Eight Stations Launch NextGen TV In Champaign/Springfield-Decatur

Eight television stations serving the Champaign, Ill./Springfield-Decatur, Mo., television market today began broadcasting with NextGen TV, also known as NextGen TV.

Switching on the new transmission standard were Sinclair Broadcast Group’s WICS (ABC) and WICD (ABC); Nextstar Media’s WCIA (CBS) and WCIX (MNT); GOCOM Media’s  WRSP (Fox), WCCU (Fox) and WBUI (CW); and Block Communications’ WAND (NBC).

Today’s launch in Champaign/Springfield-Decatur follows a decade of development and months of planning and preparation by the local stations. WRSP and WCCU have converted to ATSC 3.0 transmissions. Those stations will broadcast their own programming, as well as the programming of the other participating stations, in NextGen TV format.

All programming of all participating stations will continue to be available in the existing DTV format, which can be received on all modern television sets.

BitPath, which is developing new data broadcasting services, led the planning process and coordinated efforts across the eight television stations.