ATSC 3.0 and HDR are two emerging technologies that will star at the upcoming NAB trade show on April 16-21 in Vegas, where the two are due to feature heavily in product announcements. HDR’s ability to produce startling clear, life-like pictures is best explained by the adage: 4K provides more pixels, HDR provides better pixels.
ATSC 3.0 is the last, best hope for the dinosaur-like over-the-air (OTA) broadcasters to join the digital media age – to catch up with OTT services that have left them far behind when it comes to satisfying viewers that have come to expect anywhere, anytime access to quality pictures – as shown by OTT services’ rapid adoption of mobility, 4K and, most recently, HDR.
The 3.0 version of ATSC combines broadband and broadcast, allows for OTA 4K and HDR broadcasts and beams to mobile devices – just like the OTT services. The push of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) will be very visible at the NAB trade show, which will have a “broadcast pavilion” and “consumer experience” sections.
ATSC 3.0 gear will be used to transmit to live content prototype receivers in the ATSC 3.0 Broadcast Pavilion where other ATSC 3.0 products will be on display: multiplexers, HDR content transmission equipment, encoders, signal analyzers, watermarking software and interactive TV apps.
In the ATSC 3.0 Consumer Experience area attendees can see ATSC 3.0 receivers wirelessly transmitting to smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. It combines OTA broadcasts and broadband delivery. Users can choose between SD, HD, 4K, and 4K with HDR. Because ATSC 3.0 is beamed directly to mobile devices and not using a cellco’s network, transmission will be free and there will be no data caps – in theory. Much of the cellcos’ OFDM 4G technology is included in the ATSC 3.0 standard.
Sinclair Broadcast Group, the US’s largest owner of TV stations with 160, has formed a joint venture with Coherent Logix called One Media whose sole mission is to push the ATSC 3.0 standard: build a next generation broadcast platform that can provide premium video anytime, anywhere without a data cap.” That would pull local TV stations out of their cash-filled caves and put them at the head of the digital media parade.
Pearl TV is a consortium of 170 TV stations that is promoting the ATSC 3.0 standard. Its members include these owners of local TV stations: Cox Media Group, EW Scripps, Gannett, Media General, Meredith Local Media Group, Raycom Media and others – but not Sinclair.
ATSC President Mark Richer said, “the monumental effort underway to standardize ATSC 3.0 is nearing completion, with more than 20 elements of the new standard in play. Hundreds of volunteer experts have been working to develop the world’s first broadcast standard built with an IP backbone, and we’re excited to see the many capabilities of this next-generation broadcasting platform at the upcoming NAB Show.”
NAB CTO Sam Matheny said, “ATSC 3.0 has the potential to strengthen broadcasters’ ability to provide richer and more personalized content experiences for viewers. The progress that ATSC has made in developing a new standard has been remarkable, and we look forward to showcasing next generation TV technology at the NAB Show.”
When consumers buy a 4K/HDR set, they will want to watch 4K/HDR content. So far, the only source is a few OTT services. Soon it will be 4K/HDR Blu-ray discs – for consumers willing to spend big bucks on players and discs. Then will come satellite players such as DirecTV and Sky UK, which have the bandwidth that’s needed for large 4K streams. Lastly will be wireline pay TV services that have severe bandwidth limitations. Local broadcasters could jump to the front of the parade by deploying ATSC 3.0, but are unlikely to do that in the near future, preferring to watch billions in cash come in from their deals with the pay TV services.
There are technical hurdles to overcome. The ATSC 3.0 spec won’t be “completely” completed until 2017, according to Richer, although preproduction ATSC 3.0 gear will be available sooner. There is also the FCC, which plans to reverse-auction much of the TV stations’ broadband spectrum to make way for more wireless services such as cellular and WiFi. Local broadcasters will then be forced to pack their current broadcasts into their remaining spectrum, which is at the lower end of the spectrum. That will allow them to make room in the upper UHF (ultra-high frequencies) to use for “broadcasting” over mobile broadband. Viewers will need dongles or converter boxes to receive the new ATSC 3.0 that existing TVs cannot receive and the current ATSC broadcasts. Remember the switch from analog converter boxes that the FCC subsidized?
Broadcasters’ late arrival on the 4K HDR stream leaves the OTT services as the only universally available, affordable 4K source – no pricey 4K Blu-ray players and discs and no pricey satellite TV service. Besides, every home already has access to an OTT service – or nearly every home and certainly every smartphone and tablet that can “cast” 4K content to a 4K TV set.
This first ran in Rider Research’s Online Reporter.