Jargon Buster

Analogue is the way our television is transmitted and recorded now. It is called analogue because the electrical signal voltage ‘represent’ the picture and sound signals rather than being coded into a series of 1s and 0s, which is the way digital TV works.

The broadcast signal which delivers just five TV channels* to your set via the aerial. * Not including other services and regional variations.

Audio description is an additional narration that fits between dialogue in TV programmes and describes what is happening on-screen for those who have difficulty seeing.

Television material is transmitted at certain frequencies, but, in fact, spreads a little either side of the frequency. The amount it can be spread is called Bandwidth. With digital, the greater the bandwidth, the faster the material can travel. This means that data such as the electronic programme guide or Teletext can appear on your screen faster, or picture and sound can be of a higher quality because the bandwidth can contain more information.

Where a signal is distributed through a building (e.g. a block of flats) using a wiring system, sharing the same signal source. (See IRS and MATV).

The areas that can receive digital television - you can check whether you are in digital TV coverage using the digitaluk.co.uk postcode database.

Cathode ray tube. The standard type of traditional large-bodied TV set.

Digital audio broadcasting - The DAB service is radio’s equivalent of digital TV. It gives interference free reception and has room for extra stations, as well as all the usual ones. It is available in most of the country. You can receive DAB on personnal, portable, tabletop, or car radios. Digital radio stations are also received by digital TV set-top boxes and Idtv’s (Integrated digital television). Digital switchover does not affect radio services.

Needed for watching digital TV - it unscrambles digital signals and turns them back into sound and pictures. (Also see IDTV).

Television images are sent as compressed data which is then unscrambled by a digital box. The signal is sent by cable, satellite or through the air to your aerial.

The process of switching over the UK’s current analogue television broadcasting system to digital, as well as ensuring that people have adapted or upgraded their televisions and recording equipment to receive digital TV.

A digital box or receiver that is also able to record programmes to a hard drive, sometimes known as a PVR (Personal Video Recorder). A DTR with an inbuilt digital box (tuner) will enable you to watch one programme while recording another.

DTT is transmitted through an aerial. In the UK this includes the Freeview service (which includes the traditional terrestrial channels, BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, Channel 4 and Five) and for an additional monthly subscription, Top Up TV.

A common name for the lead-in line that connects the antenna to the TV.

Digital terrestrial television transmitted through an aerial. In the UK, this includes the Free view service (which includes the traditional terrestrial channels, BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, Channel4, and Five) and for an additional monthly subscription, Top Up TV.

Abbreviation for digital television.

Digital video broadcasting - a European standard for digital television technology. Also DVB-S for satellite and DVB-T for terrestrial.

Digital versatile disc - though they may look all the same, DVD discs come in many forms (hence the word ‘versatile’). The most popular (usually simply referred to as DVDs) are discs containing pre-recorded films, concerts and music videos. Other formats included DVD+/-R, DVD+/RW and DVD-RAMs, which can be used at home to record TV programmes or computer files.

Electronic Programme Guide - an on-screen listing of TV channels and programmes. You can use one to go to the programme you want, or to select something to record.

The main UK digital terrestrial television service that is transmitted through an aerial. No subscription is required. See also Top Up TV.

Free-to-air a programme or service that you don’t need a subscription to get.

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 details on large screen TVs. An HD-ready TV is not necessarily a digital TV. Make sure that it carries a ‘tick’ logo, or get a digital box, to ensure that you are able to receive digital broadcasts.

An Integrated Digital Television (IDTV) is a TV with a built-in digital receiver which lets you receive Freeview channels through your aerial with no need for an additional digital box.

Ways of interacting with a TV broadcast to get more information - a bit like an extension to the traditional Teletext service. For instance, you are able to select and watch a particular tennis match from a multi-screen selection, find out more information about a television programme, cast a vote, or take part in a quiz in real time.

Integrated Receiver System or IRS is a shared reception system, common to flats and hotels that enable delivery of television, radio, and internet services around the same distribution system from a single wall plug.

Liquid crystal display. This is a particular type of flat panel television that is becoming popular as a replacement for conventional CRT TVs. They tend to be used most often for screen size up to 32 inch and can be suitable for display HDTV. (See also plasma).

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

An additional one-off payment to watch particular films and sporting events on satellite or cable/broadband television.

One of the thousand of tiny dots that make up the picture on a screen.

A particular type of flat panel TV (also see CRT and LCD). They are becoming increasingly popular for large screen TVs (such as 42inch) and can be suitable for display HDTV.

A way of delivering and receiving digital television. Typical platforms are terrestrial, cable, satellite and the internet.

Personal video recorder. A smart digital receiver that records television programmes to a hard drive (like computer saves information) instead of on to a video tape.

The red button on your remote control for selecting Teletext and other interactive television services.

A television aerial on the roof of your house.

A good way of connecting one TV product to another. It connects the picture and stereo sound in one 21-pin plug. Usually used to connect a television with a video or a digital box.

An aerial on top of your TV.

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

Set top box. See digital box.

See digital switch over.

TV transmission - analogue or digital - that are broadcast over the air directly to your TV aerial.

You pay this company for extra channels and programmes on digital terrestrial television. For this to work, your digital TV equipment must have a slot or hole to take the Top Up TV viewing card.

A convenient and economical alternative to running multiple “jumpers” or individual cables. It can have from 4 to 96 fibres per trunk and distribute multiple data channels.

Ultra High Frequency Television aerial

Video cassette recorder - the machine you have probably been recording and playing tape copies of programmes with for years. It can be used to record analogue or digital TV but records the video signal in fairly low analogue quality.

Video on demand - for a fee, films and programmes you want to watch are delivered when you want to watch them. You cann choose from a large library of films or programmes. Homechioce (which is currently available in the London area and in Stevenage, Hertfordshire) offers this service via broadband. A similar system, which is sometimes referred to as NVOD (near video on demand) is the ‘Box office’ service offered by Sky. By using this service, viewers are able to choose from a small number of films. However, you may have to wait up to an hour for your film to start.

The ratio of the width to the height of the TV picture is 16 to 9, often called 16:9 formats. Nearly all major TV channels now make and broadcast their programmes in this widescreen format. Older programmes were in narrower 4:3 format. If it is set up correctly, your television and set-top box should display the picture on your screen in 16:9 or 4:3 as appropriate for the programme.