Download Glossary - Olympic Broadcasting Services

Glossary
Acronyms
Note: this list also shows whether words should include upper or lower case.
BDF
broadcast data feed
BIO
Broadcast Information Office
BOC
Broadcast Operations Centre
BOH
back of house
BTP
Broadcast Training Programme
BVM
Broadcast Venue Manager
CAD
computer aided design
CATV
closed access television system
CCP
com-cam position
CCR
Commentary Control Room
CCU
commentary control unit
CDU
Contribution, Distribution and Unilateral Centre
CEP
Cultural and Education Programme
CIS
Commentator Information System
CLO
Chief Liaison Officer
CMO
Construction Maintenance Office
CPE
Customer Premises Equipment
CSC
Commentary Switching Centre
CU
commentator unit
DAP
digital analogue panel
DDS
direct and dedicated (Bus) system (Games transport)
D&T
data & timing
DX
distribution
EB
(IOC) Executive Board
ECP
equipped commentary position
ENG
electronic news gathering
ENR
electronic non-rights holder
FF&E
furniture, fixtures and equipment
FOH
front of house
Glossary
FOP
field of play
GFX
graphics
GHz
gigahertz (unit of frequency equal to a billion Hertz)
HB
Host Broadcaster (on accreditation)
HD
high definition
HD-SDI High definition serial digital interface
HDTV
high definition television
HH
hand-held (camera)
HSRP
Hot Standby Routing Protocol
HSSM
High Speed Slow Motion
HVAC
heating, ventilation and air conditioning
Hz
unit of frequency (one cycle per second)
IBC
International Broadcast Centre
IDF
internet data feed
IF
International Federation
IOC
International Olympic Committee
IM
Information Manager
IP
internet protocol
IPC
International Paralympic Committee
IRD
integrated receiver decoder
ISAN
international standard audiovisual number
ISDN
integrated services digital network
IS-RA
international sound for radio
IS-TV
international sound for television
ITVR
international television and radio (signals)
LO
Liaison Officer
LPU
lightweight production unit
LRB
low resolution browser
MADI
multichannel audio digital interface
MCF
multi-clips feed
MCR
Master Control Room
MDS
master delivery schedule
MDS
Multi-channel Distribution Service
MHz
megahertz (one million hertz)
MMC
Main Media Centre
MPC
Main Press Centre
MU
mobile unit
MULTI
multilateral
MZ
mixed zone
NLE
non-linear editing
NOC
National Olympic Committee
Glossary
NTSC
national television system committee (Analogue SD)
OB
outside broadcast
OBS
Olympic Broadcasting Services
OCOG
Organising Committee for the Olympic Games
OCS
Olympic Channel Services
ODF
Olympic data feed
OIAC
Olympic identity and accreditation card
OLV
Olympic Village
ONA
Olympic News Agency
ONC
Olympic News Channel
ONS
Olympic News Service
OPP
Occasional Presentation Position
OR
Olympic Record
ORRO
Olympic Radio Frequency Regulatory Office
OTD
Olympic transition device (graphic)
OVP
Olympic Video Player
OVR
on-venue results
PA
public address system
PAL
phase alternating line (TV system)
PIAC
Paralympic identity and accreditation card
PGM
program circuit (audio circuit)
PM
Production Manager
POP
point-of-presence
POTF
partially outside the fence
POV
point of view (camera)
PQC
Production Quality Control
RF
radio frequency
RHB
Rights Holding Broadcaster
RHBs
Rights Holding Broadcasters (note: no apostrophe)
RRS
referee results systems
RT
Rights Holding Broadcasters (on accreditation)
RTDS
real-time data system
RU
rack unit
RX
receive
SAD
Supplementary access device
SAT
satellite (note: often relates to ´Satellite Farm´)
SD
standard definition
SDI
serial digital interface
SNG
satellite news gathering (vehicle)
SSM
super slow motion (replay)
TC
time code
TM
media transport system
TOC
Technical Operations Centre
TX
transmission
Glossary
UNI
unilateral
UPS
uninterrupted power supply
VandA
video and (associated) audio (circuit)
VAPP
vehicle access parking permit
VAS
video archive server
VJ
Video Journalist (one person camera-reporter-editor)
VPT
venue production team
VSR
venue survey report
VTM
Venue Technical Manager
VTR
video tape recorder
WADA
World Anti-Doping Agency
WBB
World Broadcast Briefing
WBM
World Broadcaster Meeting
WCATV wireless CATV
WR
world record
YOG
Youth Olympic Games
Glossary
As with abbreviations, we thought it may prove useful to also include a Glossary
of Terms to help explain any additional broadcast specific phrases.
A
Ambient Sound: background stadium noise. International sound.
Analogue Signal: an electrical signal that varies continuously.
Aspect Ratio: the relationship between the horizontal and vertical elements of
a picture. Eg 4:3 (1.33:1) or 16:9 (1.178:1).
B
Back Of House (BOH): non-public areas, within and/or surrounding a venue
located after the accreditation point. Typically, BOH includes: Organising
Committee operational areas; Host Broadcaster operational facilities; loading
docks, administration offices, construction and broadcast compounds; drop off
areas; parking; storage; etc.
B-roll: generic material for broadcast, containing no specific action or event but
general or supplementary footage. Used mainly to intercut with the main focus
of a film report.
Bandwidth: amount of frequency, or date range, required to transmit or store
electronic information. Bandwidth is measured in Hertz (Hz) or bits per second
(baud).
C
Clean Feed: the International Television Signal, complete with camera and
Glossary
tape video sources and Olympic Replay Transition device, but excluding results
graphics.
Coaxial Cable (Coax): a concentric transmission line composed of a conductor
centred inside metallic tube or shield, separated by dielectric material and
usually covered by an insulating jacket.
Codec - Encoder-Decoder: an electronic device that converts analogue signals
(audio and video) into digital for transmission over telecommunications networks
and performs the reverse operation when receiving. The same terminology is
applied for equipment that converts electrical digital audio and video signals
to optical signals for transmission over Fibre Optic networks and the reverse
operation when receiving.
Com-cam: a remote controlled camera in a commentary position.
Computer Aided Design (CAD): this application acts as a key planning tool
by creating detailed engineering and production design overlays for the venues
and IBC.
D
Demarcation (DEMARC): termination point for video, audio, voice and data
services.
Designation: circuit number or identifier of a telecom channel.
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL): Internet, voice and date line allowing constant
access to the internet.
Digital Video Effects (DVE): a digital process device which manipulates video
signals in real-time to create television effects such as image shrink, warp, page
turns, rotation, etc.
Dirty Feed: the International Television Signal with camera and tape video
sources and Olympic Replay Transition device, including results and timing/
scoring graphics.
Distribution Amplifier (DA): device used to replicate an audio or video signal.
Dry Pairs: a pair of wires used to connect customer provided equipment, or as
the user assigns.
Dub: a copy of a video or audio recording, a duplicate.
F
Fibre Optics (F/O): fibre optic cable is a high-speed data transmission medium.
It contains tiny glass or plastic filaments that carry light beams. Digital data
is transmitted through the cable via rapid pulses of light. Fibre Optic cable
transmission is immune to most electromagnetic interference and common
noise.
Fit-out: a construction process of adapting existing venues and facilities for use
by the Host Broadcaster and RHBs.
Footprint: an area designated to contain a piece of technical equipment that
does not normally require construction.
4-Wire: an audio circuit providing simultaneous two-way communication. The
circuits are terminated at both ends in two pairs of wires (making total of four
wires). Usually used as commentary or coordination circuit. Direction from the
origin (i.e. venue CCR) to the destination (i.e. CSC in IBC) is called “Transmit”
(TX) and from the destination to the origin is called “Receive” (RX).
Frame Synchroniser: digital video device that “locks” a video signal to a known
timing reference (i.e. Black burst), usually used for incoming video signals from
a venue or remote which is not synchronized.
Front of House (FOH): the area of a competition venue that the general public
or spectators can access.
Glossary
H
High demand events: popular events/sports where media numbers exceed
the safe capacity of the venue media facilities and therefore additional access
devices are required. These devices may be in the form of tickets, armbands, or
stickers. High demand events are limited as much as possible, but often include
Opening/Closing Ceremonies and other popular events.
Host Broadcaster: a single broadcast organisation responsible for providing the
images and sounds of a major sporting event as a service to all other broadcast
organisations that have paid for the rights to transmit the event.
I
Impedance: the opposition to the flow of alternating current in a circuit,
represented by the letter “Z” and measured in ohms, impedance is the
combination of resistance, inductance and capacitance of the circuit
Injection Point: a bookable facility, located in the venue compound (usually
in the TOC) and consisting of a videotape play-back machine and four-wire
coordination circuit, used to send pre-recorded programming to the RHB’s area
in the IBC or directly to the home country.
International Broadcast Centre (IBC): the hub of all broadcast activity during
the Olympic Games, which serves as a workplace and technical base for all
Host Broadcast and RHB personnel.
International Federation (IF): the International Sports Federations are
international non-governmental organisations recognised by the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) as administering one or more sports at world level.
The IFs have the responsibility and duty to manage and to monitor the everyday
running of the world’s various sports disciplines, including for those on the
programme, the practical organisation of events during the Games.
IOC: the International Olympic Committee is an international non-profit, nongovernmental organisation that is responsible for ensuring the regular celebration
of the Olympic Games, supporting all affiliated member organisations of the
Olympic Movement and encouraging the promotion of the Olympic values.
L
Lockdown: commencement of a venue operational phase. It is a restrictive
entry period requiring security screening and a form of accreditation.
M
Modem: short for modulator – demodulator. Typically used to transmit and
receive digital data over an analogue transmission medium.
Multi-channel Distribution Service (MDS): Olympic feed of various channels
provided by OBS to Rights Holding Broadcasters who have subscribed to the
service, and delivered via an encrypted satellite.
Non Rights Holder: non Rights Holders are media organisations that have
not paid an Olympic rights fee and may not cover any Olympic event live. If
accredited, they may attend news conferences and may do live stand-ups
outside a venue (where permissible). Typically their accreditations are identified
as “ENR.”
N
National Olympic Committee (NOC): a National Olympic Committee (NOC)
is a national constituent of the worldwide Olympic movement. Subject to the
controls of the International Olympic Committee, NOCs are responsible for
organising their people’s participation in the Olympic Games.
O
Occasional (Bookable) Facility: technical or production service, facility or
Glossary
equipment provided by the Host Broadcaster available to RHBs on a temporary
(occasional) basis including stand-up positions, video injections, off-tube
commentary positions, etc.
Observer Seats: spectator-type seats located adjacent to the commentary
positions at the venues for use by RHBs for working purposes.
OCOG: Organising Committee for the Olympic Games. A local entity established
in each host city to oversee the planning and development of the Olympic
Games within that city.
Off-Tube : commentary position without a view to the field of play. Usually
established in an enclosed space and most often located inside the IBC. It is
technically similar to a commentary position where commentators watch the
competition on a television screen, as opposed to a direct view of the event.
Olympic Family: the ‘Olympic Family’ is a term used by the IOC to describe a
wide range of accredited personnel. The IOC categorises the Olympic Family
into six broad client groups as follows: National Olympic Committees (NOC),
athletes and team officials; workforce; media; International Federations (IFs);
International Olympic Committee (IOC) Marketing Partners.
Olympic News Service (ONS): OCOG services responsible for providing
editorial content for the INFO system.
Olympic News Channel (ONC): news channel operated by OBS which is made
up of a continuous stream of programmes on the sport competition and the host
city, as well as athlete interviews and event highlights.
Olympic Television News Agency (ONA): ad hoc news agency operated by
the OCOG that provides news coverage of the Games and related events to
worldwide news agencies and other non Rights Holding Broadcasters following
IOC policy
Olympic Village: the accommodations where athletes stay during the Games.
The village has an area called the ‘International Zone’, where accredited Media
are allowed to enter.
P
Point of View (POV) Camera: camera placed in a strategic position to give the
effect of being part of the action. Cameras used for this position may be called
net-cams, mini cams, lipstick cams, pencil cams, pin cams, etc.
Program (PGM) Circuit: a circuit used to transmit commentary mixed with
International Sound. Sometimes used to identify the transmission direction of a
commentary circuit or the output of the Commentary Control Unit (CCU).
R
Repeater: a receiver and transmitter combination used to regenerate an
attenuated signal.
RGB: RGB stands for Red, Green, Blue and is a type of component video signal
separated into those separate colour channels.
Rights Holding Broadcaster (RHB): a broadcast organisation that has paid for
the rights to broadcast the Olympic Games.
Run-Ups/Run-Outs: the introductory and closing sequences before and after
the television broadcast.
S
Shading: process in which the video operator adjusts the image contrast, colour
and black and white levels of the incoming video.
Shield: a tape or braid of metal, usually copper or aluminium, to prevent signal
leakage or interference to a cable or other electronic equipment.
Signal: the information conveyed through a telecommunication system.
Glossary
T
Transponder: satellite’s own receiver and transmitter.
Triax: a coax-type of camera cable that includes three conductors.
Turn Key: contractual arrangement in which one party designs and installs a
system or facility and “turns over the key” to another party with all installations
complete and in a state of readiness for its intended use.
U
Unilateral: term used to denote that which pertains to and is used exclusively
by RHBs.
Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS): temporary power source, usually battery
powered that is used as back up when conventional power source has failed.
W
World Broadcaster Briefing / Meeting (WBB / WBM): over the course of the
planning phase, OBS holds annual meetings in conjunction with the OCOGs,
in order to update the RHBs on the progress of the production, technical
and operational plans for the upcoming Olympic Games. These meetings are
referred to as either a World Broadcaster Briefing or World Broadcaster Meeting,
depending on the size and number of participants.