This document defines common broadcast terms used in radio and television. It describes terms related to station identification, time checks, program introductions and closings, commercials, credits, and other elements of broadcast programming, operations, and regulation. Key terms include station ID, time check, spiel, sign on/off, opening/closing billboards, commercial spots and breaks, bumpers, credits, dead air, and music and sound effects terms. The document provides definitions and examples to explain the meaning and proper use of these standard industry terms.

1. Common
Broadcast Terms
(Radio & TV)

2. Station ID
 Station Identification
 To identify the station
 Contains the Call Sign and Station Handle
 Uses the official jingle of the station as its
background

3. Time Check
 Live announcement of the exact clock time.
 All stations are mandated to announce the
official time from PAG-ASA.

4. SPIEL
 Fast short narration of a program’s body or
content.
 It might be:
 program intro/extro
 segment intro/extro
 Sign on/sign off spiel
 Standup

5. Sign ON Official introduction of the station and it is played
before the station starts its daily broadcast. It is
required by law.
 It contains the following:
 National Anthem
 Name of the station/company,
its Operator Category & Address
 Frequency Assignment
 Operating Power
 License Details
 Technical Staff

6. Sign ON Official introduction of the station and it is played
before the station starts its daily broadcast. It is
required by law.
 It contains the following:
 National Anthem
 Name of the station/company,
its Operator Category & Address
 Frequency Assignment
 Operating Power
 License Details
 Technical Staff
The Flag and
Heraldic Code of the
Philippines
(RA 8491)

7. Sign ON Official introduction of the station and it is played
before the station starts its daily broadcast. It is
required by law.
 It contains the following:
 National Anthem
 Name of the station/company,
its Operator Category & Address
 Frequency Assignment
 Operating Power
 License Details
 Technical Staff
The Flag and
Heraldic Code of the
Philippines
(RA 8491)
DyAB of the ABS-
CBN Corp.

8. Sign ON Official introduction of the station and it is played
before the station starts its daily broadcast. It is
required by law.
 It contains the following:
 National Anthem
 Name of the station/company,
its Operator Category & Address
 Frequency Assignment
 Operating Power
 License Details
 Technical Staff
The Flag and
Heraldic Code of the
Philippines
(RA 8491)
DyAB of the ABS-
CBN Corp.
1512Khz in
the AM band

9. Sign ON Official introduction of the station and it is played
before the station starts its daily broadcast. It is
required by law.
 It contains the following:
 National Anthem
 Name of the station/company,
its Operator Category & Address
 Frequency Assignment
 Operating Power
 License Details
 Technical Staff
The Flag and
Heraldic Code of the
Philippines
(RA 8491)
DyAB of the ABS-
CBN Corp.
1512Khz in
the AM band
10,000
watts

10. Sign ON Official introduction of the station and it is played
before the station starts its daily broadcast. It is
required by law.
 It contains the following:
 National Anthem
 Name of the station/company,
its Operator Category & Address
 Frequency Assignment
 Operating Power
 License Details
 Technical Staff
The Flag and
Heraldic Code of the
Philippines
(RA 8491)
DyAB of the ABS-
CBN Corp.
1512Khz in
the AM band
10,000
watts
License number &
duration as issued by
NTC

11. Sign ON Official introduction of the station and it is played
before the station starts its daily broadcast. It is
required by law.
 It contains the following:
 National Anthem
 Name of the station/company,
its Operator Category & Address
 Frequency Assignment
 Operating Power
 License Details
 Technical Staff
The Flag and
Heraldic Code of the
Philippines
(RA 8491)
DyAB of the ABS-
CBN Corp.
1512Khz in
the AM band
10,000
watts
License number &
duration as issued by
NTC
Names of the technicians with
their NTC license

12. Sign OFF Official statement to end the day’s broadcast. It has
the same contents as the Sign On spiel but the
National Anthem is played at the end of the spiel.
 It contains the following:
 Name of the station/company,
its Operator Category & Address
 Frequency Assignment
 Operating Power
 License Details
 Technical Staff
 National Anthem

13. OBB
 Opening Billboard.
 It introduces a program or segment

14. OBB
 Opening Billboard.
 It introduces a program or segment
 Program OBB/Intro

15. OBB
 Opening Billboard.
 It introduces a program or segment
 Program OBB/Intro
 Commercial OBB
 Tells the sponsors of the program or segment
 “This portion is brought to you by… “

16. CBB
 Closing Billboard.
 It closes a program or segment

17. CBB
 Closing Billboard.
 It closes a program or segment
 Program CBB/Extro
 Commercial CBB
 Tells the sponsors of the program or segment
 “This portion WAS brought to you by… “

18. Commercial Spots
 Paid advertisements by a known sponsors
with a specific duration:
 5-seconds
 15-seconds
 30-seconds
 60-seconds

19. PLUG
 Non-paid message either a program
advisory or info-development information. It is
either produced by the station or by other
outfit organization.

20. Commercial Break
 Time alloted for airing commercials,program
plugs and info-development plugs.

21. Commercial Break
 Time alloted for airing commercials,program
plugs and info-development plugs.
 Types of Commercial Break:
 Commercial Gap - time for commercial within a
program
 Break Spot - time between after the end of a
program and the next program.

22. Commercial Break
 Time alloted for airing commercials,program
plugs and info-development plugs.
 Types of Commercial Break:
 Commercial Gap - time for commercial within a
program
 Break Spot - time between after the end of a
program and the next program.
 Duration of comgap:
 Metro Manila - 18 mins/hour
 Provinces - 20 mins/hour

23. Bumpers
 The very brief, yet visually complex, program
material separating a show from a
commercial gap or other program segments.

24. AOB
 Announcement-On-Board - live mention of
an announcement or sponsorship.

25. Live Credits
 Live mention of an acknowledgment,
especially minor sponsors (make-up artists,
etc.)

26. Closing Credits
 Found at the end of the program (TV) which
details the production staff, sponsors, and
other people/groups behind the success of a
production.

27. Dead Air
 Refers to a period-- three or more seconds of
“unnecessary” silence.

28. Ad Lib
 ad libitum - speech or action that has not
been scripted or specifically rehearsed.

29. Stingers
 Music or sound effects -- used to stress a
statement
 Voice
 Laughter
 Applause
 Etc…

30. Music Bed
 Influences our moods and experiences.

31. Sound Effects
 helps “complete” the pictures that we create
in our minds.

32. TOA
 Taped-On-Air – it’s the recording of the
program’s episodes. The National
Telecommunications Commission requires all
broadcast stations to preserve the recordings
for 10 days.

33. Program Grid
 It is the schedule of programs.

34. Program Grid

35. Program Grid

36. Program Grid

37. Program Plan
 It is prepared by the program producer with
details of the contents of the days program.
 It should be prepared per episode basis.
 Acts as the guide of the program handlers
and producers.
 Sample

38. Sequence Guide
 It shows the sequence of the
segments/portions of the program that guides
the announcers and technicians for the
smooth flow of the program.
 Sample