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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-05-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001459619</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Mohamed Nicholas N</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O LIN TV CORP,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE WEST EXCHANGE STREET, SUITE 5A</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PROVIDENCE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>RI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02903</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP Controller</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock  (Restricted Stock)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-05-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>65681</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>71281</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted shares were awarded pursuant to the amended and restated 2002 Stock Plan. The shares are subject to forfeiture and are non-transferable until vested. The shares vest in four (4) equal annual installments from the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This number includes 70,781 restricted shares awarded pursuant to the amended and restated 2002 Stock Plan. These shares remain subject to forfeiture and are nontransferable until vested. The shares vest over four (4) years from the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Katherine M. Whalen, Attorney-in-fact for Nicholas N. Mohamed</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
