Broadcast Terminology Glossary
Master the language of live production with 122+ essential broadcast, television, and streaming terms used by professionals worldwide.
Show Production & Timing
- Backtime
- Working backward from a hard out to determine when segments should start.
- Bumper
- Short content or graphics used before/after commercial breaks.
- Cold Open
- Starting a show without an introduction or opening sequence.
- Floating Segment
- A flexible segment that can move within the rundown to accommodate time.
- Hard Out
- A non-negotiable end time for a show or segment.
- Pad
- Extra content used to fill time if the show is running short.
- Rundown
- A detailed outline of a show's segments, timing, and content order.
- Segment
- An individual block of content within a show.
- Tag
- Additional information or final comment added at the end of a segment.
- Tease
- A preview of upcoming content designed to keep viewers watching.
- Throw
- Transitioning from one segment, location, or talent to another.
- Toss
- A conversational handoff between anchors or correspondents.
Live Production & Switching
- Black Burst
- Synchronization signal for video equipment.
- Clean Feed
- Video output without graphics or lower thirds.
- Color Bars
- Test pattern for calibrating video equipment.
- Dirty Feed
- Video output with all graphics included.
- Downstream Key
- Final graphic layer added after all other effects.
- Genlock
- Synchronizing video sources to the same timing reference.
- ISO (Isolated Camera)
- Individual camera recording independent of the main program feed.
- Mix-Minus
- Audio feed excluding specific sources, often used for remote talent.
- Multiviewer
- Display showing multiple video sources simultaneously.
- PGM (Program)
- The main output feed being broadcast.
- Preview / Preset
- Next source queued to go live.
- Upstream Key
- Graphic layer above the video that can be keyed on/off.
Communication & Crew
- 10-1
- Radio code indicating someone is going to the bathroom.
- Blocking
- Planning and rehearsing movement and positioning for talent and cameras.
- Camera Rehearsal
- Full technical rehearsal with all equipment active.
- Clear
- All clear, safe to proceed, area is empty, or off-air/not being recorded or broadcast.
- Copy That
- Acknowledgment that a message was received.
- Dry Rehearsal
- Walk-through without full technical elements.
- Hot
- Live on air or being recorded.
- Martini Shot
- The final shot of the day.
- Rolling
- Cameras or recording devices are active.
- Run-through
- Complete rehearsal from start to finish.
- Speed
- Confirmation that recording has reached proper speed/sync.
- Stand By
- Prepare for imminent action.
- Standby to Roll
- Prepare to start recording.
- Wrap
- End of production for the day or project.
Talent & Performance
- Camera Left / Camera Right
- Directions from the camera's perspective.
- Cheat Out
- Angle your body slightly toward the camera.
- Crossing
- Moving in front of another talent or camera.
- Hit Your Mark
- Stand on your designated spot.
- Hold
- Maintain current position or action.
- Look Down the Barrel
- Look directly into the camera lens.
- On Your Mark
- Talent should be in their designated position.
- Pancake
- Heavy makeup used for TV/film.
- Stage Left / Stage Right
- Directions from the talent's perspective facing the audience.
- Upstage / Downstage
- Away from camera / Toward camera.
Directing & Camera
- Cut
- Instant transition between sources.
- Dissolve
- Gradual transition between two video sources.
- Fade
- Gradual transition to/from black.
- Framing
- Composition and positioning of subjects within the camera's view.
- Headroom
- Space between the top of a subject's head and the top of frame.
- Lead Room / Nose Room
- Space in front of a subject they're looking or moving toward.
- Pan
- Horizontal camera movement.
- Pedestal
- Moving the camera up or down vertically.
- Push In / Pull Out
- Moving the entire camera toward or away from subject.
- Rack Focus
- Shifting focus from one subject to another in the same shot.
- Ready
- Standby command preparing for the next action.
- Take
- Command to switch to a specified camera or source.
- Tilt
- Vertical camera movement.
- Truck
- Moving the camera left or right horizontally.
- Two-Shot
- Camera framing showing two people.
- Wipe
- Transition where one image replaces another with a moving line.
- Zoom
- Adjusting focal length to move closer or further from subject.
Technical & Production
- A-Roll
- Primary footage, usually interview or main content.
- B-Roll
- Supplemental footage used to cover edits or illustrate stories.
- Chyron
- Lower-third graphics displaying names, titles, or information.
- DVE (Digital Video Effects)
- Electronic effects like picture-in-picture or split screens.
- Full Screen
- Graphic that takes up the entire screen.
- IFB (Interruptible Foldback)
- Audio system allowing producers to communicate with on-air talent.
- Key
- Layering one video source over another, often used for graphics.
- Live Shot
- Real-time reporting from a remote location.
- Lower Third
- Graphics appearing in the lower portion of the screen with text information.
- MOS (Mit Out Sound)
- Video footage without accompanying audio, opposite of SOT. Originally 'Man On Street' or from German 'mit out sound'.
- OTS (Over The Shoulder)
- Graphic displayed behind an anchor.
- Package
- A self-contained pre-produced story segment.
- Slate
- Identification information at the beginning of a recording.
- SOT (Sound On Tape)
- Pre-recorded audio/video content played during a broadcast.
- VO (Voice Over)
- Narration over video without the speaker on camera.
- VOSOT
- Voice over followed by sound on tape.
Audio
- Ambience / Nat Sound
- Natural environmental audio.
- Boom
- Microphone on an extendable pole.
- Dead Mic
- A microphone that's off or not working.
- Gain
- Audio input level adjustment.
- Hot Mic
- A live, active microphone.
- Lavalier / Lav
- Small clip-on microphone.
- Levels
- Audio volume measurements.
- Mic Check
- Testing audio levels and equipment before production.
- Peak
- Maximum audio level, often indicating distortion risk.
- Room Tone
- Silent background noise of a space, used in editing.
Broadcast Specific
- Affiliate
- Local station associated with a larger network.
- Breaking News
- Urgent, unplanned news requiring immediate coverage.
- Breaking News Bump
- Graphic or audio indicating breaking news.
- Closed Captioning
- Text display of spoken audio for accessibility.
- Downlink
- Receiving signal from satellite.
- ENG (Electronic News Gathering)
- Mobile video production for news.
- FCC (Federal Communications Commission)
- US regulatory body for broadcast standards.
- Network Feed
- Content provided by the main network.
- Satellite Window
- Scheduled time for satellite transmission.
- SNG (Satellite News Gathering)
- Mobile satellite uplink for remote broadcasts.
- Uplink
- Transmitting signal to satellite.
Streaming & Modern
- Bitrate
- Amount of data transmitted per second.
- CDN (Content Delivery Network)
- Distributed servers delivering streaming content.
- Chat Moderation
- Managing viewer comments during live streams.
- Encoder
- Hardware or software converting video for streaming.
- Latency
- Delay between capture and display.
- Multistreaming
- Broadcasting to multiple platforms at once.
- OBS (Open Broadcaster Software)
- Popular open-source streaming software.
- RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol)
- Protocol for streaming audio/video.
- Simulcast
- Broadcasting on multiple platforms simultaneously.
- Stream Key
- Unique identifier for authenticating a stream.
- VOD (Video On Demand)
- Pre-recorded content available for viewing anytime.
Editing & Post
- Continuity
- Consistency of details across shots.
- In-Point
- Beginning of a clip or edit.
- J-Cut
- Audio from the next shot starts before the video.
- Jump Cut
- Jarring edit within the same shot or angle.
- L-Cut
- Audio from the previous shot continues into the next video.
- Match Cut
- Edit connecting two similar visual elements.
- Out-Point
- End of a clip or edit.
- Render
- Processing edits into a final video file.
- Scratch Track
- Temporary audio used during editing.
How to Use This Glossary
- • Search: Use the search bar to quickly find specific terms or concepts
- • Browse by Category: Click category headers to explore related terms
- • Learn Context: Each definition includes practical usage in production
- • Reference Guide: Bookmark this page for quick access during productions
Why This Matters
- • Professional Communication: Speak the language of broadcast professionals
- • Efficiency: Clear terminology reduces confusion during live production
- • Career Development: Essential knowledge for anyone in broadcast and streaming
- • Industry Standard: Terms used across television, streaming, and live events
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