ATSC 3.0 to Roll Out In 40 Markets by End of 2020

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At the 2019 NAB Show, a coalition of broadcast television station groups announced plans to deploy Next-Gen TV in the 40 largest U.S. TV markets by the end of 2020.

The announcement includes Fox Television Stations, NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations, Univision, SpectrumCo (whose members include Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group) members of the Pearl TV business organization (including Cox Media Group, The E.W. Scripps Company, Graham Media Group, Gray Television, Hearst Television Inc., Meredith Local Media Group, Nexstar Media Group and TEGNA Inc). Additional supporting broadcasters include America’s Public Television Stations, Capitol Broadcasting, Hubbard Broadcasting, News-Press & Gazette Broadcasting, and public broadcasters participating in the Phoenix Model Market Next-Gen TV test.

The effort builds on testing and rollouts already taken place in Phoenix, AZ, Dallas, TX, Baltimore, MD, East Lansing, MI, Raleigh, NC, and Santa Barbara, CA. An expanded launch of Next-Gen TV will enhance over-the-air services for viewers, while bringing together broadcast and broadband functionality to give audiences more content and choice, say proponents.

Deployment of ATSC 3.0 will provide information and entertainment to ATSC 3.0-equipped television receivers, to automobiles, and to other digital and mobile consumer devices. Consumer Technology Association VP Technology and Standards Michael Bergman, said at the event ATSC 3.0-enabled sets and devices are expected to be available at retail by 2020, according to the NAB Show Daily News.

This first wave of over-the-air Next-Gen TV service will begin with several markets slated for launch this year, with dozens more planned through 2020. Subject to final engineering and required approvals, consents and FCC license modifications, the participating broadcasters have identified the first stations that will convert to ATSC 3.0 service in this rollout.

Published April 10, 2019

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