The Brits and the Yanks may speak the same language, but when it comes to television production there are times when it may seem we're talking Swahili! Here are some comparable terms (and notable differences) to get you sounding like a local in no time.

1. UK
vs
USA:
TV
Terminology www.britsinthebox.com
|
@britsinthebox
UK USA
2100
-­‐
two
thousand
one
hundred 2100
-­‐
twenty
one
hundred
2130
-­‐
Two
thousand
one
hundred
&
thirty 2130
-­‐
twenty
one
and
change
24
hour
time Military
Time
Accreditation Credentials
Ad
Funded
Programming Branded
Content
/
Entertainment
Audio
Assistants A1/A2
Audio
Dubbing Audio
Sweetening
Autocue Prompter
/
Teleprompter
Award
Show Tentpole
Event
Business
Affairs BALA
(Business
&
Legal
Affairs)
Cabs Ground
Transportation
Cabs
(Luxury) Town
Cars
Camera
Assistant Camera
Utility
Cancellation
Charge Kill
Fee
Change
(to) Switch
Chaperone
(Talent) Escort
Compliance S&P
(Standards
&
Practices)
Consumables
(lighting
etc) Expendables
Contact
(to) Reach
Out
Couriers Messengers
Credit
Card
(used
for
Production) P
(purchase)
Card
UK
vs
USA:
TV
TERMINOLOGY
The
Brits
and
the
Yanks
may
speak
the
same
language,
but
when
it
comes
to
television
production
there
are
times
when
it
may
seem
we're
talking
Swahili!
Here
are
some
comparable
terms
(and
notable
differences)
to
get
you
sounding
like
a
local
in
no
time.

2. UK
vs
USA:
TV
Terminology www.britsinthebox.com
|
@britsinthebox
UK USA
CV Resume
Diary Calendar
Executive
Producer Show
Runner
Floor
Manager
(and
Asst) Stage
Manager
(and
Asst)
Floor
Manager
(eg.
drama
and
loc) 1st
Assistant
Director
(AD)
Freelancer Contractor
Gallery
PA Assistant
Director
(AD)
Gifts
(bespoke) Premiums
Hire
Cars Rental
Vehicles
Hires
(kit,
crew,
cars,
etc) Rentals
International
Prog.
Version Evergreen
Version
Kit
Rental
(Make-­‐Up) Box
Rental
Location
Director
/
Producer Field
Director
/
Producer
Long
Term
Freelancer Permalancer
MCR Scanner
Minimum
Rest Turnaround
National
Insurance Payroll
Taxes
&
Fringes
Non-­‐Topical Evergreen
OB
Truck Scanner
OB
Unit Mobile
Video
Unit
OFCOM FCC
On
Pencil On
Hold
Overspend Overage
P45 Pink
Slip
Pre-­‐Titles Pre-­‐Roll
/
Cold
Open
Presentation
(documents) Deck
/
Packet
Presenter Host
Press
/
Branding
Boards Step
and
Repeat
Production
Executive Executive
In
Charge
(EIC)
Production
Folders Production
Binders
Production
Manager Line
Producer
Programme Program
Quote Bid
Racks
(OB) Shader
(OB)

3. UK
vs
USA:
TV
Terminology www.britsinthebox.com
|
@britsinthebox
UK USA
Ratings
-­‐
Expressed
as
percentage Ratings
-­‐
Expressed
as
point
share
Recce Scout
Refreshments Craft
Service
Read
Through Table
Read
Runner Production
Assistant
Running
Order Rundown
Scene
/
Items Moment
Script
Supervisor Production
Supervisor
Series Season
Set
Transportation Set
Trucking
Sound
Assistant Sound
Utility
Soundbite
(out
of
context) Frankenbite
Sponsor
Idents Integrated
Marketing
Stand-­‐Ins
(anyone
free!) Stand-­‐Ins
(prof.
actors)
Taster
Tape Sizzle
Reel
Tender
Doc RFP
(Request
for
Proposal)
Ticket
Collection
/
Box
Office Will
Call
Transmission Telecast
TX
/
Transmit Air
VAT Sales
Tax
(varies
by
state)
Viewings Screenings
Vision
Mixer Technical
Director
(TD)
VOG
Announcer
VTs PBs
/
Tape
Walkies
/
Comms PL
/
Comms
Grade Color
Correct
It's
A
Wrap Taillights
www.britsinthebox.com
@britsinthebox