ATSC 3.0 deployments as of May 24, 2021
(Image credit: ATSC 3.0 Deployment Map)
ALEXANDRIA, Va.—As pandemic-driven restrictions start to ease around the country, U.S. broadcasters are increasing their focus on rolling out ATSC 3.0 (aka NextGen TV).
Despite some hurdles imposed by Covid-19, more than two dozen stations over the past year have transitioned, and interest among others is growing.
In this, the first installment of a two-part article, we explore what it takes to put a 3.0 signal on the air, with information supplied by several broadcasters and equipment suppliers.
All agreed that while the first step (coordination among stations within a market) is non-technical, it will require a substantial amount of time spent in meetings to hammer out details and agreements as to which station will carry off-loaded ATSC 1.0 streams from those moving to 3.0, and details of the hosting of those station’s 3.0 transmissions.