Technology / Television (TV) Glossary

Aspect Ratio: The ratio of television picture width to height no matter the size of the screen. Since the 1940s TV’s have used a 4:3 screen. Most new digital tvs will use a widescreen which is 16:9. This . . . View Full Definition

Audience Composition: The distribution of a station's audiences by demographic group.

Audience Duplication: The extent to which the audience of one station is exposed to that of another.

Audience Flow: A measure of the change in audience during and between programs. Audience flow shows the percentages of people or households who turn on or off a program, switch to or from another channel, . . . View Full Definition

Audio-Video Jacks: Standard definition Satellite TV system receivers would normally include three jacks: one for the video - composite or S-Video, and two for the sound - one for the right channel and one for . . . View Full Definition

Auteur Theory: Posits that a director is the author of a film/television program in the same manner that a writer is the author of a novel. The director is seen as injecting his/her personal artistic visio . . . View Full Definition

Automated Measurement Of Lineups (AMOL): The technology which allows Nielsen Media Research (NMR) to track an identification code within locally transmitted TV signals for network and nationally syndicated programs. NMR is also lin . . . View Full Definition

Automatic Dialogue Replacement (ADR): The replacement of lines of dialogue during post-production. Also known as looping.

Average Audience (AA): A widely used rating term, expressed as a percentage, to reflect viewing to the average minute of a program or time period. It is an average of the audience at minute 1, 2, 3, etc. As such, . . . View Full Definition

Average Quarter-Hour Audience: Estimated number of people who watch a program or station for a minimum of five minutes within a specific quarter hour.

Axis Of Action: In the continuity (or 180) system, the line of action around which the space of the scene is oriented.

Azimuth: This refers to the horizontal direction of a satellite. It would have a different azimuth in Los Angeles than in Chicago. Since the satellite is over the equator, if you live in the US, it w . . . View Full Definition

Back Channel: A means of communication from users to content providers. As content providers are transmitting interactive television (analog or digital) to users, users can connect through a back channel . . . View Full Definition

Back Light: In the three-point lighting system, the source of illumination placed behind and above the actor. Its main function is to cast light on the actor's head and shoulders, creating an outline of . . . View Full Definition

Balance: In video and film, the blending of three colors (red, green, and blue in video: yellow, magenta, and cyan in film) to produce a spectrum of colors. Different video processes and film stocks . . . View Full Definition

Bandwidth: A range of frequencies used to transmit information such as picture and sound. For TV broadcasters, the FCC has allocated 6Mhz for each channel. For DTV, the maximum bit rate possible within . . . View Full Definition

Barn Doors: A term used in television production to describe the effect that occurs when a 4:3 image is viewed on a 16:9 screen. Viewers see black bars ('barn doors') on the sides of the screen. Cf. Let . . . View Full Definition

Barter: The exchange of quantities of commercial time for merchandise or services.

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