Sinclair’s One Media 3.0 Sets Webinar Series on NextGen TV & OTA Data Transmission To Vehicles

AutoMobility Advisors, a connected auto industry strategist, and ONE Media 3.0, a subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group, have set a series of three webinars focused on how NextGen Broadcast/Multicast can improve over-the-air (OTA) data transmission to connected vehicles.  The webinars will be held on Thursdays at noon ET on Oct. 27, Nov. 10 and Dec. 1.

Insider Intelligence predicts that by 2025, 70% of U.S. licensed drivers will drive a connected vehicle. Current cellular wireless technologies can present challenges to automotive manufacturers due to data transport costs, lack of ubiquitous coverage, and limited reliability during emergency situations. This three-part webinar series will address how a new wireless broadcast/multicast network technology, powered by NextGen Broadcast/Multicast (ATSC 3.0), can augment existing networks and improve the connected vehicle experience for consumers and manufacturers.

NextGen Broadcast/Multicast is a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) multicast network technology being integrated with advanced telecom platforms (3GPP 4G/5G systems), supporting automotive functions benefiting from multicast data delivery and significant efficiency gains. This new multicast network for automotive is being readied by U.S. broadcasters.

Among the connected vehicle functions that could see improvement are OTA car updates (software upgrades), Real Time Kinematic (RTK) positioning (providing continuous centimeter accurate geolocation), safety and emergency alerting, and live or pre-positioned infotainment.

The first webinar will feature two newsworthy items:

• Connected Vehicle proof of concept activities: A report from CAST.ERA on NextGen Broadcast/Multicast Connected Vehicle testing over the past three years. They have quietly been making significant progress that has gone unreported in the U.S. Cast.Era is a technology development joint venture between SK Telecom, the largest mobile carrier in South Korea and Sinclair Broadcast Group.
• A report on 5G/NextGen Broadcast/Multicast integration programs: Members of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC, an international standards development organization), including Cast.Era, Sinclair Broadcast Group, and ONE Media 3.0, are working on various international initiatives involving wireless IP distribution including integration with 3GPP standards. These include activities in South Korea (integration into the automotive environment) and India (which is testing a “Direct to Mobile Broadcast” model). These technologies are moving along faster than many realize.

The webinar series will also feature:

• A report from national NextGen Broadcast/Multicast spectrum aggregators.
• A CES 2023 Show sneak peek at the introduction of the first U.S. NextGen Broadcast/Multicast-enabled vehicles.
• Automotive Advanced Emergency Information (AEI) services.
• An invitation to participate in NextGen Broadcast/Multicast spectrum efficiency testing and RTK geolocation testing.

According to Mark Aitken, President of ONE Media 3.0 and SVP of Advanced Technology at Sinclair Broadcast Group: “The past year has seen significant NextGen Broadcast milestones achieved including half of U.S. households in markets now able to receive a NextGen Broadcast/Multicast signal, while South Korea and Jamaica are moving forward with their related adoptions.  India, Brazil, and many other countries are looking at these solutions and the real value added to the wireless marketplace. Now is the right time to share the automotive technology development projects we have all been working on.”