Five Charlotte, N.C., Stations Debut NextGen TV

Starting today, Charlotte, N.C., television viewers will get a taste of the future as five local stations band together to launch NextGen TV (also known as ATSC 3.0)..

Switching on the new transmission standard are Cox Media Group’s WSOC (ABC) and WAXN (independent), Nexstar Media Group’s WJZY (Fox), Gray Television’s WBTV (CBS) and Tegna’s WCNC (NBC).

Charlotte joins nearly 40 early-adopter cities across the country where NextGen TV service is already available.

“Watching in NextGen TV immerses the viewer in stunning video with brilliant color, sharper images, and deeper contrast, making them feel like they’re part of the action,” said Paul Curran, EVP, television at Cox Media Group. “NextGen TV adds a whole new dimension to TV viewing with Voice + audio from Dolby, available only on NextGen TV. Viewers will feel the power of movie theater-quality sound, allowing them to hear every voice clearly and offering uniform volume across different channels.”

“By merging over-the-air TV with the internet, NextGen TV will change the way viewers watch live broadcast television, revolutionizing the interaction between viewers and their home screens,” said Anne Schelle, managing director of Pearl TV, the broadcaster business group that is coordinating NextGen TV station launches. “Because NextGen TV can also be enhanced with internet content, Charlotte area viewers will be able to get the most out of live sports, live news and live events.”

The participating stations have worked together to ensure that current programming remains available to all viewers, regardless of whether their television service is provided over-the air or by a cable or satellite company. Antenna viewers can simply rescan their TV sets to ensure full service.