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

[harshness]

Who says they are going to do HD?

The viewers won't settle for less than Full HD and the advertisers will go elsewhere if they get the idea that they're not reaching customers.

The logic of offing all of the subchannels and doing the lighthouse thing all sounds convincing as long as you ignore the fact that the public isn't being forced to move along (nor are they particularly being enticed to move along). If OTA walks away from them, viewers don't need motivation to seek their TV elsewhere or non-linearly.

The networks don't care because they're covered through pay TV and streaming but the individual stations should be shaking in their boots at the idea of parting company with their meal tickets.

ATSC 3.0 brings very little promise with it and big promises are absolutely essential to voluntary uptake. Promise of major improvements was essential to get everyone to move to DTV even though it was mandated! Next Gen doesn't offer any such wins for the average viewer until after it has finally replaced DTV.

If you still think Next Gen has it all over DTV such that voluntary uptake is assured, ask yourself what happened to ATSC 2.0 and whether ATSC 3.0 is such a huge step up from that.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Once ATSC 1.0 sunsets

Might not be in our lifetime.

 

[goaliebob99]

The viewers won't settle for less than Full HD and the advertisers will go elsewhere if they get the idea that they're not reaching

ATSC 3.0 brings very little promise with it and big promises are absolutely essential to voluntary uptake. Promise of major improvements was essential to get everyone to move to DTV even though it was mandated! Next Gen doesn't offer any such wins for the average viewer until after it has finally replaced DTV.

If you still think Next Gen has it all over DTV such that voluntary uptake is assured, ask yourself what happened to ATSC 2.0 and whether ATSC 3.0 is such a huge step up from that.

Are your u sure about that... the networks has no problems using bonded cellular that looks like crap for live hits and no one seems to care.

While you may not accept no less than HD alot of viewers will. Also, for the record ATSC 2.0 never really existed. By the time they began the discussions on it, it was clear they were going in the direction of 3.0.

Also, you have to start somewhere. As with any system there will be growing pains. You keep claiming that there are promises atsc 3.0 is bringing, but those promises are real world observations. Ask WRAL who’s been running an atsc 3.0 channel for over a year testing out exactly why the Broadcasters want to do with it. Everyone that I have talked to wants to transition now.

 

[goaliebob99]

Might not be in our lifetime.

Wrong. 5 years after a station goes 3.0 they can sunset their 1.0 signal. Its in the FCC documentation. Places that are going 3.0 are already talking about doing just that to gain more bandwidth on the towers. They want that revenue and expect that everything else will fall in line. Apparently its easy for the Korean manufacturers to adapt the chipset and tuners to match our version of ATSC 3.0.

 

[navychop]

I think it more likely there will be a few losses of ATSC 1 towers, and sharing on a few ATSC 3 towers. Then some shutting down of the ATSC 1 towers, replaced by new build ATSC 3 towers. THEN Joe Sixpack might see some improvements. Or think he does. Maybe.

ATSC 3 will be driven by people selling equipment, and later, advertisers that want better targeting.

 

[comfortably_numb]

I think it more likely there will be a few losses of ATSC 1 towers, and sharing on a few ATSC 3 towers. Then some shutting down of the ATSC 1 towers, replaced by new build ATSC 3 towers. THEN Joe Sixpack might see some improvements. Or think he does. Maybe.

ATSC 3 will be driven by people selling equipment, and later, advertisers that want better targeting.

Sounds reasonable to me. I like new technology too, but I’m not a bandwagon jumper. I’ll believe all of this when I see it, and since I live in the 26th largest DMA market, it may be quite some time before I do.

 

[harshness]

Wrong. 5 years after a station goes 3.0 they can sunset their 1.0 signal. Its in the FCC documentation.

I expect that there's more to it than that. Assuming that the FCC documentation won't change or that Congress won't recognize that things aren't working as hoped is folly.

Places that are going 3.0 are already talking about doing just that to gain more bandwidth on the towers. They want that revenue and expect that everything else will fall in line.

That's just their little Field of Dreams lunacy. That's not how technology advances.

Apparently its easy for the Korean manufacturers to adapt the chipset and tuners to match our version of ATSC 3.0.

What makes this "apparent" to you? There's nothing trivial (or cheap) about implementing licensed technologies.

You've obviously bought into the Sinclair/LG arguments hook line and sinker but they are only one decidedly biased side of the story. The public is far less swayed by the arguments of those who stand to benefit mightily when they discover what pain and suffering they're going to have to endure for little to no benefit of their own.

 

[goaliebob99]

I expect that there's more to it than that. Assuming that the FCC documentation won't change or that Congress won't recognize that things aren't working as hoped is folly.That's just their little Field of Dreams lunacy. That's not how technology advances.What makes this "apparent" to you? There's nothing trivial (or cheap) about implementing licensed technologies.

You've obviously bought into the Sinclair/LG arguments hook line and sinker but they are only one decidedly biased side of the story. The public is far less swayed by the arguments of those who stand to benefit mightily when they discover what pain and suffering they're going to have to endure for little to no benefit of their own.

You obviously have a problem with this transition. What if your wrong. What if everything goes as planned. As it stands right now, once a station goes 3.0 they must simulcast 1.0 programming on 3.0 and can sunset 1.0 5 years later. If things go well, I'm sure they could accelerate that timeline or decelerate it as needed. Also, This isnt a Sinclair/LG argument. Samsung is saying the same thing as well. LG and Samsung should know. They have sets out now in Korea that have the ATSC 3.0 chipset as Korea has adapted to it and broadcasters are already transmitting in 4K over 3.0. If it was such a bad thing I think we would be hearing reports of how horrible ATSC 3.0 is coming out of Korea. I have yet to hear anything of the sort. Korea has more penetration issues with buildings because of all of the high rises and they seem to doing very well with it. (Again real world results) It amazes me how some here dont like change even if its for the better and how misinformed some people are on the standards, what it does and the technology behind it.

 

[goaliebob99]

Here is the FCC's fact sheet from October on this issue. https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-347455A1.pdf

 

[navychop]

110 pages. Right. Cliff Notes?

 

[comfortably_numb]

What if everything goes as planned

What plan? Stations are allowed to do 3.0 if they want. There’s no mandate. That’s the problem.

 

[Jim5506]

What is the financial incentive to go ATSC 3.0 - I see NONE!

 

[primestar31]

What is the financial incentive to go ATSC 3.0 - I see NONE!

They could encrypt their signal and charge for it. Then, broadcast the ATSC 1.0 in the clear so the government will stay backed off. There's all sorts of built-in ways they can monetize this. THAT'S what's driving this. They want to be paid multiple times for everything from every side. Or, maybe they'll just put what they think is prime stuff on streaming, like "Cbs All-Access". ATSC 3.0 is IP driven, so it would be easy to pull that off.

 

[goaliebob99]

They could encrypt their signal and charge for it. Then, broadcast the ATSC 1.0 in the clear so the government will stay backed off. There's all sorts of built-in ways they can monetize this. THAT'S what's driving this. They want to be paid multiple times for everything from every side. Or, maybe they'll just put what they think is prime stuff on streaming, like "Cbs All-Access". ATSC 3.0 is IP driven, so it would be easy to pull that off.

It's really more based upon the broadcast and streaming opportunites Plus it gives them more bandwidth. Sense they are going from 8vsb to OFDM, it's going to give them up to 56 Mb/s pipe with better penetration into buildings. When connected to the internet, it also allows them to do a hybrid delivery. Main program delivered via broadcast and alternate components or interstitials delivered via broadband, content and ads pushed via broadband delivered based upon your preferences and history. Think facebook ads for TV. Content can be streamed in real-time (i.e., linear or streaming on-demand content) via both broadcast and broadband. Content can also be delivered in non-real-time and cached locally via both broadcast and broadband. The interactive application environment for ATSC 3.0 will enable interoperability between the receiver runtime environment and apps that producers and broadcasters author, based on WC3 technologies. The goal is to align with the web as much as possible.

 

[goaliebob99]

What plan? Stations are allowed to do 3.0 if they want. There’s no mandate. That’s the problem.

It's not a problem nore is a mandate needed. The sky is not falling.

 

[goaliebob99]

110 pages. Right. Cliff Notes?

LOL In this case that is the cliff notes version.

 

[goaliebob99]

This is a good explenation at what's going on. What Cord Cutters Need to Know About ATSC 3.0 - Part 1 | Over The Air (OTA) DVR | Tablo

 

[comfortably_numb]

It's not a problem nore is a mandate needed. The sky is not falling.

Have you spoken to stations in all the major markets in the US and asked them what their plans are? Have you spoken with manufacturers of TV’s and STB’s to see what their ETA on new hardware will be? Or are you just giddy with excitement over new technology? Like I said before, I understand that myself. So far, no one knows which stations will make the jump besides the ones Scott Greczkowski mentioned (Phoenix). It’s going to be a long process and nobody knows yet exactly how it will play out.

 

[harshness]

You obviously have a problem with this transition.

I remember how the last one went and this one isn't mandated and it doesn't raise the bar for PQ or AQ in any certain way.

What if everything goes as planned.

You speak as if there is a plan. There isn't!

As it stands right now, once a station goes 3.0 they must simulcast 1.0 programming on 3.0 and can sunset 1.0 5 years later.

Saying what they can't do isn't the same thing as a plan.

If things go well, I'm sure they could accelerate that timeline or decelerate it as needed.

You reference a timeline. Where is this timeline? What signifies the beginning of the timeline and what indicates the end. Dates are far too arbitrary and we know from last time that they are almost certain to get pushed out.

LG and Samsung should know. They have sets out now in Korea that have the ATSC 3.0 chipset as Korea has adapted to it and broadcasters are already transmitting in 4K over 3.0.

You offer up South Korea as a model of CONUS OTA broadcasting when it isn't even a proper microcosm. They have just one or two national channels and a handful of regional channels. That doesn't equate to a model for thousands of stations and tens of millions of viewers.

If it was such a bad thing I think we would be hearing reports of how horrible ATSC 3.0 is coming out of Korea. I have yet to hear anything of the sort.

Who do you suppose gathers and disseminates the news that comes out of South Korea? Might it be influenced by the companies that hold the keys to the technology?

Let's look at the TV spectrum in the US versus that of South Korea. They've got room to run four or five standards and we literally don't have enough room for the one standard we're operating under once the repack is completed. The repack will happen whether or not Next Gen TV makes a showing and it is not voluntary or optional.

I see no reason to believe that a voluntary transition will be successful. Further, because the wins for viewers are far down the road, any positive comparisons to the DTV transition are largely unjustified.

 

[goaliebob99]

Have you spoken to stations in all the major markets in the US and asked them what their plans are? Have you spoken with manufacturers of TV’s and STB’s to see what their ETA on new hardware will be? Or are you just giddy with excitement over new technology? Like I said before, I understand that myself. So far, no one knows which stations will make the jump besides the ones Scott Greczkowski mentioned (Phoenix). It’s going to be a long process and nobody knows yet exactly how it will play out.

Stop being negative Nancy. Don’t forget Cleveland as well. Also, if you google you can see in broadcast engineering where the DOE's at the major broadcasters are already saying they are making the preparations for the jump to ATSC 3.0. This would include your top markets at O&O stations. You don’t have to personally talk to everyone to know where the stations intend on going. Again a standard would not be written if there was no interest in moving over to the new system. Also, the Manufactures of TV's and STB's have already said they intend on deploying their TV's to the US in 2018 with ATSC 3.0 tuners. They are making them now and am deploying in KOREA currently. Korea's ATSC 3.0 System is not much different than ours and it wouldn’t be much of a process to roll out those devices here. Also, those in Korea right now who have an antenna, TV that supports ATSC 3.0 (widely available on the Korean market) can even watch the Peyonchang Olympics in 4K.


You make it sound like it's going to take years when in fact it's not. First initial markets roll out in 2018. We will see a massive adoption 2019 into 2020. With ATSC sun setting around 2024. It will not take long for tuners, STB's or even TV's to roll out to the market. I'm willing to bet that we will see more at CES with the first sets rolling out in June. They want Phoenix up by April for NAB so that fits into the timeline of showing off the technology to broadcasters and rolling out to consumers in June.


The industry will help drive the transition through multi-station market testing in Phoenix, AZ; and 'living lab' field testing in Cleveland, OH - and we've already fully implemented 4K UHD broadcasting using ATSC 3.0 in Korea. The FCC's approval of Next Gen TV broadcasting sets the stage for 2018 to be the year when American consumers begin to experience the highest-quality OTA TV available.