Digital TV Jargon

Analogue
Outgoing historical mode of TV and radio transmission, uses standard wave to transmit services
Audio Description
Stations that carry an additional audio stream for those with sight problems describing exactly what is happening on screen.

Broadcasters
The companies who transmit television programmes
Common Interface (CI)
Connections on a set top box or television which can be used to connect to any other device using the same open standard.

Communal System
Where a TV signal is distributed throughout a building (e.g. offices, flats) using a wired system, sharing the same signal source, aerial or dish.

Conditional Access (CA)
Method of blocking access to programming, access only being allowed with the correct codes or card to "unlock" the programming.

Coverage
Areas that can currently receive digital television.

Decoder
The tuner in a digital set that “decodes” the signal.
D-CAB
Digital Cable, We allways use high quality cable
D-SAT
Digital Satellite
DSL (xDSL)
Digital Subscriber Line: a method of delivering TV or broadband, or Video on Demand through telephone wires.

DTG
Digital Television Group - has over 100 members. The DTG was formed in 1995 to set technical standards for the implementation of digital terrestrial television (DTT) in the UK and now encompasses all Digital TV platforms and convergence issues on a world-wide basis

DTT
Digital Terrestrial Television (Freeview)
DTV
Digital Television
DVB
Digital Video Broadcasting, a European standard for digital television technology

DVD
Digital Versatile Disk - digital storage device commonly used for film/video

DVD-R (DVD-RW)
Recordable DVD, another digital recording device - uses DVD format.

Encryption
Method of encoding data/broadcasts so that they can only be viewed with the correct Conditional Access codes.

Enhanced TV
See Interactive TV
EPG
Electronic Programme Guide - "Now and next" information that can be called up on digital television, so you can plan your viewing. Extended for a period of weeks on DSAT and DCAB, 7 day EPG due to be launched on Freeview

HDTV
High Definition Television is a new technology that will enable viewers to get higher definition television pictures.

HDTV has four times as many pixels (dots on the screen) as standard TV broadcasts, meaning a clearer picture and stunning detail on large-screen TVs. An HD-ready TV is not necessarily a digital TV nor vice versa.

IdTV
Integrated Digital Television - a television with a built-in digital tuner, so no need for a set top box.
IdVCR
Integrated Digital VCR - a video recorder with a built-in digital tuner.

IRS
Integrated Receiver System - A shared reception system, common to flats and hotels, that enables delivery of television,radio, and Internet services around the same distribution system, from a single wall plug.

Interactive
Services that enable the viewer to interact with the television programme

ITC
Independent Television Commission (Ofcom took over responsibility of the ITC in Jan 2004)

MATV
Master Antennae TV - a communal aerial system that uses a master aerial to receive the signal before it is distributed.

Multiplex
A bundle of channels delivered in Digital Terrestrial Television by a single signal channel.

PDR (Personal Digital Recorder)
See PVR below.
PVR (Personal Video Recorder)
A video recorder that records programmes on to hard
drive. Allows much greater flexibility in recording and
playback.

Platform
Method of delivery or reception of digital television (e.g. the satellite platform)

PSB
Public Service Broadcasters: these include BBC, ITV,
Channel 4, Five, S4C and Teletext

RF Loop
Connection which allows the aerial signal to connect
to one device, and then be connected further by another
connector - similar to an "aerial out" socket.

RF Modulator
The "aerial out" connector on your TV is an RF modulator.
This puts an output from a TV tuner on to the connection, as opposed to an RF loop which simply allows the signal from the aerial to carry through.

SCART
A type of connection and cabling used to carry video signals, and enables automaitic switching of sources usually found on the back of TVs and videos.

Solus Card
Digital Satellite cards that enable viewing of free to view channels.

Spectrum
The electromagnetic spectrum: the set of radio frequencies used to transmit television, radio and other forms of electronic communication.

STB
Set Top Box, occasionally referred to as an adaptor.
Switchover (Digital Switchover)
The process of changing television equipment from analogue reception to digital reception, in preparation for the switching off of the analogue signal ending in 2012.

Terrestrial
"Earthly" - as opposed to satellite. Television services that can be received through a standard aerial.

VCR
Yee Olde Video Cassette Recorder
VDSL
Very-High bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line, allowing for faster downstream speeds than ADSL enabling video services to be delivered.

VOD
Video on Demand