BREAKING NEWS: FCC Approves Next-Gen TV for OTA Broadcasting

[larrykenney]

In a 3-2 vote along party lines, the FCC has authorized broadcasters to begin voluntary over-the-air transmission of next-generation television based on the ATSC 3.0 standard.

Details here from "TV Technology":
FCC Approves Next-Gen TV For OTA Broadcasting

Larry

 

[primestar31]

Yeah, that'll work, when no ATSC 3.0 tuners for average people exist as of yet...

 

[comfortably_numb]

In a 3-2 vote along party lines, the FCC has authorized broadcasters to begin voluntary over-the-air transmission of next-generation television based on the ATSC 3.0 standard.

Details here from "TV Technology":
FCC Approves Next-Gen TV For OTA Broadcasting

Larry

Keyword “Voluntary”

 

[jayn_j]

This becomes a scheme for TV manufacturers to get people to junk 4k sets and buy new sets with improved tuners. The HDTV thing happened because broadcasters could simulcast for a number of years. with the new bandwidth grabbing scheme, there isn't going to be any spare bandwidth available for simulcast and since ATSC 3.0 isn't backward compatible, stations need a significant base before they abandon the current ATSC 1.0 market.

I have looked at this, and simply don't see a way forward for 3.0 adoption.

 

[Voyager6]

I have looked at this, and simply don't see a way forward for 3.0 adoption.

Until the Government forces it on us through a mandate.
How We Bungled the Digital Television Transition
The Switch from Analog to Digital TV

 

[comfortably_numb]

Until the Government forces it on us through a mandate.
How We Bungled the Digital Television Transition
The Switch from Analog to Digital TV

I'm not a fan of "government mandates" as a general rule. However, that's how the current digital standard came about, and like it or not, it IS a standard. So unless broadcasters and TV makers are in cahoots, I don't see how ATSC 3.0 will ever become a "standard" in the US.

 

[Voyager6]

I'm not a fan of "government mandates" as a general rule. However, that's how the current digital standard came about, and like it or not, it IS a standard. So unless broadcasters and TV makers are in cahoots, I don't see how ATSC 3.0 will ever become a "standard" in the US.

To my thinking, the "repack" has totally screwed ATSC 3.0 adoption. Cramming all the channels together in a much smaller spectrum leaves little room for ATSC 3.0 channels. Forcing broadcasters to give up their profitable sub-channels to relocate their ATSC 1.0 signal while setting up a ATSC 3.0 signal that no one can receive won't work.

 

[jayn_j]

The difference is that the last transition allowed for 5 years of simulcasting to get the new standard going. There were also perceived incentives in noticeably better picture and more importantly subchannels. Most markets greatly increased their OTA offerings.

They need to show these sorts of improvements. The improvements need to be sold to a community that is largely satisfied with the current HDTV and subchannel arrangement on their 50" LCD set.

 

[comfortably_numb]

The improvements need to be sold to a community that is largely satisfied with the current HDTV and subchannel arrangement on their 50" LCD set.

Yep. And the way most current OTA antennas are martketed and sold, most people believe OTA is already 1080p and 4K. Oh, and that your antenna has a 150 mile reception radius.

 

[navychop]

And exactly where is Cahoots? Out West somewhere?

 

[navychop]

Anyway, once they start broadcasting ATSC 3, doesn’t that start a ticker to when they can then stop broadcasting in ATSC 1? Five years, is it?

 

[navychop]

I FOUND IT!

Cahoots is a smoky room in the basement of the Capitol Building!

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I got to admin, I am looking forward to being able to play with it.

The way we are watching television is changing, and the technology needs to change with it. I will be excited to see a cell phone that has a built in ATSC 3 tuner.

 

[comfortably_numb]

I got to admin, I am looking forward to being able to play with it.

The way we are watching television is changing, and the technology needs to change with it. I will be excited to see a cell phone that has a built in ATSC 3 tuner.

I like playing with new technology too, but what incentive do stations have to do this?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

More revenue. Lots more advertising with more subchannels.

 

[harshness]

Anyway, once they start broadcasting ATSC 3, doesn’t that start a ticker to when they can then stop broadcasting in ATSC 1?

Nope. Like uptake with DTV, it comes when the statistics show that some relatively large percentage of the population has access to ATSC 3.0.

Of course since VHF is typically going to be a bigger part of the OTA landscape, it will take both tuners and a new antenna for many.

 

[harshness]

I will be excited to see a cell phone that has a built in ATSC 3 tuner.

I suspect that this technology was considerably oversold. Dick Tracy probably isn't going to be envious.

 

[Juan]

If they could only force cable and satellite to carry subchannels..then every station in the country would upgrade

 

[comfortably_numb]

If they could only force cable and satellite to carry subchannels..then every station in the country would upgrade

But they didn’t and it is looking like they won’t. It will be a huge capital expenditure for stations, many of whom are investing money to repack. I’m skeptical.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I'm not.

As you know the company I work for owns on the biggest towers in the state which hosts a number of TV stations. And all of them but one are looking to move to ATSC 3.0 as soon as they can. They WANT to do it.