Definition
A visual pattern or image broadcast by TV stations to calibrate picture quality, typically displayed when no regular programming was scheduled, most commonly before or after regular broadcast hours.
Example Usage
Back in the 1970s, you'd see a test pattern with an Indian head or color bars on the screen late at night.
Origin
From television engineering terminology; test patterns were used since the early days of broadcast TV to help engineers and viewers adjust their sets.
Fun Fact
The most iconic test pattern is the Indian Head test pattern used by NBC, which became a cultural symbol of late-night TV before 24-hour broadcasting.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
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