ATSC 3.0

ATSC 3.0 represents a natural evolution of giving consumers choices in how and when they receive and enjoy content.

WTVJ, WSCV, WFOR and WLTV are now broadcasting with ATSC 3.0 technology.

Broadcasters kept their focus largely on a NextGen TV narrative headed into this week’s CES in Las Vegas, where around 100,000 attendees are expected. Sinclair is discussing its own flurry of ATSC 3.0 developments, while the demise of pay TV service Evoca was one setback in the NextGen saga.

The live demo highlighted the enhanced geo-targeting capabilities, infotainment and real-time emergency information capabilities of ATSC 3.0.

Sixty-six markets are now live with ATSC 3.0 service as consumer technology companies plan new products for over-the-air reception.

Evoca TV, a Meridian, Idaho-based start-up that provided virtual pay TV service using ATSC 3.0 broadcast instead of the internet, shuttered on Dec. 31, after a last-ditch effort to secure additional funding failed. Evoca told customers they can keep their leased Android TV-powered receivers, which are still useful for receiving local NextGen TV broadcast signals.

More markets, more sets, more nations and more possibilities sum up ATSC 3.0 developments in the past year.

As cars become computers, more bandwidth becomes vital.

WUPL, WWL, WVUE, WDSU, WGNO and WNOL are now broadcasting with ATSC 3.0 technology.

KOAT, KRQE, KWBQ and KASY are now broadcasting with ATSC 3.0 technology.

Executives from Sinclair, Fox Television Stations, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, TAG Video Systems and Imagine Communications told a TVNewsCheck webinar last week that live production at volume in the public cloud may finally come to pass next year, noting the growing adoption of enabling technologies like low-latency JPEG-XS compression.

WICS, WICD, WCIA, WRSP, WCCU, WAND, WBUI and WCIX are now broadcasting with ATSC 3.0 technology.

WABM, WDBB, WIAT, WBRC, WVTM, WTTO and WSES are now broadcasting with ATSC 3.0 technology.

Cutting the cable cord is easier than ever, thanks to the growing options of NextGen TV. Sports, local news, network TV shows and more, all for free. An inexpensive antenna is all you’ll need to get get ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS stations in most major cities across the country. Over-the-air TV, aka the way most Americans got their TV for most of the latter half of the 20th century, has gotten a huge upgrade.

Most of ATSC 3.0’s audio delay in the U.S. is attributable to the same factors that have held back the rollout of UHD content: there is still a small base of NextGen TV-capable sets; the distribution chain from networks to stations is not fully ready for new formats; and broadcasters are somewhat hamstrung in experimenting with their 3.0 content because of FCC rules that require them to effectively simulcast their 1.0 programming. But despite that, progress is being made.

Evoca TV, a service that uses a blend of ATSC 3.0 broadcast signals and Internet streaming to deliver inexpensive pay-TV packages in a handful of US markets, needs more funding to avoid a shutdown. The company told subscribers via email Wednesday and in a message posted on its website that, should it be unable to raise more capital, “we are sad to say that Evoca TV will discontinue operations and programming on Dec. 31, 2022. … We will continue service for our subscribers through December but will not accept new orders at this time.”

The companies sign a memorandum of understanding to highlight geo-targeting capabilities, enhanced GPS, software updates, in-vehicle entertainment, real-time emergency information and more.

Consumers will gain expanded access to affordable accessory devices that will bring NextGen TV service to sets not equipped with ATSC 3.0 tuners.

KITV, KGMB, KHON, KHNL, KHII and KIKU are now broadcasting with ATSC 3.0 technology.

KAKE, KWCH, KSAS, KSNW, KPTS, KSCW and KMTW are now broadcasting with ATSC 3.0 technology.

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said all Americans would benefit if broadcasters became a go-to streaming competitor to the Netflixes and Amazon Prime Videos of the world, using their new ATSC 3.0 advanced-TV transmission system, and perhaps the government should help subsidize that effort.

ATSC 3.0-enabled technology will make broadcasting more like the internet, but privacy protections need to be taken seriously, Geoffrey Starks said last week in a speech at the University Of Pennsylvania Carey Law School Center For Technology, Innovation & Competition.

The early consumer experience of NextGen TV has been hampered by government regulations that make it hard for viewers to differentiate the new services from the legacy ATSC 1.0 programming already delivered over-the-air, according to broadcasters. Capacity is tight for both the 3.0 and 1.0 broadcasts, and broadcasters are aggressively using video compression to make it all work. L-r: E.W. Scripps’ Kerry Oslund, Pearl TV’s Anne Schelle, Fincons Group’s Francesco Moretti and ATSC’s Madeleine Noland (Alyssa Wesley photo).

The Pearl TV coalition today announced two steps it is taking to help TV broadcasters realize more of the monetization potential of ATSC 3.0 — one related to advertising and the other aimed at increasing the number of TV viewers who can watch NextGen TV.

WSET, WDBJ, WWCW, WSLS and WZBJ are now broadcasting with ATSC 3.0 technology.

WBKI, WDRB, WAVE, WHAS and WBNA are available now in ATSC 3.0. They will be joined by WKMJ next week.

Pearl TV and iWedia have launched a fast-track program that adds new ATSC 3.0 A/344 interactive features and streamlines the adoption of NextTV by Android TV device makers.

Given a “once in a century” pandemic, no additional spectrum and “unparalleled” regulatory requirements, broadcasters say their transition to ATSC 3.0 next generation transmission technology has made “remarkable progress.” The National Association of Broadcasters made that case to the FCC in comments on the state of that transition, saying the lack of additional spectrum meant that they were trying to make the move “with one hand tied behind their backs.”

Cable operators are telling the FCC that it should continue to require broadcasters transitioning to ATSC 3.0 to deliver a signal in the current ATSC 1.0 standard, and that the programming on that signal must still be substantially similar to their ATSC 3.0 signal.

Noncommercial TV station and network representatives said they are working hard to move to the new ATSC 3.0 broadcast transmission standard and its opportunities for enhanced emergency alerts, interactive educational programming and more, but that it is a challenging change and they can’t predict when a nationwide rollout will be accomplished.