Five Raleigh Stations Roll Out ATSC 3.0

Five Raleigh, N.C., stations — WTVD (ABC), WNCN (CBS), WUVC (Univision), WLFL (CW) and WRDC (MNT) — have begun broadcasting with NextGen TV or ATSC 3.0.

Based on the same fundamental technology as the Internet, digital applications and other web services, NextGen TV can support a wide range of features currently in development, such as immersive audio and video (up to 4K), broadcasting to mobile devices, personalized viewing tools, and advanced emergency alerts providing rich media instead of simple text messages.

NextGen TV also allows full integration with 5G and other broadband-delivered Internet content.

BitPath, which is developing new data broadcasting services, led the planning process and coordinated efforts across the six television stations. The participating stations have cooperated to ensure that current programming remains available to all viewers, regardless of whether their television service is provided over-the air or by a cable or satellite company.

Mark Aitken, SVP of advanced technology for Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of WLFL and WRDC, said: “As one of the anchor points of the Research Triangle, where innovation is ingrained in its culture, it’s only appropriate for us to usher in the latest revolution in broadcast technology to Raleigh. We are thrilled to bring the benefits of NextGen TV to this high-tech mecca, bringing a brand-new paradigm in broadcasting to the viewers in the area.”

“Bringing NextGen TV to Nexstar’s Raleigh television station enables us to continue moving forward with the roll-out of this highly sophisticated technology across all of our 115 markets,” said Brett Jenkins, EVP-CTO for Nexstar, owner of WNCN. “The faster we deploy NextGen TV, the faster we can begin delivering important upgrades for our viewers and advertisers—improving the visual experience, adding interoperability with the Internet, and enabling more narrowly focused targeting of consumers.”

“Univision is excited to rollout NextGen TV at our Univision Raleigh station, which marks our third market where we’ll be deploying this groundbreaking broadcast technology,” said Luis Fernandez-Rocha, regional vice president, western region, for Univision, which owns WUVC. “Raleigh-Durham is well known as a major technology hub so we are pleased that our viewers will be among the first in the country to have access to this new and innovative TV viewing experience.”

John Hane, president of BitPath, said, “Raleigh-Durham marks our ninth market launch this year, and our seventh top-40 market. WRDC, WNCN and WLFL will be charter stations in BitPath’s broadcast data network. Pending the expected launches of WRAL (NBC), WRAZ (Fox) and WUNC (PBS) later this year, the Research Triangle will be one of the most fully deployed ATSC 3.0 markets in the country.”