background fodder

noun

background fodder

noun

1

A work or medium used (mostly) for the purpose of boosting the enjoyment of another medium.

He listened to music on his media player while he worked out on the treadmill: a classic use of background fodder.
Yet, a richer diversity of song texture and timbre would elevate this 12-track collection from gorgeous, atmospheric background fodder to a set that reverberates with more distinction.2002, Billboard, volume 114, number 23, page 35:

1 more example

In the refocused narrative of King Arthur's Knights, Malory's larger Arthuriad—from the sword in the stone to the final conflict between Arthur and Mordred—becomes background fodder for Gareth's foreground adventures.2013, Michael N. Salda, Arthurian Animation: A Study of Cartoon Camelots on Film and Television:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.