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Analogue
The current way that most of us currently receive the broadcasting of television and radio. An analogue signal directly represents the pictures and sound, whereas a digital signal codes the pictures and sound into 'computerised' data into a series of ‘1’s and ‘0’s .

Aspect ratio
The relationship between the width and height of a television screen that defines its shape. A standard TV has an aspect ratio of 4:3, i.e. four units wide by three units high. So if the screen is 24 inches wide it will be 18 inches high. A widescreen set has an aspect ratio of 16:9, giving a shape like that of a cinema screen.

Bandwidth
The range of frequencies used for transmitting a signal. Digital broadcasting takes up much less bandwidth than analogue.
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DAB
Digital audio broadcasting: the transmission system used for digital radio.

DCAB, D-CAB
Digital cable: digital TV received via a cable connection.

Decoder
A device that unscrambles digital signals and turns them back into sound and pictures. It may come as a set-top box, or be built into a TV set or PVR.

Digibox
Informal way of referring to a digital set-top box.

HDMI
High-definition multimedia interface: a digital connection using a single cable for high-quality video and audio.

HD TV
High-definition television which has up to four times as many pixels (dots on the screen) as standard-definition TV. This gives a clearer, sharper picture with much more detail. HD TV also has better quality sound.

IDTV
Integrated digital television is a TV set with a built-in digital TV receiver that can get Freeview without a separate set-top box.

Interactive TV
Features added to TV programmes that let you get extra information, join in with things such as casting a vote or make choices about what scene to view. You access interactive features via the red button on the remote control.

Digital
The new way of broadcasting television and radio. A digital signal codes the pictures and sounds into 'computerised' data into a series of ‘1’s and ‘0’s . The signal then has to be turned back into pictures and sounds by a decoder.

DLP
Digital light processing: a technology used in rear-projection flat-panel TV screens.

DSat, D-SAT
Digital satellite: digital TV received via a satellite dish.

DTT
Digital terrestrial television: digital TV received via a standard aerial.

DVB
Digital Video Broadcasting, the European standard for digital TV technology.

DVD
Digital versatile disc, or digital video disc: DVDs give better picture and sound quality than video cassettes, and can store more than CDs. They can be used in DVD players and recorders and also in computers, though there are different, often incompatible formats.

DVI
Digital visual interface: a digital connection for high-quality video, suitable for HD TV.

DVR
Digital video recorder that records TV programmes digitally on to a hard disk (like saving information on a computer).

EPG
Electronic programme guide: on-screen listings of what's on TV now.

Free to air (FTA)
A programme or service that you don't need to pay a subscription to receive.

Freesat from Sky
Free satellite TV service, where you pay for the equipment but don't pay a subscription to receive free-to-air channels.

Freeview
Company that supplies the UK's free digital terrestrial TV service.

iPlayer
New service which lets you access BBC television programmes via your PC.

LCD
Liquid crystal display: a technology that displays a picture on a flat-panel screen. It is particularly suitable for large-size TV screens and is good for HD TV.

Multiplex (MUX)
A single broadcast frequency that contains a number of different TV or radio channels, ie, six multiplexes carry all the TV channels and radio networks on Freeview and Top Up TV Anytime.

PDR
Personal digital recorder. See DVR.

Pixel
Short for picture element: a single dot on a TV screen (or computer screen or digital photo). Thousands of pixels make up the picture, and the more pixels the better the picture. High-definition TV has up to four times as many pixels as standard-definition TV.Plasma
A technology that displays a TV picture on a flat-panel screen by using gases behind the glass. It is particularly suitable for large-size screens and is good for HD TV.

Platform
In broadcasting, a system for delivering TV and radio services. Digital TV is delivered mainly on terrestrial, satellite and cable platforms.

PPV
Pay-per-view: an individual programme or series that you pay to receive.

PVR (see DVR)
Personal video recorder; also known as a DVR (digital video recorder) or PDR (personal digital recorder). It records TV programmes digitally on a hard disk (like saving information on a computer), instead of on video tape or DVD. It has an electronic programme guide (EPG) built in, and allows you to pause and 'rewind' a programme while you are watching it.

RF
Radio frequency: an RF connector is used to feed a TV signal from an aerial to a TV, video recorder, etc.

SCART
The type of connector most commonly used to connect TVs, video recorders, DVD players and set-top boxes.

Smart card
Also called a viewing card it is a plastic card inserted into a slot in a set-top box or TV that decodes signals and allows you to receive digital services such as Sky and Top Up TV Anytime.

STB
Set-top box.

Terrestrial
TV that is broadcast and received via an aerial.

VOD
Video on demand is a service that allows you to receive and watch selected TV programmes when you want, rather than when they are broadcast.

Widescreen
TV pictures with an aspect ratio of 16:9 that gives a shape like that of a cinema screen. The programmes on most of the major TV channels are now in widescreen format.

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