ATSC 3.0: Everything You Need to Know About 'NextGen' TV

(Image credit: ATSC)

Turns out we’re not done with broadcast television, not by a long shot.

The "NextGen" broadcast technology standard, otherwise known as ATSC 3.0, is here. Capable of 4K and HDR picture resolutions, as well as advanced Dolby audio wherewithal among other features, ATSC 3.0 is the first major overhaul to the Advanced Television Systems Committee's standard for sending and receiving over-the-air (OTA) signals since the group first introduced ATSC 1.0 back in 1996.

You may remember ATSC 1.0. That was the technology that finally took hold in 2009, ushering in the switch from analog to digital television. Capping out at 1080p high-definition resolution, ATSC 1.0 was progeny to the National Television System Committee (NTSC) standard, the antiquated analog television TV viewing experience introduced in 1941, patterned at a time when sitting in front of the TV set to watch broadcasts when they were scheduled was the norm.

ATSC 2.0 was never able to get off the launch pad—it was skipped altogether. But some of its upgrades made it into the ATSC 3.0 standard.

ATSC 3.0 – Reshaping the Modern TV Experience

From the RF (radio frequency) transmission through presentation to the viewer or listener--and all the necessary items in between—ATSC 3.0 is a hybrid broadcast and IP-based delivery standard considered the biggest technological update to antenna TV since the transition to high-definition digital signals in 2009.

Specifically, ATSC 3.0 offers 4K resolution and HDR content for over-the-air broadcasts, taking everything about the initial switch to digital TV broadcasting and upgrading it.

ATSC 3.0 uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) modulation as opposed to the 8VSB modulation used by ATSC 1.0. We won’t get too far into the weeds with that. We’ll just say that OFDM has the reputation of being more spectrally efficient and less susceptible to multi-path interference (which can cause ATSC 1.0 signals break up, or not be received at all).

Among the expected improvements with ATSC 3.0 are better sound quality with less interference; higher picture resolution (with the potential for an 8K picture in the future); the availability on more mobile devices (like phones and tablets as well as in cars); more channels in higher quality without the need for a large antenna; and what is anticipated as the seamless combination of broadcast TV with the internet.

If your TV does not support ATSC 3.0 and you want to receive ATSC 3.0 signals, you will be able to use an external converter box. Stations will continue to broadcast in ATSC 1.0 even after they are transmitting in ATSC 3.0, too.

How The ATSC 3.0 Rollout Is Going

ATSC 3.0 will be broadly launched by individual broadcasters over the next few years, concurrent with the anticipated introduction of consumer TV products equipped to receive ATSC 3.0. The coverage goal for ATSC 3.0 is 80% of the country. ATSC has created a map for NextGen TV deployments in the U.S.

ATSC 3.0 is currently on the air in more than 50 markets with another 17 markets readying to launch. Launch examples include ones in Los Angeles, with Fox-owned KTTV and KCOP as well as Nexstar's KTLA now broadcasting in the format. Five stations in Green Bay, Wisconsin in early 2022 launched NextGen TV broadcasts, including Gray Television’s WBAY-TV and WLUK-TV, Sinclair's WCWF-TV, E.W. Scripps’ WGBA-TV, and Nexstar Media's WFRV-TV. An ATSC 3.0 showcase is planned for a low-power station in Cookeville, Tennessee, to demonstrate the potential for the technology at public TV stations.

Twenty different TV models from three manufacturers—LG, Samsung and Sony—will be available with built-in tuners starting at $599. The companies expected to ship more than 2 million sets by the end of 2021.

Standalone tuner boxes that you can connect to any TV are in the planning stages. And some local TV stations across the country will be changing their over-the air broadcast frequencies (meaning individuals who watch free over-the-air television with an antenna will need to rescan their TV set each time a station moves to continue receiving the local channel).

The regions served by the roll-out will have access to interactive digital television being broadcast in a new standard that's capable of this 4K/HDR or full UltraHD and multi-channel audio.

Station groups involved in the deployment of ATSC 3.0 include Fox Television Stations, NBCUniversal owned-and-operated outlets, Nexstar Media Group, Univision, Pearl TV, Tegna, Telemundo stations, Univision and the Spectrum Co. (which includes Sinclair). Sinclair, in particular, has jumped on the ATSC 3.0 bandwagon via the introduction of ad-supported streaming service STIRR, which utilizes this technology.

The technology appears to be of interest to sports teams looking to expand their reach within their viewing markets even as regional sports networks are stumbling. The NBA's Phoenix Suns, for example, see the potential of the over-the-air pathway into viewer homes, and the Utah Jazz were reportedly looking at a hybrid approach to supplement their pay-TV audiences in this way.

Evoca, a virtual pay TV service based on ATSC 3.0, launched in Boise, Idaho, in September 2020. The service then expanded to nearby Twin Cities, Idaho, and announced plans to move into the Phoenix market. At launch, Evoca said it had 1,000 subscribers. The company later said it was working with CommScope to develop a hybrid set-top that blends Android TV with ATSC 3.0. Evoca ran into financial troubles, though, and after last-ditch efforts to raise funds failed, the service shut down at the end of 2022.

More Than TV

ATSC 3.0 technology is also being used to provide internet to areas that might not have access to traditional broadband.

Last August, SpectraRep brought EduCast, the company's broadcast internet remote learning service, to Washington, D.C. SpectraRep teamed with Sinclair Broadcast Group's One Media 3.0 and One Media's D.C. station WIAV-CD to deliver EduCast.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country and students and teachers were sent home, we saw the negative impacts on remote learners without access to adequate broadband,” said Mark O'Brien, president and CTO of SpectraRep. “Issues like homework gaps and equity in education became even more acute, and we quickly realized we could help to bridge the digital divide through our technology and the enhanced advances offered by ATSC 3.0, in the same way we’ve supported public safety and law enforcement customers.”

SpectraRep plans to launch EduCast using NextGen TV in more markets. The service is currently available via ATSC 1.0 in 12 states.

Sinclair is also working with Hyundai Mobis to deliver ATSC 3.0 broadcast signals to cars.

“This collaboration is an important step towards realizing the promise of using ATSC 3.0 to communicate with the millions of vehicles on America’s roads and to greater serve the American public interest,” said Sinclair President Chris Ripley.

The Bottom Line

Designed to accommodate new viewing behaviors, ATSC 3.0 is the new unified standard for broadcasters and OTT providers to deliver a next-generation content experience. Being able to view content on any device, at any time, from any location is now something consumers are accustomed to. And, if pay-TV, linear TV, and OTT adapt and collaborate, viewers in the “when you want, where you want” programming platform of today will now be able to use this ATSC 3.0 platform to view all content, no matter the source. ■