Sinclair, Korean Broadcasters Make NextGen TV Deals

Sinclair Broadcast Group said Monday that it has entered into agreements with two top Korean Broadcast networks — Korean Broadcast System (KBS) and Munhwa Broadcasting Corp. (MBC) — to collaborate on the development and implementation of NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) business models and technology in both Korea and the United States.

The collaboration includes the development of NextGen TV technology and Data Distribution as a Service (DDaaS) business opportunities using the ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard.

In conjunction with the agreements with Sinclair, Hyundai Mobis and KBS demonstrated NextGen delivery of video and data services to a test automobile deployed around Seoul, delivering targeted content using the NextGen standard. Demonstrating the capabilities of the new standard, MBC provided an enhanced GPS signal that, Sinclair said, “corrected the GPS signal from 3 meters to 3 centimeters.” Both technical demonstrations were powered by CAST.ERA, the joint venture between Sinclair and SK Telecom.

Commenting on the agreements, Chris Ripley, Sinclair’s president and CEO, said: “Sinclair’s collaboration with KBS and MBC will help establish roadmaps for development and implementation of NextGen mobile TV and DDaaS technologies. As we continue to lead the evolution of these technologies and further their practical application, we look forward to building new business models around these exciting NextGen opportunities.”

Sinclair executives discussed some of these NextGen applications at KOBA, the 30th annual Korea International Broadcast, Audio & Lighting Equipment Show, which was held in Seoul on June 29. Del Parks, Sinclair’s president of technology, addressed the new revenue-enhancing capabilities and business models enabled by Nextgen TV and Mark Aitken, Sinclair’s SVP of advanced technology and president of ONE Media 3.0, discussed the complex deployment of the services in the US, and Sinclair’s efforts with the ATSC to promote adoption of the ATSC standard in India and other countries around the world.

Said Parks: “Cooperation with our South Korean partners will allow us to bring exciting new services to the communities we serve, and datacasting is essential to the reimagining of broadcast spectrum use. We have just begun to explore ways to supplement the use of our channels, and we look forward to working with our Korean colleagues.”

Eui-Chul Kim, president of KBS, said: “As Korea’s leading public media organization, KBS is interested in revitalizing the ATSC 3.0 receiver market including vehicles and mobile devices, developing disaster broadcasting technologies, and discovering various innovative service models that combine terrestrial broadcasting and 5G communication technologies.”

Sung-Jae Park, president of MBC, said: “I hope that the ATSC 3.0 Enhanced GPS technology, which has succeeded in commercialization in Korea, will be expanded to the U.S. self-driving mobility market in cooperation with the three companies. ”

And Kevin Gage, COO of CAST.ERA, said: “CAST.ERA is honored to work with Sinclair, KBS and MBC, leading broadcasters in the U.S. and Korea to enable new data distribution as service business opportunities based on the ATSC 3.0 standard.”