10 Houston Stations Launch NextGen TV

Television viewers in Houston, the eighth-largest TV market in the United States, can now experience the future of broadcast television as 10 stations today launched NextGen TV (also known as ATSC 3.0.

Switching on the new transmission standard are Fox Television Stations’ KTXH (My Network TV) and owned-and-operated KRIV (Fox); Nexstar Media Group’s KIAH (CW); Univision’s KFTH (UniMas) and KXLN (Univision); ABC owned-and-operated KTRK; Graham Media Group’s KPRC (NBC); Tegna’s KHOU (CBS); NBCUniversal-owned KTMD (Telemundo); and University of Houston’s KUHT (PBS).

“Houston will now get the most out of live news, events, and sports programming, as NextGen TV merges over-the-air antenna TV with the internet, enhancing its information and entertainment value,” said Ralph Rendon, vice president of creative services and programming for Fox-owned KRIV-KTXH. “Through a combined effort of investment, meeting critical deadlines, and deployment of powerful new technologies, we’re able to provide a better and more engaging audio and video experience for our viewers.”

“This launch took an extraordinary amount of collaboration among the 10 TV stations involved and is a clear demonstration of the entire industry’s commitment to NextGen TV,” said Brett Jenkins, EVP and chief technology officer for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. “Viewers will quickly notice the brilliant video and improved audio delivered by NextGen TV. But along with these enhancements come important upgrades in broadcaster’s ability to provide new customer experiences and services, allowing us to explore new business opportunities to meet the challenges of today’s evolving digital world.”

“These stations all share a commitment to provide their viewers with the best content and service and the launch of NextGen TV enables that by creating a more inspiring and personalized viewing experience,” added Anne Schelle, managing director of Pearl TV. “NextGen TV exponentially expands the type of content broadcasters can provide their unique audiences, and the ways that viewers can engage with their television screens and the level of information they will have access to. Houston’s launch underscores the excitement we all share as we continue innovating this revolutionary technology for viewers.”