by The new ATSC 3.0 digital TV transmission standard (also known as NEXTGEN TV) which has been available in an increasing number of US cities continues its path of steady growth, with stations in more than 50 markets and reaching 55 percent of households now have upgraded from the ATSC 1.0 standard.
ATSC 3.0 tuners can be found in select sets sold in the US as of 2020, with some of the best 4k tvs from LG, Samsung, Sony and Hisense all provide the feature. The benefits that ATSC 3.0 offers over the older digital HDTV standard include high dynamic range video with 4K resolution, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive audio, and Dolby dialogue enhancement and volume leveling features. Also, since it is IP-based, bi-directional data transmission is supported to bring an interactive component to TV shows and sports.
Because TV is broadcast with ads, those new features will be free; all you have to do is connect one of the The best indoor TV antennas. to your ATSC 3.0 compatible equipment.
But what if your current TV doesn’t have a built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner? Stations transitioning to the new broadcast standard must “simulcast” in ATSC 1.0 for at least five years after making the switch. Additionally, companies like Tablo offer DVR set-top boxes with ATSC 3.0 tuners that allow you to receive and record TV broadcasts and connect to your TV’s HDMI input. But at around $150, the Tablo DVR is pricey, and not everyone wants to make TiVo-like recordings of broadcast TV.
That’s where Pearl TV comes in. The coalition of broadcast television companies, which counts more than 820 stations among its members, has just announced a FastTrack program to “accelerate the development and retail availability of low-cost retrofit accessory receivers.”
The FastTrack initiative was announced last week at the NAB Show New York trade conference hosted by the National Association of Broadcasters. Considering that the ATSC 3.0 standard is not backwards compatible and that 91 percent of American households currently have a TV with an HDMI input but no ATSC 3.0 tuner, the launch of Pearl TV makes clear the group’s intent. “provide support to manufacturers interested in making devices that support the full feature set of the NEXTGEN TV service.”
The devices the group presumably has in mind will be basic set-top box or bar-type external tuners that connect to an antenna and can be sold at an affordable price. Such a device would give ATSC 3.0 a chance to move forward for years to come as TVs with built-in next-generation tuners become more widely available. (Pearl TV’s launch also states that “more than 75% of all televisions sold are expected to be available with dual HDTV reception and NEXTGEN TV” by 2024).
Analysis: Free TV gets a much-needed update with ATSC 3.0
With most streaming services now offering shows and movies in 4K/HDR, regular TV streaming is starting to feel long. Yes, when digital high-definition television first arrived in the late 1990s, it was an exciting and very welcome advance over analog broadcasting with its low-resolution and reception challenges. But more than 20 years have passed and there has been a wide range of technical advances in TV technology during that time.
The main ones are 4K and HDR, both of which work to greatly expand the level of detail, color gamut, and visual dynamic range of video images. Both have been available to viewers since 2016 and are now considered common.
Immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos are also available from streaming services and music owners. best sound bars expect to experience soundtracks in the new object-based format when you watch movies and shows on your TVs.
As for the interactive component of ATSC 3.0, the benefits are yet to be explored, but services like Amazon Prime have started to offer interactive features with their Thursday Night Football broadcasts that show extended stats and other additional fan service content. Sports is a huge draw for broadcast television, so as more streamers offer interactive features, and they certainly will, broadcasters will start to look very out of date.
Of course, all of these broadcast TV shortcomings can be addressed by making ATSC 3.0 widely available, as well as being cheaply implemented on equipment that lacks a state-of-the-art TV tuner. Pearl TV’s FastTrack program is a positive step in that direction and could greatly accelerate the success of the new standard.
