There’s a new television broadcast technology called “NextGen TV,” and it promises better picture quality, a signal more resistant to interference, interactive features, and localized emergency alerts.
NextGen TV is an evolution of the current ATSC over-the-air broadcast standard used in North America, and TV stations are already planning for its roll-out. We’ll guide you through what it is and answer key questions about the new tech.
What is ATSC 3.0, and how does it differ?
The new broadcast standard updates the current standard, ATSC 1.0 standard, with a host of new features and technology. It’s based on an IP (Internet Protocol) backbone and attempts to merge broadcast TV with content from the internet.
It uses a more modern compression system to support high-bandwidth streams, which means broadcasters will be able to send 4K UHD signals or cram more high- or standard-definition channels into the same space.
Its promoters also promise better signal reception indoors, which is good news for apartment-dwelling cord cutters, and the interactive functions could bring a new range of services to TV viewers. That said, similar promises were made about interactive TV content in the past. Consumers have shown little appetite for it.
One potentially troubling aspect, and probably a big part of the reason why broadcasters are keen to adopt NextGen TV, is more targeted advertising. Instead of all viewers in a service area getting the same local commercials, advertising will be targeted to specific towns, neighborhoods, and even viewers.
How will ATSC 3.0 impact privacy?
This is a great question, and one that FCC decided it didn’t need to figure out before approving NextGen TV. The specification doesn’t mention details of what information will be recorded and collected by broadcasters, how they will use it, or how they will protect it.
It will probably end up something like internet advertising, but just more annoying. After all, do you really want to see TV commercials for flights to Houston, hiking boots or computer monitors for weeks after you’ve already bought them?
LG Electronics
An LG chip for reception of ATSC 3.0, NextGen TV.
When will NextGen TV be available?
The first broadcasts have already taken place, in Phoenix, Arizona, back in 2018. Broadcasters chose the city as a test market to figure out the technology and how to deploy it.
The FCC isn’t giving TV stations new channel space to broadcast ATSC 3.0 and has mandated that ATSC 1.0 signals remain on the air for at least five years, so broadcasters will need to work out transmitter sharing deals. The specifics of those have yet to be decided.
From there, a lot depends on consumer adoption of the technology. That will be influenced by equipment prices and the availability of programming in 4K resolution or the type of interactive fare promised.
South Korea adopted ATSC 3.0 in mid 2017, but the number of 4K programs is still low. This could take some time.
Will I need a new TV or antenna?
NextGen TV will be broadcast on existing TV frequencies, so you won’t need a new antenna. But because it’s a completely new format you will need a new TV or a set-top converter box (cable subscribers will get something from their cable company).
At present, very few TVs available for sale today have ATSC 3.0 tuners, and unlike the analog-to-digital conversion, the government doesn’t plan to subsidize the cost of converter boxes.
The five-year simulcasting window should mean viewers with TV antennas don’t lose access to major networks, although the transmitter-sharing deals might result in some sub-channels being dropped. How exactly this all works is yet to be decided and could be a city-by-city decision.
One potentially troubling part of the simulcast plan is that it doesn’t require TV stations to keep signals on the air at the same quality. If NextGen TV takes off, viewers without new TVs or converters could see existing over-the-air channels switch to lower resolutions and higher compression to make more bandwidth available for ATSC 3.0 signals. Watch this space.