Smith, Sook, LaPlatney On Tap For 3.0 Confab

Providing the TV station group perspective on ATSC 3.0 at TVNewsCheck’s upcoming conference — TV2020: Monetizing ATSC 3.0 — will be an all-star CEO panel comprising David Smith of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Perry Sook of Nexstar Broadcasting Group and Pat LaPlatney of Raycom Media.

TV2020 will take place Nov. 9-10 at New York’s Javits Convention Center during NAB Show New York, with the CEO panel slotted for 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 10.

“ATSC 3.0 is a new broadcast standard that proponents believe will enable broadcasters to introduce new services and businesses, but it will require a big investment,” said TVNewsCheck Editor Harry A. Jessell. “In this session, we’ll try to sort out what is real and what’s not and whether the leading station groups are ready to make the investment.”

Broadcasters and consumer electronics manufacturers have been developing the ATSC 3.0 standard for the past several years under the aegis of the Advanced Television Systems Committee. It brings the promise of mobile reception, targeted and interactive advertising, datacasting and multichannel pay broadcasting.

With the FCC now considering authorizing ATSC 3.0, the TV2020 conference is expected to attract broadcasters, technology suppliers, investors, researchers, advertisers and financial analysts — anybody with a stake in the future of the oldest and still most-watched TV medium.

David Smith became CEO of Sinclair Broadcast Group in the 1990s, taking the family business from three TV stations to 59 in that decade. He’s never looked back. In the 2000s, he oversaw the launch of the country’s first digital subchannel using syndicated programming, pioneered retransmission consent fees and led the industry movement for mobility and portability of the broadcast television signal. Now, he has been at the forefront of activity pushing for adoption of the ATSC 3.0 standard to provide broadcasters the mobility and portability of their television stations’ signals. Sinclair owns or operates 173 TV stations in 81 markets.

Perry Sook founded Nexstar’s predecessor in 1996. He has more than 33 years of professional experience in the television and radio broadcasting industries, covering all facets of the business including ownership and M&A, retransmission consent, management, sales, on-air talent and news. When various acquisitions underway — including the still-pending purchase of Media General — are completed, Nexstar will own, operate, program or provide sales and other services to 171 television stations and related digital multicast signals reaching 62 markets across the country.

Pat LaPlatney became CEO of Raycom Media this summer during his second tour with the company. He worked for Raycom Sports in the 1990s, leaving in 1997 for opportunities elsewhere. He returned to Raycom in 2007 to lead the group’s digital media efforts before being anointed to succeed the retiring Paul McTear in the top job. Raycom today owns or operates 62 TV stations in 42 markets. It also owns PureCars (a digital ad platform), Raycom Sports and other TV programming assets.

TV2020 is a TVNewsCheck conference presented at NAB Show New York. With more than 6,800 attendees, 300 exhibitors and 60 educational sessions, NAB Show New York showcases the best in next-generation technology for media, entertainment and telecom professionals with conferences and workshops focused on television, film, satellite, online video, live events, corporate A/V, production and post. It is produced by the National Association of Broadcasters and co-located with InfoComm Connections, both of which also run Nov. 9-10 at the Javits Center.

To register for TV2020, click here.