4 Salt Lake City Stations Debut ATSC 3.0

Four of Salt Lake City’s television stations — KUTV (CBS), KTVX (ABC), KUCW (CW) and KJZZ (Ind), are among the first in the nation to begin broadcasting with NextGen TV or ATSC 3.0.

Based on the same fundamental technology as the Internet, digital apps, 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 that provide rich media rather than 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 that the stations expect to launch, led the planning and coordinated efforts across the four stations. The participating stations have cooperated to ensure that current programming remains available to all Salt Lake City viewers, regardless of whether they receive their television service by antenna, cable or satellite.

Antenna viewers can simply rescan their television sets to ensure continued service. Rescan instructions are available at: kutv.com and kjzz.com. Cable and satellite subscribers do not need to take any action.

Mark Aitken, senior vice president of advanced technology for Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of KUTV and KJZZ, said: “We’re excited to bring this significant innovation to Salt Lake City, forever changing the way we use and think of broadcast television. Now that we have launched NextGen TV, we are already planning future upgrades that will allow viewers to enjoy a more personalized and immersive experience, with better access to news and media than ever before.”

“Bringing NextGen TV to Nexstar’s Salt Lake City television stations enables us to continue moving forward with the roll-out of NextGen TV across our 114 markets,” said Brett Jenkins, EVP and chief technology officer for Nexstar, owner of KTVX and KUCW. “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 focused targeting of consumers.”

John Hane, president of BitPath, said, “These four exceptional television stations will be important links in BitPath’s wireless network. Built on ATSC 3.0, BitPath’s unique broadcast data system will be the first wireless network that never slows down. We look forward to bringing transformational new wireless services to Salt Lake City’s businesses and consumers.”