (vi) 13,016 shares held of record by HM-4EN Coinvestors, L.P., a limited partnership of which the ultimate general partner is Hicks, Muse Fund IV, LLC, (vii) 8,329 shares held of record by HM4-P Coinvestors, L.P., a limited partnership of which the ultimate general partner is Hicks, Muse Fund IV, LLC, (vii) 127 shares held of record by HM 1-FOF Coinvestors, L.P., a limited partnership of which the ultimate general partner is Hicks, Muse Latin America Fund I Incorporated, and (ix) 123,466 shares held of record by Hicks, Muse &amp; Co. Partners, L.P., a limited partnership of which the ultimate general partner is HM Partners Inc.

Peter Brodsky is an executive officer of Hicks, Muse, Tate &amp; Furst Incorporated, Hicks, Muse Fund III Incorporated, Hicks, Muse Latin America Fund I Incorporated, and Hicks Muse Fund IV, LLC.  Mr. Brodsky disclaims beneficial ownership of shares not owned of record by him, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">therein.  In addition, Jack D. Furst and John R. Muse are partners, stockholders and, together with Thomas O. Hicks, members of the management committee of Hicks, Muse, Tate &amp; furst Incorporated and, accordingly, may be deemed to beneficially own all or a portion of the shares held of record by the entities listed above.  Each of Messrs. Furst, Muse, and Hicks disclaims the existence of a group and disclaims beneficial ownership of shares of common stock not owned of record by him.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Peter E. Maloney, Attorney-in-fact for Peter S. Brodsky</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
