MTS - (Multi-channel Television Sound) - This refers to an analog NTSC TV equipped with stereo and SAP (separate audio program) features.
Standard Definition TV Format (SDTV) - There are two main digital formats - HDTV and SDTV. SDTV typically does produce better quality images than that of traditional analog TV and pictures somewhat akin to digital cable. However, its images are not nearly as sharp as the images from the ultimate form of digital television _ High-definition TV (HDTV).
Digital Television (DTV) - Digital TV is the umbrella term encompassing High-definition Television and several other applications, including Standard Definition Televison, datacasting, multicasting and interactivity.
Terrestrial - A broadcast signal transmitted "over the air" to an antenna.
Letterbox - Letterbox refers to the image of a wide-screen picture on a standard 4:3 aspect ratio television screen, typically with black bars above and below. It is used to maintain the original aspect ratio of the original source (usually a theatrical motion picture of 16:9 aspect ratio or wider).
Upconvert - The process which increases the number of pixels or frame rate used to represent an image by creating new pixels at closer spacing. For instance SDTV video having 720 x 480 pixels may be upconverted to 1280 x 720 pixels for use as HDTV. The upconversion process does not increase the resolution of image.
Dot Pitch - The distance between pixels (picture elements) in a display. In a CRT for HDTV, the dot pitch is typically 0.25 - 0.3 mm. For full resolution HDTV display approximately 1400 pixels are required across the screen.
Compression - A method of reducing the number of bits required to store or transmit programs by the removal of redundant and/or non-critical information in the digital picture and sound. The DTV broadcasting standard for Canada, uses the MPEG-2 video and the AC-3 audio compression coding. Compression allows the delivery of more programs in a single channel.
Encryption - The process of coding signals so that a specific code or key is required by the viewer to recover the data so encrypted. Without this key, the data is meaningless. Encryption is used to provide conditional access for private television services.
Reverse 3 - 2 Pull-Down - DTV material originating on film at 24 fps is converted to the 30 fps of DTV by repeating field or frames, resulting in some motion artefacts. Some film presentations remove these repeated images before transmission and send a signal to the television causing it to process (termed Reverse 3 - 2 Pull-Down) this material appropriately to make it suitable for display. In this way, the displayed material closely matches the original film quality, avoiding the motion artefacts.
Cable card - The Cable Card is the mechanism the industry has adopted to prevent the piracy of cable services. The cable company will periodically mail out new cable cards, ask their customers to plug them into the TV, and then disable the old cards, so anyone without a new cable card would lose service.
DBS (direct broadcast satellites) - These satellites are powerful enough to be received by an 18 inch dish. They use Ku-band frequencies. Companies that provide DBS services to consumers in the U.S. are DirecTV and Dish Network. Canadian DBS providers are Star Choice and Bell ExpressVu. Also called DSS.
DirecTV - (see DBS)
HDTV - (High Definition TV) - A TV that displays 1280x720 pixels or better.
Must-carry - This refers to the legal obligation of cable companies to carry analog or digital signals of over-the-air local broadcasters.
Plug - A male connector.
SDTV - (standard definition TV) - SDTV is 480i, which is approximately the resolution of NTSC and DVDs.
