ADSL (Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line)

The technique of utilising the standard telephone line for broadband internet services (including streamed video or audio broadcast like services).

Analogue spectrum

The collection of radio frequencies used by analogue radio and television broadcasts. Competition for such frequencies is fierce. Other users of spectrum include police and fire service radios, air traffic control, satellite transmissions, microwave ovens, mobile phones and baby monitors.

Digital radio

Refers to transmitting a radio broadcast signal by encoding it as 0s and 1s - the digital binary code used in computers. This reduces the potential for the broadcast to be corrupted during transmission by weather conditions and other problems. Allows broadcasters to transmit far more channels within the same amount of radio spectrum compared to analogue radio.

Digital switchover

The process of switching all terrestrial television in the UK to digital signals. The Government has announced how this will be carried out region by region between 2008 and 2012.

Digital television

Refers to transmitting a television broadcast signal by encoding it as 0s and 1s. Can provide four, five or more channels in the same bandwidth required for one channel of analogue television. Provides new opportunities for interactive television services.

Digital signals can be received by standard aerials or satellite dishes if wireless transmissions or via wires whether dedicated cable for broadcasting or using technologies such as ADSL via the standard telephone line. There are therefore several sub-types of digital television: notably digital terrestrial (received through a standard aerial), digital satellite, digital cable and internet television.

Digital UK

The industry funded body responsible for co-ordinating and promoting the transition to digital -only television. Previously known as SwitchCo, it is an independent, not-for-profit organisation which will work with the Government, Ofcom, consumer groups and industry.

Electronic programme guide (EPG)

An on-screen guide to scheduled broadcast television programs, allowing a viewer to navigate, select and discover content by time, title, channel, genre, etc, using their remote control.

Freeview

Freeview is a form of digital terrestrial television. It allows viewers to receive up to 30 free digital TV channels, plus radio and interactive services. A set top box coverts the signal to digital if the television receiver has an analogue tuner. No contract or subscription is required for access to Freeview services - viewers make a one-off payment for equipment. It is marketed by DTV Services Ltd. a company run by its three shareholders the BBC, Crown Castle International and BSkyB..

Market Impact Assessment

An assessment of the impact that a service may have on the market. The market impact assessment proposed prior to approval of new (or modified) BBC services would provide an assessment of whether the service in question might have an adverse impact, e.g. by driving other providers out of the market or significantly lessening competition. The Government state hat a market impact assessment will be a crucial part of the BBC public value test.

Personal Video Recorder (PVR)

Records TV programmes onto a built-in hard drive instead of video tape or DVD. It has an integrated electronic programme guide (EPG) and enables the viewer to pause and "rewind" live TV and record whole series. It has much more recording time than a standard VHS cassette or recordable DVD.

Pod-casting

A method of publishing audio programs via the internet. Podcasting enables independent producers to create self-published, syndicated "radio shows," and gives broadcast radio programs a new distribution method. Listeners may download the podcast file onto a computer or MP3 player such as an iPod. It can be heard at any time and, if downloaded onto a portable device such as an iPod, heard in any location.

Privy Council

The Privy Council is a formal constitutional body. Historically it was the forum where Ministers provided the Sovereign with advice. Appointment to the Privy Council is for life, but only Ministers of the democratically elected Government of the day participate in its policy work. Nowadays Councils are held by The Queen and are attended by Ministers and the Clerk of the Council on average once a month Its day to day business is transacted by those of Her Majesty's Ministers who are Privy Counsellors, that is all Cabinet Ministers and a number of junior Ministers. Another major function of the Privy Council, exercised through its Judicial Committee, is the provision of a final Court of Appeal for a number of Commonwealth countries who have chosen to retain it.

PSB

Public Service Broadcasting

Public Value Test (PVT)

The test that the BBC proposes to apply to all proposals for new services. Its exact form is still being debated. The aim of the PVT is to assess whether a service delivers value to individuals and citizens beyond its economic worth. The PVT will be based on an assessment of the citizen, individual and economic value of a service. The PVT will embrace matters such as quality, reach, market impact, value for money and the contribution a service makes to the BBC's public purposes.

Red button services

The services that digital viewers can access by pressing the red button on their digital remote. Provides access to interactive content and information.

Service licences

A licence for each BBC service which specifies a detailed remit against which performance can be measured. The Government propose that service licences will be issued by the BBC Trust in negotiation with BBC management. The nature and content of the BBC service licences are not yet clear. Formerly DCMS issued service licences for new BBC services and many of these have been criticised for their lack of specificity. Ofcom issues licences to other UK broadcasters but these differ from those proposed for the BBC in that they require adherence (graduated in stringency according to the nature of the broadcasts provided by licensees) to Ofcom codes (which refer to the content regulatory tiers) rather than prescribing a detailed remit as the BBC licences are likely to do.

Switch-co

See Digital UK above.

Terrestrial broadcasters

The conventional term used to refer to the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, S4C and Channel five.