HPA Tech Retreat: Can Next Gen TV Make Broadcasters vs. OTT a Fair Fight? Panelists examine the potential of the ATSC 3.0 standard for over-the-air television By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor
Wednesday, February 26, 2020 - 11:11 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
The rise of ATSC 3.0, or Next Gen TV, took center stage on the annual Broadcasters Panel at the HPA Tech Retreat last week. With the promise to enable interactive features, higher-quality picture, better sound, and lower latency, the Next Gen TV standard promises to give over-the-air broadcasters a level playing field with the ever-growing number of OTT streaming services. However, without the government mandate that went along with the transition to digital broadcasting (DTV) in 2009 and with ATSC 3.0 TVs and mobile devices yet to proliferate on the market, Next Gen TV has yet to garner widespread momentum.
Matthew Goldman, Mediakind. Photo: Morningstar Productions
Chaired by Matthew Goldman, SVP, technology, Mediakind and featuring Dave Folsom, consultant, Pearl TV; Richard Friedel, EVP, engineering, operations and technology, Fox Television Stations; Del Parks, EVP/CTO, Sinclair Broadcast Group; and Skip Pizzi, VP, technology education and outreach, NAB, the panel provided an update on the ATSC 3.0/Next Gen TV transition and how the Phoenix Model Market beta program is serving as a test bed for the Next Gen TV ecosystem and examined the role the cloud will play and the business opportunities it could create.
What's the latest on the Next Gen TV transition, and how will it be completed without disrupting the current ATSC 1.0 audience?
Folsom: It's going to take a little bit of legerdemain. The ATSC signal that we have now is occupying the frequencies and channels that are given to us by the FCC. There is a little bit of extra bandwidth there, and, if we can essentially clear one channel at a time of those individual services and move them over and share them on other channels, there will not be any difference to the viewer. Everything will appear the way it did [to the viewer], but it will free up a channel, and that freed-up channel can then carry up to five services at a time in ATSC 3.0/Next Gen TV. [That is] because the new codecs that are available are four to five times more efficient than the current ones. We will be able to fit many services on a single channel. And that will provide the mechanism, on a rolling basis, to clear the space to have alternative services on the air without losing your ATSC 1.0 audience because we have to keep paying the bill as we transition.
Del Parks, Sinclair Broadcast Group. Photo: Morningstar Productions
Why should the industry care about Next Gen TV, and what opportunities will it create for the business?
Parks: Syndicated entertainment television isn't going anywhere. Most of the shows produced now are produced for a streaming service. The linear-TV business is migrating to live broadcasts. The future will be very local and very live [with] sports and news and the local programming. It's just not viable for Hollywood to produce syndicated programs like they used to [for broadcast television].
Pizzi: [Next Gen TV] is something that the internet isn't: OTT is anything but live and local. So broadcasters really are maintaining that service for consumers, who, we believe, will use [Next Gen TV] in addition to the mix of other media services [they have access to]. Now this live/local-focused service can coexist on a more even parity with those [OTT services] - in terms of both quality and interactivity. Next Gen TV gives broadcasters a level playing field to compete going forward.
Richard Friedel, Fox Television Stations. Photo: Morningstar Productions
Friedel: I think people in the [media industry] will care because there are going to be a lot more business opportunities, there's more capacity, we'll have better quality of pictures and sound. These are going to be the things that impact your businesses and impact the creative industry. I think it's a really exciting time for everybody in Hollywood.
Pizzi: Fox did the Super Bowl [in 4K HDR] this year, but it was available only on alternative [streaming] platforms or in special [4K HDR] channels on the MVPDs. We think that will be the last year that that is the case; a UHD version of the Super Bowl will be available to a lot of people in the U.S. and more every year we host thereafter over the air and on unfree TV based on Next Gen TV.
Parks: When you look at the traditional TV business and how our business is going to transform, over-the-air is just one distribution method we have. There's also OTT, and there's mobile. We've always believed that mobile is a really big business for us, especially for Next Gen TV, which we think is a mobile-first [platform]. This standard will allow you to receive pictures where you've never received them before. Even ATSC 1.0 was built around putting an antenna that rose 30 ft. above your house. Over-the-air is a big piece of it, but it's also about how we transform our industry to make our content available across all of the outlets where consumers want to look at our content.
Dave Folsom, Pearl TV. Richard Friedel, Fox Television Stations. Photo: Morningstar Productions
What is the Phoenix Model Market, and how is the program progressing thus far?
Folsom: At first, of course, was the issue of how do you make that happen? We decided at Pearl, which is made up of nine large station-owner groups, to create a model station in Phoenix as an example of how it could be physically done without adding spectrum. When we had the transition from analog to digital, the FCC kindly gave us extra spectrum to take advantage of and allow for the transition. Not so [in this case]. We had to figure out a way of mechanically doing that.
HPA Tech Retreat: Can Next Gen TV Make Broadcasters vs. OTT a Fair Fight?
26/02/2020
| LINK: | https://www.sportsvideo.org/2020/02/26/hpa-tech-retreat-can-next-gen-t... |
| See more stories from svg |
Most recent headlines
31/03/2020
Primetime Ratings: ABC Wins With Powerful Idol'
ABC had the winning score in Sunday prime ratings, with American Idol leading the Alphabets to a 1.0 in viewers 18-49, per the Nielsen overnights, and a 5 share...
31/03/2020
USA to Host Modern Family' Marathon April 4
USA Network hosts a Modern Family marathon, celebrating the 11 seasons of the ABC comedy, Saturday, April 4. USA has aired the series in syndication since 2013....
31/03/2020
New Episodes of Conan' on TBS March 30
Conan O'Brien begins at-home episodes of Conan on TBS March 30. Adam Sandler is O'Brien's guest March 30. The show, dubbed Conan at Home as the coro...
31/03/2020
Gray Promotes Purciful, Thomas to Head Stations
Gray Television said it named Sacha Purciful as general manager of KSLA-TV, Shreveport, Louisiana, and Robby Thomas as general manager at WTVY-TV and WRGX-TV in...
31/03/2020
Holliday: Sports Journalism Just as Important When The Cheering Stops
Former WRAL-TV Sports Anchor and frequent WRALSportsFan contributor Bob Holliday penned this piece about reporting on sports when sports are not happening due t...
31/03/2020
Watch: Uzalo latest Episode 39 S6 Friday, 27 March 2020
The story follows the family whose wealth was built in the murky criminal underworld, as well as the more wholesome Mdletshe family who's day to day life, i...
31/03/2020
Meet Alaina Castillo - Bilingual Singer-Songwriter and Featured U.S. RADAR Artist
Recently, Spotify launched RADAR, a global development program for emerging arti...
31/03/2020
How Social Distancing Has Shifted Spotify Streaming
As people around the world have increasingly moved inside over the past couple of weeks, we've seen music and podcast listening change in a variety of ways....
31/03/2020
Operation Transformation Keeping Well Apart
Coccooning, self-isolation, physical distancing, Never before has our collective health depended more on our ability to stay apart. Over the past weeks we'v...
31/03/2020
RT to air Element Pictures' Normal People this Spring
RT has announced that it will be airing Normal People, the Element Pictures adaptation of Sally Rooney's acclaimed novel for the BBC. The highly-anticipat...
31/03/2020
Notice Regarding the Introduction of a Restricted Stock Unit Plan for Non-Japanese Officers
Tokyo, March 30, 2020--- Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501, Hitachi or the Company ) r...
31/03/2020
Notice Regarding the Grant of Restricted Stock Compensation
Tokyo, March 30, 2020 --- Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501, Hitachi or the Company ) resolved at a meeting of the Compensation Committee held today to continue the r...
31/03/2020
Hitachi Announces Selection of Director Candidates Aimed at Strengthening Global Expansion of Digital Business
Tokyo, March 30, 2020 - Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501) today announced that director ...
31/03/2020
betev and TVU team up for expanded deployment of 5G and 4K transmission
betev and TVU team up for expanded deployment of 5G and 4K transmission5G offers incredible opportunity for broadcasters, particularly in the area of live remo...
31/03/2020
AES Vienna Convention Canceled for May 2020
AES leadership, the Convention organizing committee and headquarters staff members are working diligently to organize the logistics of a virtualization of the C...
31/03/2020
Xytech After Dark
Xytech's Gregg Sandheinrich and Greg Dolan discuss Demo Anxiety' and trying to stay cool under pressure (:30) before jumping into their thoughts on thi...
31/03/2020
HDR dangerous to epileptics?
TV viewers will be all-too familiar with advice given by news broadcasters that the following images might contain flashing lights . But now research suggests ...
31/03/2020
Xytech Launches Podcast On Media Industry Trends
Xytech, a provider of facility management software for media and broadcast, has launched Xytech After Dark, a podcast focusing on trends in the media and broadc...
31/03/2020
Live and Local Is the Key
Skip Pizzi, NAB's vice president of technology education and outreach, simply nailed it during a NextGen TV panel at the HPA Tech Retreat in February. OTT...
31/03/2020
HPA 2020 Tech, Part 4
As I wrap up my writing about the annual Hollywood Professional Association's Tech Retreat, I'd like to touch on new technology that I hinted at last ti...
31/03/2020
VSN Introduces New Capabilities for Remote Interoperability
Media and entertainment industry software company VSN will showcase in April through an online event a number of enhancements to its VSNCrea Traffic and Schedul...
31/03/2020
The NFVF call for funding applications for Festival Hosting and Marketing and Distribution is open
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) call for funding applications is o...
31/03/2020
The NFVF to offer immediate relief to film practitioners amid COVID-19 lockdown
The NFVF to offer immediate relief to film practitioners amid COVID-19 lockdown South Africa's local film and television industry has been severely impacte...
30/03/2020
Safe and Sound
Challenging times demand extraordinary action. Whilst safety remains the primary concern of every family in the world, efforts to carry on living as normally as...
30/03/2020
Bert Is Back And Shirtless Again In The Official Trailer For His New Netflix Original Comedy Special BERT KREISCHER: HEY BIG BOY
Watch The Trailer Here Comedian Bert Kreischer is back, and shirtless once agai...
30/03/2020
NETFLIX DEBUTS TRAILER FOR THE ILIZA SHLESINGER SKETCH SHOW
Watch Trailer HERE Download Key Art HERE Hold on to your top knot and grab your remote for the upcoming six-part sketch series, The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Sh...
30/03/2020
PRO SOUND NEWS REVIEWS THE 4560 CORE BINAURAL HEADSET MICROPHONE
The DPA 4560 CORE Binaural Headset Microphone is a spectacular device that is fun to use, but more importantly, it wonderfully captures audio without compromise...
30/03/2020
SVG On Demand: Big Studios' Joss Meinert Showcases Year's Worth of Motion Graphics
SVG On Demand: Big Studios' Joss Meinert Showcases Year's Worth of Motio...
30/03/2020
Preparing for the Return of Sports: A1s Ready To Mix Live Broadcasts in the Age of Empty Arenas
Preparing for the Return of Sports: A1s Ready To Mix Live Broadcasts in the Age ...
30/03/2020
User Experience with New DIY style IoT ifLink Open Community
Toshiba Corporation Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation TOKYO--Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) and Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation (hereinafter TDS...
30/03/2020
Astro Extends Complimentary Viewing to 14 April 2020
Astro Extends Complimentary Viewing to 14 April 2020 Date Released:30 Mar 2020 Share Tweet Astro remains committed to keep Malaysians informed and entert...
30/03/2020
Streaming Rises 30% Due to Coronavirus, Reports SeaChange
WALTHAM, Mass.-As people are stuck inside because of the coronavirus (COVID-19), SeaChange International is reporting that streaming activity-linear, video-on-d...
30/03/2020
Emmy Awards Season Schedule Shifted Due to Coronavirus
NOHO ARTS DISTRICT, Calif.-The Emmys are not immune to coronavirus, as the Television Academy has announced a number of changes to the 72nd Emmy Awards season&#...
30/03/2020
BSI Turns on Idle 3D Printers To Build Critical Components for PPE Gear for COVID-19 Responders
BSI Turns on Idle 3D Printers To Build Critical Components for PPE Gear for COVI...
30/03/2020
Warm Audio put the squeeze on with new Bus-Comp
Two-channel design offers optional discrete op-amp stage with Cinemag transformers Warm Audios Bus-Comp - a more affordable alternative to the classic hardwar...
30/03/2020
Apple offer extended Logic Pro X trial
Try out Apples flagship DAW for 90 days! Apple Logic Pro X - Flex Pitch Apple have announced that their Pro App' software packages - which include Fin...
30/03/2020
Virus Has Ad Sales Execs Taking Day-By-Day Approach
Television network ad sales executives said they are taking a day-to-day approach as some advertisers pull their campaigns, others quickly change the commercial...
30/03/2020
Ovation TV Offers Free Programming For Virtual' Arts Advocacy Day
With Arts Advocacy Day, set for March 31, cancelled due to coronavirus, Ovation TV will host Virtual' Arts Advocacy Day beginning March 30. Select arts pro...
30/03/2020
Discovery Education Offers Social Distancing 101 App
Discovery Education is offering a free social distancing 101 app for dealing with the necessary physical separations of COVID-19. The company has teamed up wi...
30/03/2020
Biamp to sell direct in...
Biamp has implemented a dealer-direct model in the UK and Ireland, this follows the news of changes to its European distribution model in Europe in December. In...
30/03/2020
Absen adds Philippe Poppe as biz dev manager...
LED display manufacturer, Absen, has hired Philippe Poppe as its new business development manager for the Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg) reg...
30/03/2020
Polar adds ClearOne
AV distributor Polar has announced the addition of ClearOne to its portfolio. The US-based manufacturer produces hardware and software for collaboration and com...
30/03/2020
Sony shuts down plants in...
Sony has shut down both of its manufacturing plants in Malaysia (between 18 March and 14 April) and also closed its plant in Wales (26 March-20 April). This i...
30/03/2020
L-Acoustics hosts daily webinars for those at...
Audio manufacturer L-Acoustics is hosting a daily webinar for those at home during a period of isolation cuased by the corornavirus. The daily webinars cover ...
30/03/2020
InfoComm 2020 is cancelled
InfoComm 2020, which was to be held 17-19 June in Las Vegas, has been cancelled to the coronavirus outbreak. In a statement, AVIXA CEO CEO Dave Labuskes say We ...
30/03/2020
Vuforia Chalk: Telemedicine for the Industry
PTC is offering a free Remote Assistance with Augmented Reality to help manufacturers during the COVID-19 crisis....
30/03/2020
Pixar in a Box Helps Animators Sharpen Their Skills
Are you an animator with a lot of free time on your hands right now? If so, you can hone your skills with help from the experts....
30/03/2020
TV3 uses TVU Anywhere to bring a unique fan perspective for its coverage of Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona football game
TV3 uses TVU Anywhere to bring a unique fan perspective for its coverage of Real...
