Terminology/ Glossary - Television

General terms used in Television

1. Acoustics – The science of the transmission of sound waves.
2. A/D Conversion (ADC) – Converting an analogue signal into a digital signal.
3. Amplitude – Maximum height of a wave form or signal.
4. Analogue signal – A varying voltage signal.
5. Archive – An archive is a term for storage. It refers to the following:• Storage of master material under controlled conditions.• Long term storage of material on an offline storage medium.• Archive copy is a master copy intended solely for storage and not to be used in distribution. 
6. Average audience – The average number of people who tuned into the given time selected and expressed in thousands or as a percentage (also known as a rating) of the total potential audience of the demographic selected.
7. ATR – Audio Tape Recorder, a method of recording sound by electromagnetic pulses on a sensitized plastic strip.
8. Backlight – A lamp used to separate subject from the background by rim lighting the subject from upstage.
9. Balance – The relative level between sound sources or light sources.
10. BBC – British Broadcasting Corporation, the main public service broadcaster in the United Kingdom, founded as the British Broadcasting Company in 1922.
11. Brightness - Brightness is a subjective effect; it is how bright we see in an object.
12. Camera angle – The position of the camera relative to the main subject in the shot.
13. Chroma Key – An electronic process for inserting an artiste (foreground) into a background picture; also known as Colour Separation Overlay.
14. Colour temperature - Colour characteristics of light.10 
15. Condenser – A type of microphone using charged plates to transfer sound pressure changes into audio levels.
16. Cutaway – Cutting away from the main subject or master shot to a related shot.
17. DAT – Digital audio tape.
18. Depth of field – The zone of acceptable focus in the field of view.
19. Display mode – Selecting particular information about the camera to be displayed in the viewfinder.
20. ENG – Electronic News Gathering. It describes the single camera video recording of news events.
21. F-number – A method of indicating how much light is being allowed to pass through the aperture of the lens.
22. Field – On top to bottom scanning of an image.
23. IPTV – Internet protocol television is a system through which television services are delivered. Here an Internet protocol suite is used to transmit information via LAN or internet.
24. ISDN – Integrated Services Digital Network is a system that allows the transfer of audio or other data via a telephone line.
25. Key light – The main source of light illuminating the subject.
26. Live – The transmission of an event as it takes place.
27. Low angle – A lens height below eye height.
28. Monochrome – Reproduction of a single colour such as a black and white image.
29. OB – Abbreviation for outside broadcast,usually a multi camera production from a non-studio venue using a mobile control room.
30. Phase – A time delay between two signals.
31. Piece to camera – A piece to camera is the television and film term used for when a presenter or a character speaks directly to the viewing audience through the camera. 
32. Production Control Room – Production area on outside broadcasts, or adjacent to studios used by production staff, lighting and audio.
33. Saturation – A measure of the purity of a colour.
34. Voice-over – A commentary mixed with effects or music as part of a sound track.
35. VTR – Video tape recorder.
36. Zoom lens – A variable focal length lens achieved by internally moving elements of the lens.