TERMS & EXPLANATIONS

FREEVIEW
Freeview is an operator of free digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom, using the DVB-T standard. The Freeview brand name, owned by DTV Services, is used to promote free digital terrestrial television services as a whole and those services operated by companies who rent capacity from Freeview.

FREESAT
Freesat is a digital satellite television service developed by the BBC and ITV that offers a satellite alternative to the Freeview service on digital terrestrial television, with a selection of channels available without subscription for users purchasing a receiver. The service makes use of the additional capacity available on digital satellite broadcasting to offer high-definition channels.

TV ON DEMAND
TV on demand lets you watch what you want, when you want. It comes in various forms; you can subscribe, watch free catch-ups of programs missed earlier in the week and or pay for each program as you watch it. TV on Demand can be received through cable, satellite and broadband TV or on internet web platforms like the ITV and Channel 4 websites or via the BBC iPlayer and Sky Anytime.

HDTV
HD or HD TV stands for high definition, and is a relatively new development in digital TV. HD gives very clear, crisp pictures with vivid colours and up to five times more detail than ordinary standard definition TV. Some programmes are made with cinema-style 'surround sound'. HD broadcasts are particularly suited to flat TV screens (LCD and plasma).

1080i and 1080p resolution
The number 1080 refers to the number of vertical lines of the screen. 1080i interlaces the picture (only showing every other line, so in fact half the resolution), whereas 1080p is full HD TV which uses all 1080 lines to achieve a far superior resolution more suitable to fast moving video games and sports broadcasts.

EPG
Electronic Programming Guide. On screen TV-guide of current and upcoming programs.

HDMI
The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a compact audio/video connector interface for transmitting uncompressed digital streams. HDMI supports, on a single cable, any TV or PC video format including standard, enhanced, and high-definition video along with up to 8 channels of digital audio. To make the most of High Definition signals on a HD Ready TV, quality HDMI cables are essential.

SCART
SCART is a type of cable. It is the most common method of connecting audio-visual equipment together, and has become a standard connector for such devices, although for High Definition signals, HDMI cables are recommended.

BLU RAY
Blu-ray, also known as Blu-ray Disk (BD), is the name of a next-generation optical disc format. The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD). Blu-ray offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single disk.

DOLBY DIGITAL
A newer version of Dolby Prologic, but with separate back channels (stereo). Usually described as a 5.1 sound system (right, left, centre, back right, back left) and sub woofer (hence the 0.1) for deep bass.

HDDVD
HD DVD or High-Definition Digital Versatile Disc is a defunct brand of high-density optical disc format designed for the storage of data and high-definition video. HD DVD has in effect lost the format war against Blu-ray.

Sky terms

Sky +
Sky+, is a personal video recorder (PVR) service that allows the user to record, pause and instantly rewind live TV. The system performs these functions using an internal hard drive inside the Sky+ set top box.

SKY HD
Subscribers to Sky HD can access all the HD channels available through Sky and enjoy clear, crisp pictures with vivid colours and up to five times more detail than ordinary standard definition TV, plus all the other features and benefits of SKY+.

SKY MULTIROOM
This service allows Sky subscribers to watch different Sky channels in up to four different rooms simultaneously.

Virgin Terms

V +
Virgin equivalent of Sky + box

Virgin VIP
Premium media package includes Sky movies and Sky sports and 20Mb broadband connection.

Virgin on demand
Subscribe to this service and watch a range of programs and TV series when you choose.

Setanta Terms

Setanta Sports
Used to provide a subscription sports tv package featuring a number of channels but has now gone bust. ESPN will now take over their football rights.

Setanta Viewing Card
Card that enables Setanta reception when inserted into a DTV or set top box.

CAM pack
Conditional Access Module, can be connected to DTVs or set top boxes to enable them to accept viewing cards.

BT VISION terms

BT on demand.
Pay per view service, whereby customers order from a range of programs to watch whenever they wish.

BT Vision V-box
BT equivalent of Sky+ or Virgin V+ box.