In practice: A channel prepares captions and an audio-description track so more viewers can follow a documentary.
Reference library
Broadcast & Television Glossary
Look up 212 terms used in television, streaming and everyday broadcast operations.
Featured Term This Week
Local Avail
Advertising time made available to a local station or distributor within supplied programming or a network feed.
Week of 2026-09-28
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A
Access ServicesFeatures that make television usable for more viewers, including captions, audio description, and accessible interfaces.
Broadcast Technology
Ad AvailAn opportunity to insert an advertisement into a program or channel. Also called an availability or avail.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: A scheduled break contains a thirty-second opportunity that traffic can assign to an advertiser.
Ad Decision ServerA system that selects which advertisement to deliver for an available opportunity, using campaign rules, targeting, and other criteria.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: When a streaming break begins, an ad decision system selects an eligible campaign for that viewing session.
Ad PodA group of advertisements presented together within a break.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: Three commercials play together in one ninety-second advertising break.
Ad ServerA system that manages delivery and tracking of digital advertisements.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: A digital campaign uses an ad server to track delivery of its advertising creative.
Addressable AdvertisingAdvertising that can vary among households or viewers watching the same content, based on eligibility or targeting criteria.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: Two eligible households watching the same program may receive different commercials in an addressable break.
AffiliateA local station that has an agreement to carry programming from a network.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A local station carries network programming while also scheduling its own local news.
Air DateThe calendar date on which a program or commercial is scheduled to be transmitted.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: An episode is assigned to October 8 on the program schedule.
Air WindowThe permitted or required period during which content may be shown under a programming agreement.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A licensing agreement allows a movie to be scheduled within a specified month.
As Run LogA record generated by playout or another transmission system showing events that played, including their recorded start times and durations. It does not by itself prove reception by every viewer.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: After transmission, traffic checks the recorded start time of a commercial against its planned placement.
Aspect RatioThe proportional relationship between picture width and height. A common television ratio is 16:9.
Production
In practice: An editor checks that a 16:9 program will not appear stretched when delivered to the channel.
AssetA managed media item, such as an episode, commercial, promo, audio track, graphic, or related file.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A commercial file, its caption file and its descriptive information are tracked as managed media items.
Asset IDAn identifier used to distinguish and track a media item within or across systems.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: The identifier in the schedule must map to the intended media item in the playout environment.
ATSCAdvanced Television Systems Committee. The organization responsible for a family of digital television standards used in the United States and other markets.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: An engineering team consults the applicable ATSC specifications while planning terrestrial digital television delivery.
Audio DescriptionNarration of important visual information, usually delivered in pauses in dialogue, for viewers who are blind or have low vision.
Production
In practice: A narrator describes an important silent action during a pause in the program's dialogue.
AutomationSoftware and control systems that execute scheduled media events and associated device actions.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A system executes a scheduled commercial and its associated logo command at the intended point in the log.
AVODAdvertising supported video on demand. On demand viewing containing advertisements; a service may also have other revenue sources.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A viewer selects a movie from an on-demand library and encounters advertising during playback.
B
B RollSupplementary footage used to illustrate a story, cover edits, or provide context alongside primary footage.
Production
In practice: A news editor places footage of the affected street over an interview about a road closure.
BackhaulA transmission path that carries material from a remote location to a broadcast facility or another processing point.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A remote production sends its camera output back to a broadcast facility for processing.
Barter SyndicationA programming arrangement in which a station provides advertising time to the distributor in exchange for content, sometimes with an additional cash payment.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A station carries a supplied program and reserves agreed advertising positions for its distributor.
BillboardA brief announcement identifying a program sponsor, often at the opening or closing of a program or segment.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: A brief sponsor identification appears before the start of a weather segment.
BitrateThe amount of digital data transmitted or stored per second. Higher bitrate can support better quality, depending on the codec and content.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: An encoding team selects a delivery profile that balances picture quality with available bandwidth.
BlackoutRestriction of content in a particular territory, on a particular platform, or during a specific window because of rights or distribution rules.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A service substitutes permitted programming where the original event cannot be distributed under its rights rules.
BlockingScheduling related programs together to create a coherent viewing block.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A scheduler places several related documentaries together on a weekend afternoon.
BreakAn interruption or designated space within or between programs for commercials, promos, announcements, or other elements.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: The log separates two program segments with commercials and a station promo.
Broadcast DayThe operational day used for scheduling and reporting. Its start and end may differ from a midnight to midnight calendar day.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A station reports overnight events within its defined operational day rather than assuming every day begins at midnight.
Broadcast EngineeringThe discipline responsible for designing, maintaining, and supporting technical systems used to produce and transmit media.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: An engineering team troubleshoots a failed signal path between production and final output.
Broadcast LogAn ordered list of events intended for transmission, typically combining program segments, commercials, promos, and associated instructions.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: The day's transmission plan lists program segments, commercials, promos and associated instructions in order.
Broadcast OperationsThe coordinated work required to prepare content, manage schedules and systems, and keep channels transmitting correctly.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: Operations coordinates the schedule, media readiness and final output before an evening program airs.
Broadcast TelevisionTelevision transmitted to a broad audience, traditionally through over the air stations. The term is also used more generally for scheduled television services.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A viewer uses an antenna to receive a local station's scheduled channel.
BugA small graphic, often a channel logo, displayed over the picture.
Production
In practice: A small channel logo remains visible in a corner of the program picture.
BumperA short element that introduces a program, takes it into a break, or brings it back from a break.
Production
In practice: A short branded element brings viewers back into the program after a commercial break.
C
Cable NetworkA television programming service historically distributed through cable systems, often also available through satellite or internet services.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A distributor carries a national programming service alongside local television stations.
Carriage AgreementAn agreement establishing how a distributor carries a channel or service, including commercial and technical conditions.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A channel and distributor document the commercial and technical terms for carrying the service.
Catch Up TVAccess to recently transmitted programs after their scheduled airing, usually within a defined availability window.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A viewer watches yesterday's episode through a service that makes recent programs available after broadcast.
CDNContent delivery network. Distributed servers that help deliver video and other content to users efficiently.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A streaming service uses distributed delivery servers to bring media segments closer to viewers.
ChannelA distinct programming service or a transmission path. The intended meaning depends on whether the discussion concerns content or engineering.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: In a scheduling discussion, the channel means the programming service; in a signal plan, it may mean a transmission path.
Channel BrandingThe logos, visual treatments, audio elements, and presentation conventions that identify a channel.
Production
In practice: A channel uses a consistent logo, sound and presentation treatment across its on-air elements.
Clean FeedA version of a program signal without specified added elements, such as certain graphics or commentary. What is removed must be defined for each feed.
Production
In practice: A production supplies a version without specified graphics so another team can add its own presentation.
ClearanceAuthorization or confirmation that content may be shown. In network and syndication operations, it can also mean a station's acceptance or airing of supplied programming.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A station confirms that it will carry supplied programming in the agreed window.
Closed CaptionsText representing dialogue and relevant sounds that viewers can generally turn on or off.
Production
In practice: A program carries selectable text for dialogue and relevant sounds, such as a door slamming.
CodecAn algorithm or implementation used to encode and decode media, often to reduce the data required for storage or transmission.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A delivery specification requires media encoded with a particular codec supported by the receiving system.
CommercialAn advertising message presented in television or video content, often as a timed spot.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: An advertiser supplies a thirty-second message for placement within a program break.
Commercial CopyThe advertising material and instructions needed to air a spot. In traffic operations, copy may refer to the creative asset, its identification, and its assignment instructions.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: Traffic connects the advertiser's order to the correct creative, identifier and assignment instructions.
Commercial InventoryThe advertising opportunities available for sale or use, usually measured by spots, time, or impressions.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: A team checks how many eligible thirty-second positions remain in an evening news break.
Competitive SeparationRules that keep advertisers in competing categories apart within a break or another defined interval.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: Placement rules keep two competing automotive advertisers apart within the designated interval.
ComplianceAdherence to applicable standards, contractual obligations, organizational policies, and regulatory requirements.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: Before air, a team checks that the delivered version meets applicable obligations and the organization's approved requirements.
Content AcquisitionObtaining content and the rights needed to use it through licensing, purchase, commissioning, or other agreements.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A programming team obtains a series and the permissions needed to schedule it on specified services.
Content Management SystemSoftware used to organize and manage content and its associated information. Its functions vary by product and workflow.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A team uses its content system to organize descriptions and availability information for a catalog.
ContinuityThe coordination of material and instructions needed for correct on air presentation. In advertising operations, it often includes commercial copy and rotation instructions.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: A continuity team resolves which commercial version should run before the daily log is finalized.
ContributionDelivery of media from its source to a production or processing facility before final distribution to viewers.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A stadium production delivers its program output to the facility that will prepare final distribution.
Copy InstructionsDirections identifying which commercial to air, when to use it, and any rotation, date, or placement requirements.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: An advertiser directs the station to use one offer before a campaign changeover and another afterward.
Copy RotationRules governing how multiple commercial versions are assigned across an advertiser's scheduled spots.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: A campaign alternates two approved creatives according to the advertiser's specified assignment rules.
CounterprogrammingScheduling content intended to attract viewers who are not interested in competing programs.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A scheduler selects a movie intended for viewers who are not interested in a competing sports broadcast.
CPMCost per thousand impressions. Calculated as advertising cost divided by impressions, multiplied by 1,000.
Audience Measurement
In practice: A campaign costing $1,000 for 100,000 measured impressions has a CPM of $10.
CPPCost per rating point. Calculated as advertising cost divided by the rating points purchased or delivered.
Audience Measurement
In practice: A campaign costing $2,000 for 20 rating points has a CPP of $100.
Cross PromotionPromotion of one program, channel, or service within another.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A sports channel runs a promo for an upcoming program on a related entertainment service.
CTVConnected television. A television connected to the internet directly or through a device; in advertising, the term commonly identifies viewing on that television screen.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A viewer watches a streaming program on an internet-connected television rather than on a phone.
CueA signal or instruction indicating when a person, device, or system should take an action.
Production
In practice: The director gives a cue for the presenter to begin the next segment.
D
DAIDynamic ad insertion. Selection and insertion of advertisements into video opportunities using rules that can vary by viewer, session, or other conditions.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: A streaming workflow selects advertisements for an available break using campaign rules that can differ by session.
DaypartA portion of the day used to group programming or advertising, such as early morning, daytime, or prime time. Exact boundaries vary.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: An order allows placement within an agreed early-evening time range rather than one named program.
Dead AirAn unintended absence of expected audio, video, or programming on a service.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: An unintended gap in channel output prompts the operator to investigate and use the approved recovery procedure.
Delivery SpecificationThe required characteristics of supplied media, such as file format, codec, resolution, audio layout, captions, and metadata.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A receiving facility lists the required codec, audio tracks, caption format and metadata for an episode.
DemographicAn audience grouping based on characteristics such as age or other specified attributes.
Audience Measurement
In practice: An audience report separates results for a stated age group from results for all measured viewers.
DiscrepancyA difference between what was ordered, scheduled, expected, or recorded and what actually occurred.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: The planned commercial appears in the log but the available transmission evidence shows a different event.
DistributionDelivery of a channel or content to platforms, distributors, or viewers.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A channel sends prepared output to the platforms authorized to carry it.
DMADesignated market area. A Nielsen defined geographic television market used for audience measurement and media planning in the United States.
Audience Measurement
In practice: A media plan identifies a Nielsen-defined market area when selecting local television advertising.
DownlinkReception of a satellite signal at a receiving location.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A receiving facility obtains a satellite-delivered feed before routing it to the appropriate processing path.
DRMDigital rights management. Technology that controls access to protected content through mechanisms such as encryption and licenses.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A player obtains the required license before playing protected streaming content.
Drop Frame TimecodeA numbering method that skips certain timecode labels to align nominal 30 or 60 frame counting more closely with elapsed time at fractional frame rates. It does not remove video frames.
Production
In practice: An editor uses drop-frame labeling to align nominal frame counting more closely with elapsed clock time at a supported fractional frame rate.
DTHDirect to home. Satellite distribution in which subscribers receive television at their homes through receiving equipment.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A household receives a satellite television service through its installed receiving equipment.
DubbingReplacing or adding recorded dialogue, often to provide a different language version.
Production
In practice: A program is prepared with a replacement dialogue track for a different language version.
E
EASEmergency Alert System. A United States alerting system that uses broadcast and other participating distribution services to relay emergency messages.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A participating station processes an emergency alert through its established alerting workflow.
EncoderEquipment or software that converts media into an encoded representation suitable for storage or transmission.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: An encoder prepares incoming media in the representation required for storage or delivery.
EPGElectronic program guide. A viewer facing schedule of programs with information such as titles, start times, and descriptions.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A viewer's guide displays a title and start time that should match the channel's actual program schedule.
EpisodeAn individual installment of a series.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A scheduler selects the correct installment of a series rather than only its overall series title.
EssenceThe actual media components, such as picture and sound, distinguished from metadata describing them.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A media workflow distinguishes the actual video and audio from the descriptive metadata traveling with it.
EventAn individual scheduled or executed item, such as a program segment, commercial, graphic, or control action.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: One use of a commercial at 6:14 p.m. is an event, even if the same media item runs again later.
Event IDAn identifier for a particular scheduled or executed occurrence. It is distinct from an asset ID, which identifies the media item being used.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: Two scheduled uses of one commercial have different occurrence identifiers while referring to the same media asset.
F
FailoverSwitching to a backup system or path when the primary system or path fails or becomes unavailable.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A monitored output switches to an approved backup path after the primary path becomes unavailable.
FASTFree ad supported streaming television. Scheduled streaming channels available without a subscription fee and funded by advertising.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A viewer joins a free, advertising-supported streaming channel at the point reached in its schedule.
FeedA supplied stream of video, audio, or data from a source to a receiving destination.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: The receiving team identifies which supplied stream contains the intended program and audio version.
FillMaterial used to occupy available time, such as a promo, short feature, or other approved content.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A scheduler places approved short material into time left between the end of a program and a fixed event.
Fixed Time EventAn event intended to begin at a specified clock time, potentially requiring adjustment of preceding events.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A required event at a specified clock time means earlier flexible material may need adjustment.
FlightThe planned start and end period of an advertising campaign or order.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: An advertiser's spots are eligible only between the agreed campaign start and end dates.
FrameA single complete picture within a video sequence.
Production
In practice: An editor moves one picture at a time to select the correct edit point.
Frame RateThe number of video frames presented per second, such as 25, 29.97, or 59.94.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A delivery team verifies that a media file's frame rate matches the receiving workflow's specification.
Frame SynchronizerA device or process that aligns an incoming video signal with a facility's timing reference.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A facility aligns an incoming source with its timing reference before using it in the production path.
FrequencyThe average number of advertising exposures per reached person or household over a specified period.
Audience Measurement
In practice: A campaign report distinguishes total exposures from the average number of exposures per reached person.
Frequency CapA limit on how often an eligible viewer or household should receive an advertisement within a defined period.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: An advertising rule limits how often an eligible viewer should receive a campaign during the specified interval.
G
GenlockSynchronization of video equipment to a common timing reference.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A production synchronizes video equipment to a shared reference to support correctly timed signals.
GeoblockingRestricting access to content according to the user's estimated geographic location.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A streaming service restricts access where its location check indicates content cannot be offered.
GraphicsVisual elements added to programming, such as titles, scores, lower thirds, logos, or informational overlays.
Production
In practice: A live production adds a score display and a lower third to its program output.
GRPGross rating point. A measure of total advertising exposure obtained by summing ratings across placements. It can also be expressed as reach percentage multiplied by average frequency.
Audience Measurement
In practice: Placements delivering 10, 12 and 8 rating points total 30 gross rating points on the stated measurement basis.
H
Hard OutA fixed deadline by which a segment or program must finish or yield to the next event.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: The production must finish by the agreed deadline so the next fixed event can begin.
HDHigh definition. A class of video formats offering more picture detail than standard definition, commonly including 720 and 1080 line formats.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A technical delivery plan distinguishes a 1080-line HD version from a lower-resolution version.
HDRHigh dynamic range. Video technologies that support a wider range of brightness and often a broader color presentation than standard dynamic range.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A facility checks that the picture's dynamic-range treatment is handled correctly across supported delivery versions.
HeadendA facility that receives, processes, and distributes television services to a cable system or related distribution network.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A cable distribution facility receives and processes incoming services before delivering them through its network.
House NumberAn internal identifier used to track a media item in a station or facility. It may be mapped to other asset identifiers.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: Traffic identifies a commercial by the station's internal media number and checks its mapping in playout.
Household RatingThe percentage of households in a defined television household universe viewing a program or advertisement, according to the specified measurement basis.
Audience Measurement
In practice: A report states the proportion of the defined television-household universe viewing a program.
I
ImpressionA counted advertising exposure under a defined measurement method. An impression does not necessarily represent a unique viewer or a completed view.
Audience Measurement
In practice: A campaign report counts advertising exposures under its stated measurement method without treating each one as a unique viewer.
IngestBringing media and associated information into a facility or system for storage, processing, or use.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A received episode and its associated information enter the facility's media environment before QC and scheduling.
Insertion OrderAn agreement or instruction specifying an advertising purchase, including campaign dates, placements, quantities, and commercial terms.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: An advertising purchase specifies flight dates, quantities and eligible placements before traffic schedules the spots.
Interlaced VideoVideo in which each frame is represented by two fields containing alternating lines of the picture.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A receiving team identifies an interlaced source before converting it for a workflow with different picture requirements.
InterstitialShort content placed between longer programs or segments, such as a promo, announcement, or short feature.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A short approved feature is scheduled between two longer programs.
Inventory ManagementTracking, allocating, and controlling advertising opportunities so sales commitments and operational constraints can be met.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: Traffic balances remaining commercial opportunities against commitments, priorities and separation rules.
IPTVInternet protocol television. Television delivered through IP networks, often using a provider managed network. Industry usage varies, and it should not automatically be treated as synonymous with OTT.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A provider delivers television through a managed IP network rather than assuming every internet-based service uses the same distribution model.
ISCIIndustry Standard Commercial Identification. A legacy coding convention used to identify advertising creative; identifiers still appear in some workflows.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: A legacy commercial identifier remains in an advertiser's instructions and must be mapped to the facility's current media identifier.
L
LatencyThe delay between an event or signal entering a workflow and its appearance at a later point, such as a viewer's screen.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: An operator accounts for the delay between a source event and its appearance on a downstream monitoring screen.
Lead InThe program or content immediately preceding another program, which may influence the following program's audience.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A scheduler considers the program preceding the evening news when planning the audience flow.
Linear TelevisionTelevision presented on a scheduled channel where programs play in a defined sequence. Linear channels can be delivered over the air, through pay TV, or by streaming.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: At 8:15 p.m., a viewer joins the program currently running on a scheduled channel.
Live BroadcastProgramming transmitted as events occur, allowing for processing and distribution delay.
Production
In practice: A production presents an event while it occurs, with processing and distribution delay between the source and viewers.
Live to TapeA production recorded largely as a continuous live performance but transmitted later.
Production
In practice: A show is recorded as a largely continuous performance and transmitted later.
Local AvailAdvertising time made available to a local station or distributor within supplied programming or a network feed.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: During a network sports broadcast, a designated break gives the local station an opportunity to air its own advertisers' commercials.
Local InsertionAdding locally selected advertisements or other material into a supplied feed or channel.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: A station inserts its assigned commercial into an authorized opportunity in a supplied feed.
Log ReconciliationComparing planned events with as run and other evidence, resolving differences, and updating records for reporting or billing.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: Traffic compares planned placements with transmission records and resolves a missing commercial before billing support is finalized.
Log ValidationChecking a planned log for issues before transmission, such as missing media, incorrect durations, invalid assignments, or unmet placement rules.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: A pre-air check flags an event with missing media or a placement that violates the configured rules.
LoudnessThe perceived level of audio, measured with methods designed to reflect human hearing. Broadcast workflows commonly use integrated loudness measurements in LUFS or LKFS.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: An audio check measures a program using the loudness method required by the receiving specification.
Lower ThirdA graphic typically placed in the lower part of the screen to identify a person or provide information.
Production
In practice: A news interview displays the speaker's name and role near the bottom of the picture.
M
MakegoodA replacement advertising placement or other agreed remedy for a missed, incorrect, or underdelivered placement.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: After a missed commercial, the station schedules replacement advertising under the agreed remedy.
ManifestA streaming playlist or description that tells a player where to obtain media segments and which playback options are available.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A streaming player uses a manifest to locate media segments and available playback options.
Master ControlThe operational function that supervises final channel output, switches sources, monitors transmission, and handles exceptions.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: An operator supervises final channel output and handles an exception when scheduled media is unavailable.
Master Control RoomThe facility or working area from which final channel output and related systems are supervised.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: The final-output team monitors channel transmission from its designated operational workspace.
Media Asset ManagementSystems and processes for tracking media files, versions, metadata, and their movement through a workflow. Often abbreviated MAM.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A team tracks an episode's media versions, metadata and readiness as it moves toward playout.
MetadataInformation describing content or an asset, such as title, episode number, duration, language, rights, and technical characteristics.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: The guide title, episode number and duration are checked against the media selected for the schedule.
Mezzanine FileA high quality intermediate media file used as a source for creating delivery versions.
Production
In practice: A high-quality intermediate master is used to create several delivery versions.
Minutes ViewedThe total viewing minutes accumulated by the measured audience for a title or service over a specified period.
Audience Measurement
In practice: A streaming title accumulates viewing minutes across its measured episodes during one reporting week. This total is not the same as the number of unique people who watched.
MOSMedia Object Server protocol. A protocol used to exchange information about media objects and rundowns between newsroom systems and connected production systems.
Production
In practice: A newsroom workflow exchanges rundown and media-object information with connected production systems.
MulticastNetwork delivery in which a source sends a stream to a group of receivers without creating a separate source stream for every receiver.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A managed network distributes one source stream to a defined group of receiving devices.
MultiplexCombining multiple signals or services into a shared transport or transmission capacity.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A distribution path combines several services within a shared transport capacity.
MVPDMultichannel video programming distributor. A provider offering multiple television channels, such as a cable or satellite operator.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A household subscribes to a distributor offering a bundle of television channels.
N
NetworkA programming organization that supplies content to stations or distributors; in engineering, an interconnected communications system.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: In a programming meeting, network refers to the supplier of shows; an engineering diagram uses the term for connected systems.
Network FeedProgramming and related elements supplied by a television network to receiving stations or distributors.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A station receives supplied programming and identifies the local opportunities it is authorized to use.
NLENonlinear editing. Editing media by accessing clips directly rather than working through a strictly sequential recording process.
Production
In practice: An editor selects clips directly, rearranges them and trims the sequence without working through a tape in order.
O
OTTOver the top. Video or other media delivered over internet connectivity outside a traditional managed pay TV delivery path. OTT describes delivery, and can include live or on demand viewing on different devices.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A viewer watches an internet-delivered service outside a traditional managed pay-TV path, on a phone or television.
Over the AirTelevision received from terrestrial broadcast transmitters, typically through an antenna. Often abbreviated OTA.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A household receives a terrestrial station using an antenna.
OverrunProgramming that continues beyond its expected or scheduled end time.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: Extra innings push a game's finish beyond the expected schedule, requiring decisions about following programs.
Owned and Operated StationA local station owned by the network with which it is affiliated. Often abbreviated O and O.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A network owns the local station that carries its programming, rather than only maintaining an affiliation agreement.
P
Pass ThroughForwarding supplied content or a signal without specified changes. The changes that are bypassed must be stated for the workflow.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A workflow forwards a supplied feed without the particular changes excluded by its agreed pass-through configuration.
PlayoutThe process of playing media and assembling events into the output of a channel or service.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: The final-output system plays scheduled media and associated events to create the channel stream.
Playout ServerEquipment or software that stores and plays media for scheduled channel output.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: The system retrieves the intended media item and plays it as part of scheduled output.
Post ProductionWork performed after recording, including editing, sound processing, graphics, color work, and preparation of final versions.
Production
In practice: An episode is edited, mixed and prepared in final versions after recording.
PreemptionDisplacement of scheduled programming or advertising by another event, such as breaking news or a higher priority placement.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: Breaking news displaces a previously scheduled program, and the affected advertising must be reviewed.
Prime TimeA principal evening viewing period used in programming and advertising. Exact hours depend on market, time zone, and service.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A team defines the applicable evening hours before selling or scheduling a prime-time placement.
Production Control RoomThe area used to direct and assemble a production by controlling cameras, switching, audio, graphics, and other sources.
Production
In practice: A director coordinates cameras, switching, graphics and audio to assemble a live program.
Program ClockA timing structure showing the positions and durations of program segments, breaks, and other elements within a program or hour.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A format shows where program segments and local commercial breaks belong within an hour.
Program FormatThe operational structure of a program, including segments, durations, breaks, and advertising opportunities. The term can also refer to a show's creative concept.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: Traffic uses a program's operational format to represent its segments and advertising opportunities correctly.
Program RightsPermissions defining how content may be used, including platforms, territories, dates, and permitted runs.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: Before scheduling a movie, the team checks permitted platforms, territories, dates and runs.
Program ScheduleA plan showing which programs are assigned to dates and times. A traffic or broadcast log expands this plan into individual transmission events.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A scheduler assigns programs to dates and start times before the transmission log adds individual events.
Program SegmentA portion of a program scheduled or played as a separate event, often between commercial breaks.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: The section of a show between two commercial breaks is represented as its own event.
Programmatic AdvertisingAutomated buying, selling, or allocation of advertising using software and data. It includes methods beyond real time auctions.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: Software applies buying and allocation rules to advertising opportunities without requiring every decision to be entered manually.
PromoA message promoting a program, channel, service, or upcoming event.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A channel schedules a message promoting tomorrow's program.
ProxyA lower data rate or otherwise simplified media version used for tasks such as review and editing.
Production
In practice: An editor reviews a smaller media version while retaining the higher-quality source for final output.
PSAPublic service announcement. A message intended to inform or benefit the public, often carried as donated airtime.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: A station schedules an approved public-information message within available airtime.
Q
QCQuality control. Inspection of media or output for technical and presentation issues, such as picture errors, audio problems, missing captions, or incorrect versions.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A received episode is inspected for picture, audio, captions and version issues before use.
R
Rate CardA published or internal schedule of advertising prices, usually organized by placement type, program, or daypart.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: A sales team refers to its price schedule for a stated daypart or placement type.
RatingThe percentage of a defined population viewing specified content under a stated measurement method and time window. Ratings may refer to households or individuals.
Audience Measurement
In practice: An audience report states the population, time window and method behind a program's reported rating.
ReachThe number or percentage of distinct people or households exposed to content or advertising at least once during a specified period.
Audience Measurement
In practice: A campaign report counts distinct people exposed at least once, separately from total impressions.
RedundancyDuplicated equipment, capacity, or paths designed to reduce the impact of failure.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A facility maintains an alternate output path to reduce the impact of a primary-path failure.
Regional FeedA version of a service tailored for a territory through programming, commercials, language, or scheduling differences.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A service prepares a territory-specific version with authorized programming or advertising differences.
Remnant InventoryAdvertising inventory remaining unsold after other sales commitments, sometimes offered under different pricing or placement conditions.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: Sales reviews eligible advertising positions still unsold after other campaign commitments.
Repeat RestrictionA limit on repeated use of content, such as the number of plays or the interval between showings.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A scheduler checks whether an episode's allowed play count or repeat interval permits another showing.
Retransmission ConsentIn the United States, permission negotiated for an MVPD to retransmit a broadcast station's signal under the applicable framework.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A broadcaster and distributor address permission to retransmit the station's signal under the applicable United States framework.
Return FeedA signal sent back to a remote production location so participants can monitor program output or another selected source.
Production
In practice: A remote presenter receives a selected program-output feed to monitor what the production is showing.
Rights WindowThe period during which specified content rights are available for use.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A title must be removed from the eligible schedule when its permitted use period ends.
RouterA device or system that directs signals between sources and destinations. In IP networks, it forwards packets between networks.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A facility routes a selected source to an output; an IP router directs packets between networks.
Run of ScheduleAn advertising placement that allows scheduling across a specified range of eligible times rather than a particular program. Often abbreviated ROS.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: An advertiser allows spots to be placed across an agreed range of eligible times instead of one named show.
RundownAn ordered production plan listing stories, segments, durations, cues, and other instructions, especially for news or live shows.
Production
In practice: A news production lists stories, cues and expected durations in the order the team plans to present them.
S
SCTESociety of Cable Telecommunications Engineers. An organization that develops standards and supports technical education for cable and related media systems.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: An engineering team uses the standards organization's cueing references to define integration requirements.
SCTE 104A standard defining communication between automation and compression systems, including instructions used to generate SCTE 35 messages in an outgoing stream.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: An automation-to-compression workflow passes instructions used to generate cue messages in outgoing video.
SCTE 35A cueing standard used to signal opportunities and events in distributed video, including ad insertion and program or distribution control. A cue signals an event; it does not itself supply the advertisement.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A cue message marks an insertion opportunity; a downstream system still needs the rules and media to deliver the advertisement.
SDISerial digital interface. A family of interfaces used to carry digital video and associated audio and data between professional equipment.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A production facility connects professional video equipment using a compatible SDI interface.
Secondary EventAn action associated with a primary scheduled event, such as triggering a logo, graphic, caption service, or device command.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A scheduled program event includes an associated command to display the channel logo.
SimulcastTransmission of the same programming at the same time on multiple channels, services, or platforms, with possible technical delays or approved variations.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: An authorized program appears on two services at the same scheduled time, with possible delivery delays or approved differences.
SlateAn identifying screen associated with media or a feed, often showing title, version, duration, and other production details.
Production
In practice: A supplied file begins with identification of the title, version and duration so receiving staff can confirm the material.
SMPTESociety of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. A professional organization that develops standards for media technologies.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A technical team consults the organization's media standards when defining equipment interoperability.
SMPTE ST 2110A suite of standards for carrying and synchronizing separate professional media streams over managed IP networks, including video, audio, and ancillary data.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A managed professional IP media environment carries picture, sound and ancillary data as coordinated separate streams.
Soft OutAn approximate or flexible end point that may move within agreed limits.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A segment may finish within an agreed flexible range, unlike a fixed deadline for the next event.
SponsorshipAn arrangement linking an advertiser or organization to a program, segment, or event through agreed branding and promotional benefits.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: A sponsor receives agreed identification around a program or segment.
SpotAn individual timed commercial or announcement.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: One thirty-second commercial placement is a spot on the daily log.
Spot PlacementAssignment of a spot to a specific eligible break, position, or time within a schedule.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: Traffic assigns a campaign's commercial to an eligible position within a specific break.
SSAIServer side ad insertion. Inserting advertisements within the server side streaming workflow before playback, often through segment stitching or manifest manipulation.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A streaming workflow assembles advertising with program segments or manipulates the manifest before playback.
Station IDAn on air identification of a station. In United States broadcast usage, it can refer specifically to the required legal identification using the station's call sign and community of license.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A station schedules its identification according to its approved legal and presentation workflow.
StreamingDelivery of media for playback as data arrives, rather than requiring the complete file to be downloaded first.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A player begins presenting media while additional data continues to arrive.
Strip SchedulingScheduling a series in the same time slot on multiple days, commonly across weekdays.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A series occupies the same weekday time slot across several days.
SubtitlesText representing speech, often translated into another language. Captions typically also convey important non speech sounds.
Production
In practice: A language version supplies translated speech text while captions may also identify relevant sounds.
SVODSubscription video on demand. On demand content accessed through a recurring subscription; some offerings may also include advertising.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A viewer accesses an on-demand catalog through a recurring subscription, with advertising depending on the offering.
SyndicationLicensing or supplying programming to multiple stations or services outside a single network's exclusive scheduling arrangement.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A distributor supplies a series for use by multiple stations under their respective agreements.
T
TalkbackAn audio communication path used by production staff to give instructions or coordinate work.
Production
In practice: The director uses a staff communication path to coordinate the next production cue.
TeaseA brief preview intended to encourage viewers to keep watching or return for an upcoming story or segment.
Production
In practice: A presenter previews a story that will follow after the break.
Time ShiftViewing or transmitting content at a different time from its original live or scheduled presentation.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A viewer watches a recorded program later than its original scheduled presentation.
TimecodeA coded time reference used to identify positions in media, commonly expressed as hours, minutes, seconds, and frames.
Production
In practice: An editor identifies the intended start of a segment with a coded hours-minutes-seconds-frames reference.
Topical PromoA promotional message tied to a particular episode, story, or upcoming edition of a program.
Programming & Scheduling
In practice: A promo describes the specific story planned for tonight's news rather than the news brand generally.
Total ViewersThe number of people who watched a program within the stated audience and measurement window.
Audience Measurement
In practice: A weekly report lists a program’s audience in millions of persons age two and older; its source specifies the viewing window and methodology.
TrafficThe operational function that manages advertising orders, copy assignments, spot placement, log preparation, and related reconciliation and billing support.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: The traffic team connects an advertising order with inventory, copy, log placement and reconciliation.
Traffic LogA detailed transmission plan commonly prepared through the traffic system, combining commercial placements with programs, segments, promos, and other events as the workflow requires.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: The final plan identifies the commercial, program segment and promo events intended for transmission that day.
TranscodingConverting encoded media into another encoded representation, such as a different codec, bitrate, resolution, or delivery profile.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A workflow creates a receiving platform's required codec and resolution version from existing encoded media.
TransmitterEquipment that sends a broadcast signal through an antenna using radio frequency energy.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A terrestrial station sends its prepared broadcast signal through transmitting equipment and an antenna.
Transport StreamA packetized container commonly used to carry compressed video, audio, and related data together for distribution.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A distribution workflow carries compressed picture, sound and related data in a packetized transport container.
TVODTransactional video on demand. Access to specific content through an individual rental or purchase payment.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A viewer pays to rent or purchase a particular title rather than subscribing to an entire catalog.
U
UHDUltra high definition. Video formats with greater picture resolution than HD, commonly including 3840 by 2160 for consumer 4K television.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A delivery plan prepares a 3840-by-2160 consumer 4K version where the destination supports it.
UnderdeliveryDelivery of fewer advertising exposures, spots, or other agreed units than a campaign commitment specifies.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: A campaign's measured or verified delivered units fall short of the agreed commitment.
UpfrontAn advance television advertising sales period in which advertisers commit to inventory for a future programming season or other defined period.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: An advertiser commits to eligible inventory for a future programming period during an advance sales process.
UplinkTransmission from an earth station to a satellite.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A facility sends a prepared feed from an earth station to a satellite.
V
VersionA distinct form of a media item, such as a language version, edited duration, regional commercial, or platform specific master.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: One episode has separate language and duration versions that must not be confused in the schedule.
vMVPDVirtual multichannel video programming distributor. An industry term for an internet delivered service offering a bundle of live television channels.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A viewer uses an internet-delivered service offering a bundle of live television channels.
VODVideo on demand. Content that viewers choose to start at a time of their choosing, subject to availability and service controls.
Distribution & Streaming
In practice: A viewer selects an available episode and starts it at a chosen time.
VoiceoverRecorded or live speech heard over pictures when the speaker is not delivering the words visibly on screen at that moment.
Production
In practice: A narrator's recorded speech accompanies documentary pictures without the narrator appearing on screen.
W
WatermarkAn identifying mark embedded in media, either visible or designed for automated detection, such as audience measurement or content tracking.
Audience Measurement
In practice: A media item carries an identifying mark for an approved tracking or measurement workflow.
WorkflowThe sequence of activities, decisions, systems, and handoffs used to produce a defined result.
Broadcast Technology
In practice: A team maps how an advertising order becomes an assigned spot, an executed event and a reconciled record.
Y
Yield ManagementAdjusting advertising allocation and pricing to improve revenue from available inventory while honoring commitments and constraints.
Traffic & Advertising
In practice: A team evaluates eligible inventory allocation and pricing while honoring existing commitments and constraints.
Examples illustrate everyday workflows rather than a particular station or product. Terminology can vary by organization, system or market; confirm the intended meaning when defining a workflow.