Consumer Television
Consumer Video : Television Features

In the early days of television, consumers had limited control over their television sets with adjustments to the picture consisting of brightness and contrast levels while channel selection was a manual process. Few other comfort or feature selections were possible.

Gradually, enhancements have been added over the years until today, where we have an array of user selectable features all controlled from our wireless remote and displayed via on screen menus. 

The following are features available with CRT direct view and projection television sets of the NTSC format. Most should also be available with television systems of the ATSC format along with additional features.

SAP or Secondary Audio Program: A feature on almost every stereo TV set that has been purchased since about 1990. It is commonly used in the U.S. to provide Spanish language audio for English language television programs. SAP is an additional audio channel that can be received by all viewers with stereo television sets in markets where SAP is available. It can be used for any audio signal, but is most often used as a vehicle for a secondary language for English language programming. If your TV set is a stereo TV set, you can select SAP by pressing the menu button on your TV or on your remote control, selecting the audio function from the menu, and switching to SAP from mono or stereo.
 Many modern stereo television sets have a feature in their audio equipment that allows the reception of sound other than the main audio for the program. This feature is called Multi-channel Television Sound (MTS). A TV set with MTS can receive mono sound, stereo sound, or Secondary Audio Programs (SAP).

The SAP feature allows a TV station to broadcast other information to the viewer through the audio receive system. That other information could be the same program audio in another language, or something completely different, such as weather information or Descriptive Video Services (DVS) for the visually impaired.

As an example, ABC regularly provides Spanish audio commentary during "World News Tonight" and "Monday Night Football" as well as other selected sporting events and specials.  They do this using the Secondary Audio Program (SAP). Viewers who had the SAP feature turned on could hear the game in Spanish.

Activating or deactivating the SAP is done on most television sets through a menu using the remote control.

  • The SAP feature is only on television sets that are stereo. Even if you have a newer model TV, SAP will not be available if your set has mono sound.

  • Before trying to change the SAP, be sure you're controlling your TV set with the remote and not the VCR.

  • Some remote controllers have a button on them labeled "MTS", "SAP", or "Audio Select".  Try pressing this button in succession to cycle through the various audio modes.

  • If there is no button on the remote control, press the "MENU" button to bring up your television's on-screen menu and look for options like "Setup", "Audio Setup", or "Audio" to find the selections available for MTS, or SAP.

V-chip: The V-chip is a form of censorship and a way to allow parents to control the amount of sexual, violent or other inappropriate material their children may see on television. The Violence Chip is a chip installed in all television sets as mandated by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. This is a programmable chip, meaning when parents buy their television sets they can program in certain criteria (such as amounts of violence, sex or explicit language) of the programs they do not want to see, or their children to see. Programs that have been predetermined of having any of these attributes will be blocked out of the TV set. In 2001 the FCC adopted rules requiring all television sets with picture screens 33 centimeters (13 inches) or larger to be equipped with features to block the display of television programming based upon its rating. This technology is known as the "V-Chip." The V-Chip reads information encoded in the rated program and blocks programs from the set based upon the rating selected by the parent.

The industry established a system for rating programming that contains sexual, violent or other material parents may deem inappropriate and committed to voluntarily broadcast signals containing these ratings.  The rating system, also known as "TV Parental Guidelines," was established by the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Cable Television Association and the Motion Picture Association of America.

Picture In Picture:
Picture-in-picture (PIP) allows you to watch more than one channel at the same time. With PIP, one channel will be displayed on the entire TV screen, and another channel or channels will be displayed in smaller squares on the screen.

Comb Filter:
There are several types of comb filters. In all cases, the comb filter helps to separate the color signals from the black and white, providing a higher resolution, or sharper, picture. Of the three types, the 3DYC provides the sharpest picture, then the digital comb filter, then the analog.

Color Temperature Control: Most  televisions provide three user-selectable Color Temperature settings which affect the sets overall white balance. The "Warm" setting reduces the color temperature to an NTSC standard 6500 degrees Kelvin and delivers a redder image that is ideal for display in a dimly lit room. "Medium" and "Cool" provide a progressively bluer image for the best picture as room light levels are increased.

  • The viewer can adjust white balance to achieve the best television picture possible in any viewing environment, or they can simply adjust the picture to suit their personal tastes.

Channel Lock: Selected channels can be locked out to prevent viewing. Channels can be unlocked by entering a secret code.

  • Keeps children from viewing channels you feel are inappropriate.

Closed Captioning on Mute: This feature automatically displays captioned information (if available) on-screen when the MUTE button is pressed. Captions disappear when the volume is restored.

  • Without ever accessing the Caption menu, the viewer can mute the volume and take a phone call while following the captions on-screen.

Remote Control

Automatic brightness control

Contrast adj.

S-Video connection

Sleep Timer

Auto Program

Closed Captions: A dynamic on-screen text presentation of the audio portion of a television program. Captions are text versions of the spoken word. The text content should appear on-screen at approximately the same time that audio would be available. Captions allow audio to be "perceivable" to those who do not have access to audio, and understandable to a wider audience. Though captioning is primarily intended for those who cannot hear the audio, it has also been found to help those that can hear audio content and those who may not be fluent in the language in which the audio is presented.

 "Closed" because the text does not show on the screen unless turned on (decoded) by the viewer. It is hidden in the video signal. The place they are hidden is called line 21 of the vertical blanking interval (VBI). Captions can be used to "view" the speech of actors or speakers on television shows and is of particular interest to deaf or hard of hearing viewers.

A law in the United States called the Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 1990 mandates that since July 1993, all televisions manufactured for sale in the U.S. must contain a built-in caption decoder if the picture tube is 13" or larger. 

All decoders in North America are Line 21 decoders, named for the place where the captions are encoded. 

Captions in more than one language:
Usually the text is displayed in English but the decoder can also show other languages if available. This is the CC1, CC2, CC3, CC4 options on the on-screen menus. Line 21 is split into two fields each carrying two caption channels.

Auto Clock
Automatically sets current time from PBS station's XDS Program Information signal.

Alternate Channel Recall
Quickly return to the last channel you were watching. Use the RECALL key to change between programs or ballgames. 

Audio Video Jack Pack
Use the Input jacks to directly connect your video equipment using A/V cables for a better quality picture. Use the Output jacks to connect a stereo system for improved sound. 

Auto Channel Programming with Nonvolatile Channel Memory
As you first switch-on the TV, this feature will automatically scan through each channel to determine if a signal is being received. This will create a Channel Scan List of all active channels that you can easily access using the CHANNEL up/down keys. The memory for the list of active channels is not affected by any power loss. 

Auto Shut-off
If a signal is not present at the 75ohm RF antenna terminal for more than 15 minutes, the TV chassis is designed to automatically switch-off. This is a customer safety feature, when you are not watching TV. 

Bass and Treble Controls
Separate on-screen controls provide for a wide range of Bass and Treble sound adjustments. 

Clock
The time-of-day Clock appears on the screen whenever you change channels or press the DISPLAY key. 

Component Video Input (Y-Pb-Pr / R-L)
Five-connector input takes advantage of DVD and other high definition signal sources. Video signal is divided into three separate elements; red, blue and luminance( image brightness) with dedicated Audio (R/L) jacks. Superior to both composite and S-video because it delivers a quality picture, great resolution , color accuracy and less color bleeding. 

FAV (Front A/V Input)
A/V Input Jacks on TV front for easy access and hookup of video games and equipment. 

Closed-Caption with "QuikCap"
The TV will decode standard Closed-Captioning signals (CaptionVision) in normal and text modes. The "QuikCap" function allows you to quickly switch on the Captions (if available) whenever they press the MUTE key. For example: you are watching TV, the phone rings, and you mute the volume to answer the phone; "QuikCap" switches-on captions so you won't miss any of the action. 

Variable/Fixed Audio Output
Accessible through Menu, it allows viewer option of controlling or muting home theatre audio volume using television remote. 

Velocity Scan Modulation
Additional circuitry controlling the picture display for clearer, sharper transitions between light and dark areas. 

Comb Filter
This added circuitry helps produce clearer, more detail-perfect color pictures. Also provides sharper, high-resolution pictures while eliminating "dot crawl."

Front Surround Sound
An audio enhancement feature that improves the movie theatre-like sound and adds to the stereo effect with a wall of sound.

Game Mode
Used to enhance Video Games, this preset selection will automatically set the picture and sound controls for intense viewing and listening. Consumer Video
Consumer Video : Definitions

Dot Crawl

Dot crawl affects the edges of color and manifests itself as moving dots of color along these edges. It is an inherent flaw in both the PAL and NTSC video systems and cannot be eliminated fully once it has been introduced into the video stream. It is an artefact of composite video processing, and is commonly seen when watching TV programming or programming from VCR.

If you use a composite video connector to watch DVD, you will see this artefact all of the time. Fortunately, it is readily eliminated by using an S-Video, component video or RGB video connection, unless it is inherent in the DVD's source material, which is rare. The most common place to see this artefact on DVD is on logos which have been sourced from composite analog master tapes.


3-Line Digital Comb Filter
Provides an accurate means of separating the color from the black-and-white in the television signal. It works with 3 lines of picture information and is effective in removing "dot crawl" and "hanging dots" both horizontally and vertically.

Component Video Input
Delivers outstanding resolution and color accuracy of video images from a variety of sources, including DVD players, by keeping the Y, PR, PB of video images intact during the transmission process.


Surround Sound
Simulates stereo sound—even from a monaural source—by delaying the original, 2-channel sound to create a "surround" effect.

Bass/Treble/Balance Controls
Adjust the sounds of your TV to your liking with these convenient controls.

Artificial Intelligence Sound Control
Controls the sound level to prevent wide variations in volume among different TV channels and types of programming.

Auto Programmable Scan
Automatically tunes all available channels in your area or cable system into memory, and then lets you add or delete the channels of your choice.

First-Time Setup
When the TV is turned on for the first time, an Auto Setup menu appears on the screen with instructions for selecting the menu language, and programming TV channels into memory.

Parental Guidance Control
Channel Lock and Game Guard functions let parents control television use and prevent video games and other video sources from being displayed on the TV. You can lock out up to 4 channels, all channels plus all video inputs, or channels 3 & 4 plus all video inputs for either 12, 24 or 48 hours. With Channel Lock, a user-programmed 4-digit code must be entered to deactivate the feature.

Built-in Radio with Presets
Select models have a built-in FM radio receiver with programmable preset positions for easy access to your favorite stations. The FM radio can operate on either internal or external antenna and can be programmed to wake you up daily to your favorite radio station.



Lighted Universal Remote
In addition to basic television controls, this remote can operate most VCRs, cable boxes, and DVD players. Plus, illuminated buttons make it easier to use in darkened rooms.

Color Temperature Control
Allows you to adjust the white balance towards either blue (colder) or red (warmer).

Horizontal Edge Correction
Sharpens the edges of objects in the picture. Horizontal edge correction works in conjunction with the dynamic sharpness control and velocity modulated scan to help produce clean, crisp television images and reduce the unwanted effects of video noise.

Channel Banner
Captures information transmitted with each program and places it on-screen in a semi-transparent banner. This information includes TV station identification and the V-chip rating for the program being transmitted.

Channel Labeling
An ID of 1 to 4 characters, such as 4NBC or WNET, can be assigned to up to 30 channels. This feature comes in handy when cable systems assign different channel numbers to familiar network stations.



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