Introduction to
Television Terms
Media/Communication
3D TV
 all 3D TVs use a specially designed
screen that can display two different
versions of a video image by
alternating the video frames at very
high speed. 3D video is basically two
full-resolution 1080p images, one for
your left eye and one for your right.
 Requires a 3D source (ex. Blu-Ray) and
3D glasses
ASPECT RATIO
 A numerical expression of
the relationship of width to
height of a TV screen. 4:3:
This numerical sequence
refers to the aspect ratio of
the National Television
Systems Committee (NTSC)
TV screen, with "4" unit
width corresponding to "3"
unit height, proportionally,
regardless of the actual size
of the screen.
 16:9 = wide screen
BREAKING NEWS
 Term used for interruptions of regular
or planned programming for recentlyoccurring events as reported by a news
organization or agency.
BROADCAST SPECTRUM
 The entire range of frequencies used
for radio and television transmission.
BROADCASTING
 Using radio waves to distribute radio or
TV programs which are available for
reception by the general public.
CALL LETTERS
 The official name of the radio station
in the USA. Also known as a station's
call sign.
CATV
Community
Antenna
TeleVision
- Now referred to as
‘Cable Television’
CHROMA KEY
“Blue” or “green” screen effect
used to insert another
background (blending two images
together)
CHROMINANCE
 The color component of a video signal
that includes information about hue
(shade) and saturation (intensity).
CLOSED CAPTIONING
 Text version of a program's dialogue,
overlayed on the screen by an
equipped television set for the hearing
impaired.
COAXIAL CABLE
Two-in-one (audio and
video) wire used to
transfer detailed images
or data
DEMOGRAPHICS
Study of audience makeup for advertising and
programming purposes
DIGITAL TELEVISION (DTV)
 The umbrella term used for the new
broadcasting system that uses
computer code to transmit pictures
and sounds. DTV includes all types of
digital broadcasting, including High
and Standard Definition television,
datacasting and multicasting.
DOLBY DIGITAL
 This is a digital surround sound technology
used in movie theaters and upscale home
theater systems that enhances audio. Home
theater components with this technology
work in conjunction with a "5.1-speaker"
system (five speakers plus a low-frequency
subwoofer) to produce true-to-life audio
that draws the listener into the onscreen
action.
DRAMEDY
Half drama/half comedy
usually with no laugh
track.
Ex. Burn Notice,
Desperate Housewives,
Psych, Grey’s Anatomy
INTERLACED SCANNING
 This process divides and presents each video
frame as two fields. Imagine a video frame
being divided by the odd and even horizontal
lines that make up the picture. The first
field presents the odd lines; the second field
represents the even lines. The fields are
aligned and timed so that, with a still image,
the human eye blends the two fields
together and sees them as one.
PROGRESSIVE SCAN
 Some digital television broadcast formats
(720p, 480p), and most DVD players, use a
type of video signal known as progressive
scan. Instead of splitting each video frame
into two sequential fields like analog
interlaced NTSC video, progressive-scan
video displays the entire frame in a single
sweep. For example, where standard NTSC
video displays 30 frames (60 fields) per
second, progressive scan displays 60
complete frames per second.
FIBER OPTICS
Transmission
through tiny glass
fibers
Ex. Verizon Fios
FRAME
 In moving picture media, whether film
or video, a frame is a complete,
individual picture.
FRAME RATE
 The rate at which frames are displayed. The
frame rate for movies on film is 24 frames
per second (24 fps). Standard NTSC video has
a frame rate of 30 fps (actually 60 fields per
second). The frame rate of a progressivescan video format is twice that of an
interlaced-scan format. For example,
interlaced formats like 480i and 1080i
deliver 30 complete frames per second;
progressive formats like 480p, 720p and
1080p provide 60.
HAPPYTALK
The additional and often meaningless
commentary interspersed into news
programs by news anchors and
others on set.
HIGH-DEFINITION TELEVISION
(HDTV)
 One type of digital television signal
that is broadcast at a higher resolution
than the others, providing a higherquality picture.
LETTERBOX
 Letterbox refers to the image of a
wide-screen picture on a standard 4:3
aspect ratio television screen, typically
with black bars above and below. It is
used to maintain the original aspect
ratio of the original source (usually a
theatrical motion picture of 16:9
aspect ratio or wider).
LIVE
 Any programming which is broadcast immediately as
it is being delivered (a live report); performed (a
live concert or show); or captured (live news or
sports coverage). Requires an unbroken
communications chain without any intervening
recording or storage technology. Considered the
most exciting form of broadcasting, delivered “as it
happens”.
Famous Incidents on ‘Live’
TV
 Lee Harvey Oswald (shot JFK) was shot
dead while being transported to jail.
 Ken Tynan became the first person to say
‘F*%$’ while commenting on censorship.
 The moon landing.
 Christine Chubbock (TV news reporter)
shoots herself
 OJ Simpson car chase
 September 11th plane crash
 Justin Timberlake/Janet Jackson exposed
LOWER THIRD
 Portion of screen of regular broadcast
reserved for textual and static visual
content; i.e., news ticker, time, title
of segment, title of program, channel
bug, etc. Upper third has sometimes
been used alongside lower third, as in
the case of MSNBC since 2010.
THIS IS A LOWER THIRD
LUMINANCE
 The brightness or black-and-white
component of a color video signal.
Determines the level of picture detail.
NIELSON RATINGS
 Survey of US viewers by the AC Nielsen
Company to establish the audiences for
individual programs and their
demographics.
NTSC
 NTSC is the acronym that stands for
National Television Systems
Committee" and the name of the
current analog transmission standard
used in the U.S., which the committee
created in 1953.
PILOT
- First show of a potential series which is sent
to test screenings and network executives.
- Test episode of an intended television series.
- Networks use pilots to discover whether an
entertaining concept can be successfully
realized. After seeing this sample of the
proposed product, networks will then
determine whether the expense of additional
episodes is justified.
PILOT
 A one-off episode of a proposed series,
usually in extended form, to gauge
audience reaction. If successful, the
rest of the series is made and the pilot
becomes the first episode.
PSA (PUBLIC SERVICE
ANNOUNCEMENT)
 A PSA is intended to change the public
interest, by raising awareness of an
issue, affecting public attitudes, and
potentially stimulating action.
PRIME TIME
Monday-Saturday 8p to 11p
Eastern and Pacific (7p to 10p
Central)
Sunday 7p to 11p.
Time when most people watch
TV and advertisers pay the
most (determined by Nielson
Ratings)
PUBLIC ACCESS
TV
Cable channel devoted to
community programming
Public
Education
Government
RESOLUTION
 Amount of detail that can be seen in a
broadcast image.
SERIAL
Continuing dramatic
story with several
characters and various
subplots from episode to
episode.
SITCOM
Half hour comedy
program with continuing
static characters and
individual story lines.
Ex. The Office, Seinfeld,
Two and Half Men, etc.
SPINOFF
New program consisting of
characters from a pre-existing
program
Ex. Beverly Hills 90210 > Melrose
Place, Beavis and Butthead > Daria,
CSI > CSI:NY/CSI: Miami/Cold Case,
Law & Order, Oprah > Dr. Phil, etc.
SWEEPS
 A period, usually in February, May, September, and
November, where the AC Nielsen Company
undertakes audience measurement to record the
Nielsen ratings of all shows in all markets with all
demographics for intensive market research. This
allows networks and local stations to spot surprise
hits and unexpected failures. It is also a time when
a successful network will try pilot episodes of new
shows, whilst a failing network will often put
existing successful programs in place of poorly
performing shows to boost average ratings.
TELEVISION
 The transmission of pictures and sound
by radio frequency or cable for public
reception.
UHF (ULTRA HIGH
FREQUENCY)
 Frequencies between 300 MHz
(wavelength 1 meter) and 3.0 GHz
(wavelength 10 centimetres), used for
television broadcasting. Channels 14 –
83.
VHF (VERY HIGH FREQUENCY)
 Frequencies from 30 MHz (wavelength
10 m) to 300 MHz (wavelength 1m),
used for radio and television
broadcasting. Channels 2 – 13.
V-CHIP
 Broadcasters are required to encode an
electronic signal in TV programs
indicating the level of violence,
language, and sexual content. Parents
can program the TV with a rating so
that when the the V-Chip reads a
show's signal, it will prevent it from
displaying if it is above the rating.
WIDE-SCREEN
 A term given to picture displays with a wider aspect
ratio than NTSC 4:3. Digital HDTV or SDTV is
referred to as "16:9 wide screen." Most motion
pictures also have a 16:9 wide screen aspect ratio.
Most Digital TVs have a screen that is wider than it
is tall (if a Digital TV screen is nine inches high, it's
16 inches wide.) When watching a show recorded in
the wide screen format on a Digital TV, viewers see
more of the movie, while when viewing wide screen
format on an analog TV, cropped edges are evident.