An exact copy of the A-roll original material, or new original material on a separate reel, for use in A/B-roll editing.

a term derived from the early days of film production and used to describe visual images which are secondary to the telling of the story, but used to enhance the viewer's perception of the events. "B-roll" also describes a second source of video used in the editing process.

Any video that is not the main action that illustrates or shows examples; supplementary or back up materials.

stock footage of an event to provide television news stations with background information for a story; b-roll is typically filmed using Beta instead of VHS because Beta is used by most TV stations due to its higher broadcast quality

video images shot specifically to be used over a reporter’s words to illustrate the news event or story, to cover up audio edits of quotes (to avoid the jerking head effect), or to cover up bad shots (out of focus, poorly lighted, etc.)

Video with natural sound that does not include a reporter's voiceover.

This term is a leftover from film days. Refers to pictures (often generic) used to cover a reporter’s voiceover. This term makes some people (incl. me) twitch: it sounds as if you don’t care what the pics are, as long as there’s cover.

(n) Action video used to illustrate what's being said in the audio track of a video story. B-roll may be used with reporter track, or bite as the person talks. (See also cover video, talking head, and synchronous sound.  (In the days when news stories were shot on film, there was also an “a roll,” but that term has not survived.)(v) To use b-roll.

This term comes from the days of film when pictures were edited onto one reel and the sound was edited onto another reel. The picture reel was the B reel. Since in large markets reporter, photographer and editor skills were very good, there were also sometimes C-rolls, even D-rolls, so the director could dissolve his pictures from reel to reel, to indicate change of location or time change. The director assumed any reporter pakage was a synched B roll. He had to be notfied on the script of a "C" or "D" roll. (Al Volker)

Videotape taken from the field or in-studio that is played back with little or no editing. The instructor doing live narration usually accompanies this. An example would be empty classrooms being shown while the instructor talks descriptively about them.

B-roll or B roll is the alternate footage shot to intercut with the primary shots used in a program. It is frequently used for cutaway shots. Ideally these should fit with the continuity of the base track.