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Media glossary - the most important terms for television, computers and Co.

When advertising for digital devices or reporting on digital media, one cannot do without abbreviations and technical terms. We briefly explain frequently used terms in the following glossary.

As a Smart TV, televisions can be connected directly to the Internet.

App

Application program, for example for smartphones or televisions. With these programs you have access to video on-demand services or the Tagesschau app, for example. The abbreviation App comes from Application and means application.

Bit

smallest information unit of a digital signal, derived from the designation "binary digit"

THAT

stands for "Conditional Access", which means access to the television signal under certain conditions.

CA system

is used for encrypted television. It ensures that the television signals transmitted in encrypted form are decrypted if the user has the correct smart card.

CEC control

Abbreviation for "Consumer Electronics Control". This control makes it possible to control a maximum of 15 devices, such as TVs, radios, CD players and amplifiers, regardless of manufacturer, with one remote control. The basic requirement is that the devices support CEC. Thus, for example, the receiver can also be controlled with the remote control of the television.

DRM

stands for "Digital Rights Management" and means managing digital rights. This includes all regulations on how a user can use transmitted content. These include, among other things, the playback options for video and audio files and the number of copies permitted. The extent depends on the copyright holders.

DVB

stands for "Digital Video Broadcasting", i.e. digital video broadcasting. It describes today's standard for television broadcasting. Depending on the distribution channel, a corresponding abbreviation is added, for example DVB-T.

DVD

stands for "Digital Versatile Disc". A DVD is a digital storage medium that looks similar to a CD, but has more storage capacity. The DVD is often used as a storage medium for video films and can play this film content directly on the television with a DVD player. The DVD has replaced the VHS video system over the years

DVI

Abbreviation for "Digital Visual Interface". DVI designates a standardized interface for digital video data, but not for audio data. In this way, for example, a set-top box (STB) or a computer can be connected to a flat screen.

EPG

stands for "Electronic Program Guide" and means electronic program guide. Electronically distributed information about the current radio and television program is called EPG. The data is now usually broadcast as an additional service by the broadcasters and can be received free of charge.

FTA

Abbreviation for "free-to-air", literally translated: "free over the air". What is meant, however, is the ability to receive programs (free of charge) regardless of the transmission route – cable, satellite or antenna.

Full LED TV

With the direct LED or full LED principle, light-emitting diodes illuminate the image from behind over the entire image area. The image can thus be illuminated more evenly and the contrast can be greatly increased by locally dimming individual LEDs, for example behind dark image areas.

GPRS

The abbreviation stands for "General Packet Radio Service" and is the designation for a data transmission method with data packets that is made available in GSM. This enables data rates of up to 171.2 kbit/s.

GSM

Abbreviation for "Global System for Mobile Communications", refers to a standardized and globally used mobile radio system in which switching and transmission takes place digitally. Depending on the frequency range (in MHz), a distinction is made between GSM 900, GSM 1800 and GSM 1900.

HbbTV

stands for "Hybrid broadcast broadband TV". Among other things, HbbTV is intended to replace classic teletext in the future and expand it to include additional services. In order to be able to use HbbTV, the television must be connected to the Internet. Additional services, such as apps or videos from the Internet, can then be displayed directly on the television.

HD+

A paid TV offer from the satellite operator SES Astra for receiving the high-definition channels RTL HD, Sat1 HD, ProSieben HD, VOX HD, Kabel1 HD, Sixx HD, Sport1 HD, N24 HD, Nickeoldeon HD / Comedy Central HD, Tele5 HD. The SDTV versions of these channels can still be received unencrypted and free of charge.

HDCP

stands for "High Band with Digital Content Protection". Translated, this means something like "protection of digital content with high resolution". It is a process that protects videos and TV broadcasts with high definition (HD video and HDTV) against unauthorized copying.

HDMI

Abbreviation for "High Definition Multimedia Interface". Translated, this means interface for high-resolution multimedia content. It enables the connection between digital consumer electronics devices, for example the television and the Blu-ray player. Not only the digital video and audio data are transmitted via HDMI, but also information regarding copyrights. This ensures that the HDCP copy protection works.

HDready

A certificate that was defined as a logo by Digital Europe, the association of European consumer electronics manufacturers, for digital high-resolution playback devices such as flat screens and projectors. Devices with the HDready logo must meet certain technical requirements. However, the HDready logo does not guarantee a specific image quality; this depends on the source material and transmission. Image disturbances and dropouts are therefore possible despite the HDready logo.

HDTV

stands for "High Definition Television" and means high definition digital television. The resolution is at least 1,280 x 720, but the aim is 1,920 x 1,080. With normal definition television SDTV (Standard Definition Television) the resolution is only 720 x 576. With HDTV there are two different standards. The public television stations transmit their television programs with 720 picture lines and 50 frames per second, while the private television stations transmit their television programs with 1080 picture lines but only with 25 frames per second.

Hertz (Hz)

is the refresh rate. The designation indicates how often the screen or television changes the picture. When broadcasting on television, 25 frames per second are usually transmitted and these are then displayed twice on the television, i.e. at 50 Hertz. A 100 Hertz television therefore displays each transmitted image four times.

hotspot

public Internet access available for a fee or free of charge, which is implemented using > WLAN technology. Hotspots can be found, for example, in public buildings, airports, train stations, hotels and restaurants.

HSDPA

Abbreviation for "High Speed ​​Downlink Packet Access", meaning something like: high-speed download for packet transmission. Designates the latest standard for UMTS data transmission. This achieves > transmission rates of up to 3.6 MBit/s.

iDTV

Television sets that have one or more integrated digital tuners, for example DVB-T, DVB-C, DVB-S. The television can receive the digital television program directly without a receiver.

IP address

In a data network, each connected device requires a unique address. On the Internet or in networks that work according to the Internet Protocol (IP), one therefore speaks of an IP address, which is assigned to a PC or printer, for example. IP addresses often take the form of four consecutive three-digit numbers, for example: 192.168.123.456.

IPTV

Abbreviation for Internet Protocol Television. This basically refers to the transmission of television using the Internet protocol in data networks. IPTV is currently understood to mean the distribution of television programs via DSL connections.

cable modem

fulfills the same function as a DSL modem, but establishes a connection to the (television) cable network of the cable network operator.

card reader

Many televisions and computers now have integrated card readers that can display images directly from the camera. There are different cards with names like CF, SD, MD, MS, MMC, SM, XD.

LCD

stands for "Liquid Crystal Display" and means liquid crystal screen. The image is created using illuminated liquid crystals that are electrically controlled.

LEDs

is called "Light Emitting Diode" and means light-emitting diode. An LED TV is basically an LCD TV that is backlit by LEDs. Depending on the type of backlight, a distinction is made between edge LED and full LED televisions.

LNB

Abbreviation for "Low Noise Block Converter". Translated, this means low-noise frequency block converter. The LNB is located on a bracket in front of the dish (colloquially also called the dish) of each satellite receiving antenna and converts the highest-frequency reception signal (10.7 - 12.75 GHz) to the satellite intermediate frequency (SAT IF) (950 - 2,140 MHz).) around.

MPEG-2

Standard by which digital video is compressed for transmission or storage. The abbreviation stands for "Motion Picture Experts Group" (translated: expert group for moving pictures), a body that is responsible for the development of standards for video and audio compression.

NTSC standard

Color television standard for analog television used primarily in the United States. NTSC stands for "National Television System Committee", which is the name of the standardization body.

PAL standard

color television standard developed in Germany for analogue television, which is primarily used in Europe. The abbreviation stands for "Phase Alternating Line". This characterizes the special feature of the transmission method, namely the line-by-line phase change of the color signal.

Pay TV

means pay TV. This is encrypted, fee-based television that can be received either by subscription, such as Sky, or against advance payment (prepaid), such as •HD+ via a corresponding •smart card.

PCMCIA

Abbreviation for "Personal Computer Memory Card International Organization", designates an international working group that has been developing standards for expansion cards and their interfaces for mobile computers since the 1990s. Such cards were initially only designed for data storage, but are now available for different tasks and are commonly referred to as PCMCIA cards.

PDA

Abbreviation for "Personal Digital Assistant", i.e. something like: personal digital assistant. Generally refers to a class of small computers that are typically hand-held and operated via a touch-sensitive display with a plastic stylus.

PDR

Abbreviation for "Personal Digital Recorder". A comparable designation is PVR (Personal Video Recorder). In both cases, this means digital hard disk storage that is either integrated into the set-top box (STB) or forms a stand-alone device, for example a USB hard disk.

SCART

Plug-in connection for analogue video and audio signals, via which a DVD player, set-top box (STB) or video recorder can be easily connected to the television set.

SDTV

stands for "Standard Definition Television" and means digital television in standard quality. It has a resolution of 756 x 576 pixels and is comparable to the previous quality of analog television.

SES ASTRA

Satellites operated by Luxembourg's Societé des Satellites (SES) and used to broadcast primarily German-language television and radio programs.

S/P DIF

The abbreviation is also used in the form SPDIF or S/P/DIF and stands for "Sony Philips Digital Interface". It is an interface developed by the companies Sony and Philips for the transmission of digital audio data.

STB

The abbreviation stands for set-top box, a digital television receiver (for DVB-S, DVB-C or DVB-T) that has to be connected to either a television, a flat screen or a beamer for the playback of picture and sound.

UltraHD

also called 4k, stands for "Ultra High Definition Television" and means very high definition digital television. It is a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels.

USB port

stands for "Universal Serial Bus". It is a multifunctional data interface that has been part of the basic equipment of most electronic devices for some time. The devices are connected via USB cables, i.e. data cables with USB plugs.

VDSL

Abbreviation for "Very High Speed ​​Digital Subscriber Line", translated: digital subscriber connection line for very high transmission rates. This designates a new digital transmission technology for Internet connections. VDSL is the successor to the previously common ADSL.

VGA

Abbreviation for "Video Graphics Array". VGA is an interface standard for computer graphics output. Until a few years ago, VGA was the most important way to connect computers or DVD players to a monitor or projector. Even today, many DVD players, but also HDTV receivers, have a VGA connection in order to be able to display the video output signal on a beamer, television or computer monitor.

vhs

Abbreviation for "Video Home System", also known commonly as a video recorder.

VPN client

VPN is the abbreviation for "Virtual Private Network", translated: virtual private network. Encryption technology that allows a private network connection, protected against unauthorized intrusion, to be established via a public network such as the Internet. The software that enables the encryption and decryption of the data on the end devices is called a VPN client.

WiFi

Because the abbreviation WLAN is very difficult to articulate in English, it is called "WiFi" in English-speaking countries.

YUV

The term YUV is often used incorrectly in operating instructions and housing labels from device manufacturers. The term YPbPr is more correct. This connection (usually 3 cinch connections) is used to transmit the television signal from a device (receiver, player) to the television, separated by color or color difference.