Broadcast Terminology A.B.U. — Asian Broadcasting Union
Acoustics — Resonance quality of sound recording studio.
Ad. lib. — ‘ad libitum’ (Latin- “at pleasure”) speaking in microphone without rehearsal/speaking without preparation in microphone is called adlibbing.
A.M. — Amplitude modulation, audio transmission on frequencies from 550 to 1600 kilohertz. (medium wave in India).
Anchorman — News/programme presenter.
Bleed — Making all or part of the television picture go out of frame.
Break — “time out” in rehearsal or production. Programme section set apart for spots or advertisements; duration between two segments of news/programme in which the broadcasting organisation broadcasts its name.
CATV — Community Antenna Television; Cable connection.
CBA — Commonwealth Broadcasting Association
Clip — Short section of a longer film.
CCTV — Close Circuit TV
Cold — Without preparation. Also : Bluish or greenish picture tone.
Compere — Show-host or programme presenter.
Console — Control room switching desk. Announcer’s console is consists of switch controls like volume, pitch etc.
Credits — Opening or closing list of programme production personnel. In common man’s language it is called ‘casting’. The personnel who have helped in making the programme like Producer, anchor, presenter, production assistant, cameraman, sound recordist etc.
Cue sheet — A sheet having details of programmes to be broadcast.
Cue track — Auxiliary audio recording area on video tape.
Cyclorama — large J-profiled piece of background scenery, usually white, eliminating
any visual frame of reference.
DA — Directional antenna.
Diary — Self-reporting audience survey technique.
Digital — Translation of information into mathematical bits, providing easy signal regeneration without noise, drift or distortion.
Disc jockey or dj — A host entertaining listener through disc/record playing.
Dope sheet — camera operator’s take-by-take record; also a reference sheet.
ECU — Extra/extreme close-up.
Eye light — Low-level illumination (usually from camera mounted light)
Eye line — Direction of performer’s gaze.
Facts sheet — Copy points for announcers’ ad lib use.
Fader — Volume control also called pot from potentiometer.
Fade-in — Come slowly out of black picture to an image or come slowly out of silence to a sound.
Fade-out — Go slowly from an image to black or go slowly from a sound to silence.
Fishbowl — Studio observation booth.
Fish-eye — Extreme wide angle lens.
Fishing rod — Long held microphone
Floor — Shooting set in a television studio or stage.
Floor manager — Director’s representative on floor, usually connected to control room by headphones.
Floor men — Helping hands, assistants on floor.
Footage — Standard film length measurement. Scenes shot on film.
Frame — Individual motion picture film photograph. Usually there are 24 frames in one second when projected.
Freelance — Creative artists, script writers who are not on payroll.
Frequency — Rate at which electronic impulse or sound or light is repeated in a specific time period; measured in hertz.
Gain — Audio amplification usually measured in decibels.
Gobo — Sound-absorbing material or screen. A small black screen to keep stray light from striking camera lens.
Handheld — Camera without stand or tripod, microphone without stand; instrument that can be carried in hand.
Hardware — Equipment and machinery used to broadcast/transmit programme.
Headphones — Tiny speakers worn over each ear; also called headset.
Jingle — Musical broadcast advertisement, usually sung.
LED — Light Emitting Diode
Live — Broadcast of something actually happening.
Location — Non-studio broadcasting/shooting site.
MATV — Master antenna television system; cable TV.
MC — Master of Ceremony, host, anchor, compere.
MCU — Medium Close-up
Microphone — Mike/Mic. – device use to convert sound wave intoelectrical impulse
Microwave — Line-of-sight cable less system relaying broadcast signals.
Mix — Mixing different soundtrack, audio-visuals etc.
Mixer — The console or machine used for mixing/editing the tracks.
Montage — visual blending of several scenes.
Mute — Silent film; closing the volume.
Narrator — Off-camera performer/ commentator who is in the background.
OB — Out broadcast; broadcasting from location outside studio.
OB Van — Van equipped with necessary machinery for live transmission or recording from outside locations.
OC — On Camera – A narrator or performer facing the camera.
Off camera — (voice over) Same as narrator – a commentator whose face is not seen.
On the air — Transmission of programme; broadcast.
Outline — Brief written summary of a programme.
Phone over — A Radio/TV correspondent reporting over telephone during live programme. Also called ‘Phone-O.’
Pre-production — The preparation or outlining the programme before actual production.
Producer — In-charge of making programme.
Production — Making a programme for broadcast.
Prompter— A TV screen usually mounted on camera or on a stand on which the written material is rolling up for a programme presenter/newscaster to read.
PSA — Public Service Announcement; time slot set apart for non-commercial public service announcements.
Radio jockey (r.j) — Radio programme host; compere.
Rating point — Measurement unit for popularity of a broadcast. TV Rating point is used to gauge the popularity of a television Programme – through audience research etc.
Raw stock — Material to be used in programme production.
Unexposed films/ cartridges/ cassettes. Unedited scenes kept for future use.
Report sheet — Camera man’s take-by-take record to be used during editing.
Ribbon — Highly sensitive directional microphone.
Rifle — Long highly directional microphone; also called gun microphone.
Rip and read — Reading news material directly from agency’s teleprinter without editing.
Script — Written material to be read by a performer.
Scriptwriter — The person writing script for broadcast.
Signature tune — Music denoting a particular programme; usually played at beginning and/or end of the programme.
Sign-on/sign off — Station’s or performer’s identification at the start/end of the programme/broadcast.
Sound bite — Actuality/sound effect or voice of newsmaker inserted in the middle of the programme or news bulletin to make Programme/ news lively and authentic.
Sound track — Portion of film or audio/video tape on which sound is recorded.
Stock shot — Library footage kept for use as and when required.
Sub title — Text along with visuals; usually translation of foreign film in a native language.
Superimpose — Mixing/overlap of an audio/visual signal over another.
UHF — Ultra High Frequency (between 470-890 MHz)
Umbrella — Umbrella-shaped “bounce light” reflector.
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