Glossary

Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC)
The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) is the name of the digital television standard used by broadcasters in Canada and the United States.

Analog
Analog signals are transmitted to your television by continuously varying radio waves, which can sometimes lead to inconsistent colour, brightness, and resolution. Compared to analog broadcasting, transmitting digital television signals is more effective and provides a sharper picture, improved sound, and additional features to television viewers.

Analog Pass-through
Analog pass-through is a feature found on some digital-to-analog converter boxes. It allows analog television signals to continue to be displayed on an analog television. A converter box with an analog pass-through feature will allow you to begin viewing digital stations, and continue watching television that is still being broadcast in analog format.

ATSC Tuner
An ATSC tuner is a device that receives and processes over-the-air digital signals using an antenna. It is generally integrated into a television, VCR, digital video recorder, or set-top box. An ATSC tuner is also referred to as a digital tuner.

Broadcaster
A broadcaster is a company that provides programs to television viewers.

Cable
Cable transmits television programs to the television using radio frequency signals. These signals are transmitted through fixed optical and co-axial cables.

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is an independent public organization that regulates and supervises the Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications systems. The CRTC's mandate is to ensure that both the broadcasting and telecommunications systems serve the Canadian public. The CRTC reports to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

Co-Axial Cable
A co-axial cable is a shielded copper cable used by cable TV companies to connect between a community antenna and user homes. Those with analog cable will have a co-axial cable connected to their television sets.

Digital
In reference to television, "digital" refers to a type of broadcasting technology that will replace analog. Digital data can be transmitted using streams of bits.

Digital-to-Analog Converter Box
A digital-to-analog converter box receives and converts an over-the-air digital television signal to analog, for display on a standard analog television.

Digital Television (DTV)
Digital television (DTV) is a new technology for the broadcasting of television signals. DTV signals are delivered to your television in a stream of bits, whereas analog signals are transmitted by continuously varying radio waves. Compared to analog broadcasting, transmitting digital television signals is more effective and provides a sharper picture, improved sound, and additional features to television viewers.

Digital Tuner
A digital tuner is a device that receives and processes over-the-air digital signals using an antenna. It is generally integrated into a television, VCR, digital video recorder, or set-top box. A digital tuner is also referred to as an ATSC tuner.

High-definition Television (HDTV)
High-definition television (HDTV) is a type of digital television (DTV). HDTV has the highest resolution of all digital television formats and offers better picture and sound than regular digital television.

Integrated Tuner
Integrated tuner refers to a tuner that is built-in to a television and will pick up both digital and analog signals.

National Television System Committee (NTSC)
The National Television System Committee (NTSC) is the organization that created the standards for analog colour television production and broadcasting. NTSC is also used to refer to a composite analog television signal. You may also see the term NTSC in reference to the tuner of a television.

Over-the-air (OTA)
Over-the-air broadcasts deliver television signals over radio airwaves to be picked up by rooftop antennas and "rabbit ear" systems. Both analog and digital TV signals can be transmitted over-the-air.

Rabbit Ears
The term "rabbit ears" is used to describe an antenna that sits on top of the television set to receive over-the-air signals. The antenna arms usually stick out in a V shape, much like a rabbit's ears do.

Spectrum
The entire range of frequencies (airwaves) used for radio and television transmission.

Tuner
A hardware device that enables live video content, such as that received from cable or over-the-air broadcast television, to be displayed. A tuner can be found inside a television or can take the form of a separate unit.