Definitions - TV Forum

A

ABC - Australian Broadcasting Corporation, American Broadcasting Company
ANI - ANImate; command for graphics to change to the next image
Animation - A BBC name for a shorter identifier that runs before trails rather than programmes.
ARC - Aspect Ratio Converter. Changes 16:9 widescreen to 4:3 ratio and back
Aspect Ratio - ratio of width to height
Aston - Name caption or "super" (superimposition) or CG
Audio Description - A special sound channel which is used by certain programmes to include the addition of a narrative voice for those with sight difficulties
AVID - Apple Mac non-linear computer video editing system

B

BASYS - BBC News text based scripting system. Replaced by ENPS
BASYS - Old News scripting tool
BBC - British Broadcasting Corporation
BETA - Videotape format
BETACART - Multiple tape storage/automation system used to transmit Beta tapes
BIGTED - Gallery device which creates and display Astons or name captions
BLACK & SILENCE - (B&B;Black & Burst) A source which provides pure black video, correct Burst and no audio
BNCS - Broadcast News Control System; routes sources from one place to another. Can also control equipment at a basic level
BOTH - Bottom of the Hour (xx:30)
BSB - British Satellite Broadcasting - UK's only official government approved DTH satellite service. Concived in the mid-80s, it launched with five television channels in April 1990. It later merged with Sky Television on 31st October 1990 to become BSkyB
BUG - DINGO

C

CA - Continuity Announcer. A broadcaster whose voice is heard between programmes
CAM - Conditional Access Module - hardware used to decrypt encrypted channels, when authorised to do so with a valid smartcard.
CAP - Caption Graphic (old terminology); a picture or still
CG - Caption Graphic = Aston = Super
CI - Common Interface - a socket used for adding additional hardware, usally adding a CAM to a STB.
CNN - Cable News Network (weblink)
CODDED 2-WAY - Recording a 2-way (DTL) non-sequentially; answers recorded in vision with presenter questions recorded and added later
COLUMBUS - Command processor that runs the transmission automation system
CTA - Central Technical Area. Area which routes sources and destinations

D

DCART - Digital audio recording and storage device
DIGIGRADE - Same as TARIF but settings stored and remembered for later retrieval
Digital 3&4 - Service operating digital terrestrial multiplex 2. Consist a joint ownership of ITV and Channel 4.
DINGO - Digitally originated In News Graphics On screen. Full colour version of DOG. Also known as BUG
DNC1 - Digital Network Control 1
DOG - Digitally Originated Graphic. Used for insets and channel idents (Also: bug)
DONUT - Sequence in which reporter at OS introduces a package and ends with a 2-way
DSK - Down Stream Keyer. Part of vision chain, normally on vision mixer, where Astons, DOGs and DINGOs are inserted
DST - DSat - Digital Satellite Television
DTH - Direct To Home - satellite broadcasts intened for home viewing
DTL - Down The Line (2-way) An interview with a contributor at an Outside Source
DTT - Digital Terrestrial Television (Freeview in the UK)
DTV - Digital Television
dual illumination - Dual Illumination is when two uplinks try and use the same transponder
DVB - Digital Video Broadcasting

E

ECP - End Credit Promotion
ENG - Electronic News Gathering; Same as FRV
ENPS - Electronic News Production System - the news computer system developed jointly by BBC and AP. Replaced with OpenMedia
ENPS - Electronic News Production System - the News computer system developed jointly by BBC and AP
EPG - Electronic Programme Guide
EPG - Electronic Program Guide

F

FEEDS - Pictures sent by circuits from News Organisations
FRV - Fast Response Vehicle; Vehicle equipped to record and transmit from any location
FTA - Free To Air - television channel broadcasting that is viewable to any person with suitable equipment
FTV - Free To View - a channel broadcasting with encryption, but without any fee payable to view it

G

GFX - Graphics
GLITS - Grahams Line Identifier Test Signal. Standard test used to check stereo audio chain. Left and Right legs at -3db. When combined into mono equal 0db (PPM 4)
GSB - Granada Sky Broadcasting - provider of Granada branded channels; Granada Plus, Granada Breeze and Granada Men & Motors. Ownership consists of 51% GMG and 49% BSkyB

H

HAL - Graphics moving image processor produced by Quantel
HD - High Definition
HDTV - High Definition Television

I

Ident - An identification symbol (ident or symbol) is the name given to that which identifies a channel, traditionally the bit shown before a programme starts.
iDSTV - Integrated Digital Satellite Television - similar to an iDTV, but with a built-in digital satellite tuner
ITC - Independant Television Commission - regulator of UK-based television channels, UK cable and the UK's DTT platform

J

K

L

Lambie-Nairn - Design company. They have produced the current BBC logo as well as idents for BBC One, BBC Two and the original C4 'Bricks' ident amongst others. (weblink)
Live Link - An outside source to be available live on air
LNB - Low Noise Block-Downconverter - box on the end of a satellite dish's arm used in the process of satellite reception
LWT - London Weekend Television - franchise holder of weekend ITV programming for the London area.

M

Mediahighway - Operating system used by digital terrestrial STBs and iDTVs
MPEG - Moving Pictures Expert Group

N

N6 - Previously the BBC News studio for BBC One/News Channel at Television Centre
N8 - Previously the BBC World News studio at Television Centre
NAGRA - small audio recorder
NON-LINEAR - Digital information allowing easy re-ordering of material usually video and audio

O

OB - Outside Broadcast
OMNIBUS - Digital system for picture processing. Columbus being a sub-system
OOV - Out Of Vision - Presenter voice is heard underneath still or moving pictures
OpenTV - Operating system used by Sky digital satellite boxes
OSD - On Screen Display
OSG - On-screen graphic (usually a menu of some sort)
OSN - On Screen Next. Graphic detailing the following programme on the channel

P

PasB - Programme as Broadcast. Recording of live transmitted programme. Usually recorded clean without Astons.
PHONO - Telephone interview
PHONO COMP - Composite graphic showing contributor and location
PIDLE - Programme Interruption Device Live Event. Visual device to come out of a current transmitted programme and go to a news event
PIDLE - Programme Interruption Device Live Event. Visual device to come out of a current transmitted programme and go to a News Event
Piece to camera - (PTC) Reporter in vision during a report; a "stand-upper"
Pillarbox - Often happens when a 4:3 image shown on a 16:9 set
PPM - Peak Programme Meter. Audio level indicator used by Sound Engineers. PPM 6 being the maximum allowed for audio distribution
PPV - Pay Per View - programme, event or film purchasable on a 'one-off' basis
PROFILE - Omnibus Hard Disk video recorder/player
Promo - Pictures (and FX) to trail ahead to a feature
PVR - Personal Video Recorder - device with in-built EPG and hard disc drive used for digitally recording programmes.

Q

Q&A - Question and Answer; a 2-way; a DTL

R

RANT - Reporter piece to camera lasting approx one minute
RC - Remote Control
RVTB - Reverse Talkback. Same as SWTB but in reverse - others speak to Director

S

SATVAN - Vehicle equipped to transmit to Satellite for the purposes of News Gathering
SD - Standard Definition
SDN - S4C Digital Networks - Operator of digital terrestrial multiplex A
SES Astra - Society of European Satellites - Astra. Luxembourg based satellite operator.
SHF - Super High Frequency - band of frequencies used for Satellite reception
SMG - Scottish Media Group. (see "ITV") (weblink)
SOF - Sound on Film (very old terminology)
SOT - Sound on tape (old terminology)
SOVT - Sound on video tape (old terminology)
Sting - Any short piece of audio or video which accompanies an event, eg news headlines whose intention is to grab your attention.
STU - Set Top Unit
Studio C - The studio of BBC World News and BBC News at Five (UK) at Broadcasting House
Studio E - The studio for BBC One/News Channel at Broadcasting House
SYNC - A clip from an interview; Also an engineering term which identifies the start of a video signal

T

T-Mail - E-Mail via Television Set
TALKBACK - TB. Audio Communications tool for various locations to talk to one another to co-ordinate events. Primarily used by Director to Presenter and all ancillary staff. Always switched on so everything the Director says is heard at all times
TARIF - Technical Apparatus for the Rectification of Inferior Film. Adjusts the colour, hue, blacks and gain of film for suitable transmission on TV
TLS - The London Studios, former home of ITV/LWT
TOTH - Top of the Hour
TRACK - Correspondents voice piece
TRUCK - Vehicle pictures are recorded or transmitted from
TVC - Television Centre, former home of the BBC
TX - Transmission; Instruction to transmit something for Directors
TX OOV - Instruction to transmit pictures narrated live out of vision

U

UHF - Ultra High Frequency - band of frequencies used for both analogue and digital terrestrial television
UNDERLAY - OOV
UPSOVT - A clip of audio during a VT OOV (also known as UPSOT, UPSOF)
UPSUM - Summary (of breaking news) for Presenter to use to recap

V

VHF - Very High Frequency - band of frequencies once used in the UK for black and white television, now used for digital radio.
VITS - Virtical Interval Time Signal. The top 28 lines of a TV signal used by Teletext. Also contains test signals
VT - Videotape
VT OOV - old terminology of TX OOV