This paper reviews the use of different audio-visual media in distance education, including terrestrial broadcasting, cable satellite, videocassettes, audiocassettes, telephone teaching, viewdata, teletext, microcomputers, and interactive video. Trends in distance education are also summarized and related to trends in media technology development. It is concluded that these media technology developments will provide greater choice of media to be used, greater diversity of access, a move towards low cost media, greater student control, and a convergence of media, with implications for professional training and knowledge needed by teachers/designers in distance education. (Author/EW)