ATSC 3.0

Organizers expect a larger turnout of attendees and exhibitors to CES in Las Vegas next week, where generative AI, IP delivery and new developments in NextGen TV are likely to draw broadcasters’ focus.

In this repeat of the Talking TV episode from March 17, John Hane, president and CEO of BitPath, shares an update on how far along the ATSC 3.0 consortium is toward building a national network that will support leasing data services and get cash registers finally ringing for broadcasters. A full transcript of the conversation is included.

Top executives from Tubi, Tegna, Sinclair, Cisco and Lawo told a TVNewsCheck webinar Tuesday that hybrid technology architectures and business models would be a major dynamic in 2024, along with an expanding and promising use of generative AI that also compels great caution. To watch the video of the full webinar, click here.

WPLG and WSVN launch a second stick, bringing enhanced video and audio, interactive applications and upgradable technology to their free, over-the-air services.

At issue is what the owner Frank Copsidas says are technical issues with a special version of ATSC 3.0 standard that the stations was using and that he hopes can be fixed.

Radio can deliver audio services through a remarkably efficient, far-reaching system.

As broadcasters continue to deploy ATSC 3.0, the current reach of 70% was achieved with the launch of NextGen TV in New York earlier this month with the WNET Group. That figure will jump to 75% with the anticipated launch of 3.0 in the nation’s third largest market, Chicago in early 2024.

WCBS, WLIW, WMBQ, WNBC, WNET and WNJU are now available in ATSC 3.0 technology in the country’s No. 1 market.

ATSC President Madeleine Noland: Many companies have already linked arms to develop the ATSC 3.0 standard; establish content security; launch next-generation broadcasting reaching most of the U.S. and South Korea plus major cities in Jamaica; bring to retail millions of receivers; and now introduce affordable devices for those who choose to upgrade.

This week the group is demonstrating delivery of geo-targeted, rich media alerts to battery-powered ATSC 3.0 receivers at Disaster Expo USA.

Earlier this month, LG, one of the biggest sellers of TVs, announced that it will stop making TVs with the new ATSC 3.0 NextGen TVs OTA tuners included. This comes as earlier this year, LG lost a patient case from a company claiming to hold patents over some of the technology included in ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV.

WUCW, KSTP, WCCO, KMSP and KARE are now broadcasting with ATSC 3.0 technology.

Broadcasters will host an event on Aug. 22 at the University of Minnesota to mark the launch of NextGen TV/ATSC 3.0.

KYW, WPSG, WPVI, WCAU, WTXF and WUVP are now broadcasting with ATSC 3.0 technology.

To boost consumer awareness of ATSC 3.0 capabilities, the NextGen Video Information Systems Alliance wants the industry to create a demo channel.

WSBT, WNDU, WSJV, WNIT and WHME are now broadcasting with ATSC 3.0 technology in South Bend, Ind.

The FCC released late on Friday a Third Report and Order and Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking resolving many regulatory issues related to the ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV conversion.  Among the issues addressed, was an extension through July 17, 2027, of the rule that required that the lighthouse signal be “substantially similar” to the primary video stream of the ATSC 3.0 signal. That rule had been set to expire this year, but the FCC believed that viewers needed more time to be guaranteed that they can watch the same programming they watch today whether or not they have a TV that can receive the new ATSC 3.0 signal.

As ATSC marked its 40^th anniversary at last week’s conference, conversations resoundingly turned to alternative uses for the NextGen TV spectrum including datacasting and PNT applications.

Sinclair Broadcast Group CEO Chris Ripley and COO Rob Weisbordon on Wednesday said a task force currently being developed by federal regulators and key industry stakeholders will chart a course for the eventual shutdown of broadcast signals using the ATSC 1.0 standard.

Noticeably heavier crowds filled a conference swinging back from the pandemic, while strategic partnerships between vendors signaled a new tack for the industry.

Broadcast executives at the NAB Show in Las Vegas on Tuesday said they are ready to begin delivering datacasting services using the new transmission standard and should see revenues in early 2024.

The commission is also preparing a rulemaking on ATSC 3.0 rules, FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said Monday at NAB Show in Las Vegas.

The company says the platform will support multiple new revenue-producing use cases.

A strategic alliance announced Monday at the NAB Show is designed to address the unique needs of public broadcasters in transitioning to NextGen TV.

Anne Schelle is managing director of the Pearl TV consortium and recipient of TVNewsCheck’s Women in Technology Leadership Award, the publication’s highest honor. She earned it through her tenacity and faith in the ATSC 3.0 standard as broadcasting’s crucial way forward.

Suzana Brady, SVP for worldwide sales and marketing at Cobalt Digital, and one of this year’s TVNewsCheck Women in Technology Futurist Award winners, is herding the broadcast tech industry together through her pivotal role as chair of the Reliable Internet Stream Transport (RIST) Forum.