Mass Communication Chapter Twelve: Cable, Satellite and Internet Television

Encrypted

To prevent people from receiving the signals without a subscription. They become scrambled so that only those with a proper decoder can view them.

Podcast

A media program that is downloaded from a Web Site and plays back at an individual convenience over a computer of an MP3 player such as an iPod. By 2010, podcasts were online.

Multiple System Operators (MSO's)

An operator of multilateral cable or direct-broadcasting satellite television system.

Internet Television

Another way to distribute TV

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

Cable companies were able to offer an alternative to the traditional phone lines like Verizon's FiOS and AT&T U-Verse

Distribution System

Consists of the actual cables that deliver the signals to subscribers.

Head End

Consists of the antenna and related equipment that receive signals from distant TV stations or other programming services.

Direct-Broadcasting Satellites (DBS)

Could send a direct signal to small home satellite dish, bypassing the cable system altogether.

Geosynchronous Satellite

Is one whose orbit keeps it over the same spot on Earth.

Carriage Fee

One of the main revenue sources for national cable services. Some cable networks like MTV, charge local operators.

Microcasting

Sending a message to a small group of interested people.

Buffering

Streaming, where a computer stores video signals. Plays back while at the same time storing new signals.

House Drop

That section of the cable that connects the feeder cable to the subscribers TV set.