Technology / Television (TV) Glossary

Barter Syndication: A program distribution method in which the syndicator retains and sells a portion of the show’s advertising time. In “cash plus barter,” the syndicator also receives some money from the stat . . . View Full Definition

Base: In film production terms, the celluloid backing of a piece of film to which the emulsion adheres. In Marxist terms, a society's economic system, upon which is built its superstructure.

Baseband: The raw satellite TV signal before it is re-modulated to become a signal that is suitable for a TV.

Basic Cable: Channels received by cable subscribers at no extra charge, usually supported by advertising and small per-subscriber fees paid by cable operators.

Beam: A satellite transmission pattern. It may be wide, narrow or spot. This affects the satellites footprint.

Billboard: A brief announcement, usually 3, 5 or 10 seconds in length, and usually earned by advertisers paying extra for the program being ordered. Billboards are afforded, in most instances, at the t . . . View Full Definition

Bird: An alternative name for a satellite.

Bit: Bit is short for 'binary' digit: it represents the smallest unit of data in digital systems: it can have a value of '1' or '0'. A group of 8-bits compose what is referred to as a byte.

Bit Rate: Measured as 'bits per second,' and used to express the rate at which data is transmitted or processed. The higher the bit rate, the more data that is processed and, typically, the higher the . . . View Full Definition

Blackouts: A particular programming service may not be available in certain areas of the country - usually because of contractual agreements.

Blocking: The actor's movement around a set: the director's incorporation of the actor into the mise-en-scene.

Blue Screens: On a newsroom set, areas of the background that are blue (or green), onto which live images or maps are substituted through the chroma key process.

Boom Operator: The sound technician who physically operates the overhead boom microphone.

Bourgeoisie: In Marxist terms, the middle class: owners of the means of production and employers of the proletariat.

Brand Development Index (BDI): A measure of the relationship of a specific brand's sales to population in a specific geographic area. The BDI is derived by dividing an area's percent of total U.S. sales by that area's per . . . View Full Definition

Brand Parity: In the context of advertising, when all products are essentially the same. Contrast with a product' unique selling proposition.

Brechtian Performance: Anti-naturalist, confrontational performance style based in the theories of German playwright Bertolt Brecht. He demanded that the viewer constantly be made aware of the fact that he or she . . . View Full Definition

Brightness (Luminance): In the context of television's image quality, how bright or dark a color is.

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