APPENDIX 5: GLOSSARY OF TERMS
3G mobile services—Third
generation mobile services are those using a part of the spectrum
that enables larges volumes of data to be transmitted by a mobile
handset over a short period of time, enabling video calling and
the receipt of television programmes.
Broadband—A standard
of end-user access to the Internet that enables large volumes
of data, such as a film, to be downloaded over a short period
of time.
Free-to-air terrestrial broadcasting—Traditional
television is broadcast 'free-to-air' enabling anyone with the
relevant equipment, e.g. aerial, to receive it. Such broadcasting
is generally distinguished from subscription-based services and
services delivered over physical networks into the home.
Information society services—These
are services provided in the form of economic or professional
activities at the direct request of the user of the services,
without the parties being simultaneously present at the same location.
Such services involve the processing, storage or transmission
of information by electronic means intended for the digital processing
and storage of data. Information society services must be entirely
transmitted, conveyed and received by electronic means of communication.
Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)—This
is a system where a digital television service is delivered using
the Internet Protocol over a network infrastructure, which may
include delivery by a broadband connection.
Linear services—These
are scheduled services, comparable to traditional television broadcasts.
The user cannot determine the timing of their availability for
viewing.
Listed events—A
sporting event considered by Ofcom to be of national interest,
e.g. the FA Cup Final, and therefore subject to restrictions concerning
the manner in which it is broadcast.
Non-linear services—These
are non-scheduled services selected by a media service provider
where the user decides the timing of their transmission.
Product placement—This
is a form of advertising where a commercial product is used in
fictional or non-fictional media, and the presence of the product
is a result of a commercial transaction.
User-generated content—Content
made available over the Internet that has been generated by an
end-user, generally on an amateur basis, rather than professionally
produced.
Video on demand (VOD)—These
are services which allow users to select and view video content
over a network as part of an interactive television system. VOD
systems either "stream" content, allowing viewing while
the video is being downloaded simultaneously, or "download"
content, when the program is delivered in its entirety to a set-top
box prior to viewing. These are by definition "non-linear".
Weblogs—A collection
of messages posted on a website in respect of a particular topic,
generally displayed in a chronological order. The term is derived
from 'Web log'.
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