NAB, WJW Take 3.0 Out To The Ballgame

Game 2 of the World Series in Cleveland last night will be remembered for more than proving the adage that good pitching always beats good hitting — at least among broadcasters backing ATSC 3.0, the new transmission standard now pending FCC approval.

Several of those backers simulcast the game with 3.0 using an experimental license (on ch. 31) obtained by the NAB and the transmission facilities of Tribune’s WJW Cleveland, the local Fox affiliate.

Others playing ball included GatesAir (3.0 exciter for over-the-air transmission), LG Electronics (3.0 receivers and antennas), Harmonic (real-time encoders for HEVC video and Dolby AC4 audio) and Triveni Digital (signaling/announcement metadata, IP stream generation, ATSC 3.0 analyzer and system integration support).

“We are showing the FCC and our fellow broadcasters that Next Gen TV is a grand slam home run,” said Richard Friedel, EVP and GM of Fox Networks Engineering and Operations, and current chairman of the Advanced Television Systems Committee, which developed the standard.

Sam Matheny, NAB EVP and chief technology officer, said the standard is close to final. “Over the coming months in conjunction with partners, we expect to test real-world Next Gen TV applications like UHD TV, interactive services, targeted advertising, advanced emergency alerting and more.”