The broadcast industry has been eagerly awaiting the rollout of ATSC 3.0, precisely because the next-gen technology standard empowers TV stations to do things TV stations aren't known for doing. And finally, we're seeing new companies and ventures delivering real-world applications that use ATSC 3.0 and other technologies in clever and possibly transformational ways.
Startup company Evoca, for instance, has taken over the digital spectrum of two low-power stations in Boise, Idaho, to provide more than 70 over-the-air channels of high-resolution subscription programming. It's a virtual MVPD. But instead of relying solely on the internet to delivery video, Evoca mostly uses the ATSC 3.0 over-the-air broadcast standard.
Though Evoca has been broadcasting since last year, the service just launched an early access program for a limited number of Boise residents, with plans to expand to the entire city later in the year, said Todd Achilles, CEO and co-founder of parent company Edge Networks.
With any new tech, you've got to give it time to mature, Achilles said. Then you've got to evolve and iterate faster than everyone else.
The company plans to expand into other Mountain West markets in 2021, particularly small and mid-size communities similar to Boise, which is DMA No. 100. The two stations Evoca uses cover 80% - 85% of the Boise metropolitan area.
We're looking at second- and third-tier markets, Achilles said. Primarily, they're TV deserts now.
Evoca is actually a hybrid, using digital broadcast spectrum for high-demand, high-quality programming, while using broadband wired connections to deliver lower-quality or less-watched content.
We're blending broadcast with broadband, Achilles said. We make a decision whether to send a show on 3.0 spectrum or over the internet in a box. It's a function of what people are watching. The best live content gets distributed through live broadcast.
Obvious candidates for the high-end treatment are big movies, popular network shows and live sports such as the NFL and Brigham Young football (the BYU Channel is part of Boise's channel package, a natural given the region's large Mormon population).
That blended approach helps manage one of the big downsides of broadband; popular shows, at high quality, are expensive bandwidth hogs. It's far more efficient and economical to broadcast that programming, and it'll arrive in higher quality video and audio too, without drop-outs and other technical issues.
Let's say you're delivering a three-hour baseball game, Achilles said. That's 243,000 gigabytes of data. To deliver that in higher-quality broadcast is 5 gigabytes. And it doesn't choke the system.
But Ecova is emphasizing the flexibility of video-on-demand too, which is where broadband shines. The approach has proven popular so far; Achilles said the company has been hammered with signup requests since announcing the early access program.
A hybrid approach does mean that would-be customers need to get an internet connection if they don't have one. That's adding another role for Evoca.
If people have no internet connection, there's a path where we can plug that gap, Achilles said. What are the alternatives? We're kind of going slowly into being the (internet service provider).
The arrival of 5G fixed wireless mobile, which is also rolling out nationwide now, may become another way to get lower-bandwidth programming into customers' households, Achilles said. In the meantime, Evoca's base service costs $50 a month, and uses a puck-like streaming device in concert with a digital antenna to bring in the service's channels, record programming and get it all on screen.
Meanwhile, other broadcasters are using online streaming as both a new way to reach audiences interested in their local content and get ready for what ATSC 3.0 will unlike.
Days after Evoca announced its early access program, the broadcast groups Meredith and Gray launched VUit, an ad-supported free streaming service featuring more than 200 of their respective stations. Customers will be able to stream all of Gray's stations in 93 markets, and some in Meredith's 17.
The companies partnered with Syncbak Inc., which Gray partly owns, to launch the service, which is designed to extend the broadcasters' audience reach and drive incremental ad revenue.
Unlike a more traditional MVPD arrangement, however, VUit pays no carriage fee to the stations, but gives them most of the ad revenue it generates, including from local advertisers who typically haven't been able to tap streaming services effectively.
We're aiming to be the Netflix of live, local and free, Syncbak CEO Jack Perry told the Wall Street Journal.
PLUS: ATSC 3.0: Small Cities, Big Opportunities
Nexstar, the biggest broadcast group, has some of its stations available for streaming on Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV.
Sinclair Broadcast Group, the second-biggest station group and a particularly active ATSC 3.0 backer, sits somewhere between Evoca's approach and those of Nexstar, Gray and Meredith.
Sinclair launched STIRR in early 2019, a half-step into ATSC 3.0 that now features 121 channels of ad-supported content of its own and that of dozens of partners.
Unlike a typical national AVOD service such as Tubi or Pluto, however, STIRR also features live local programming from its stations in 77 markets.
Unusually, that even includes in-market deals for live and back-five episodes of major syndicated shows running on its stations, said STIRR General Manager Adam Ware.
Live sports is a hot commodity, too. Sinclair's Las Vegas station, for instance, signed a deal with the WNBA's Aces franchise to carry 15 games, which also were available on a geo-fenced basis fo
From Evoca to STIRR to VUit, How Broadcasters Are Tapping into ATSC 3.0
15/09/2020
| LINK: | https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/from-evoca-to-stirr-to-vuit-how-broa... |
| See more stories from tvtechnology |
Most recent headlines
25/09/2020
Cowen's Networking Leaders, Legends, Luminaries, and Visionaries Fireside Chat Series
SAN JOSE, Calif., September 24, 2020 Cowen Senior Analyst Paul Silverstein wil...
25/09/2020
Sophie Okonedo joins an all-star cast in the third series of critically acclaimed Sky original anarchic drama Britannia
Download the image here Sky today announces that BAFTA and Academy Award nomin...
25/09/2020
Portrait Artist of the Year returns to Sky Arts this October with celebrity sitters including Paul Mescal, Sir Trevor McDonald and Eddie Izzard
We're back this autumn with a double dose of portrait magic! While Stephen M...
24/09/2020
TV Ads Strengthen Digital Ads, Study Finds
NEW YORK-Advertising is stronger when TV and digital work together, according to a new study from Comcast Cable's advertising sales division Effectv and Med...
24/09/2020
SBE Hires James Ragsdale as New Executive Director
INDIANAPOLIS-After a lengthy search process that began in March, the Society of Broadcast Engineers Board of Directors has approved the appointment of James Rag...
24/09/2020
Samsung Still Top Smart TV in US, Per Statista
NEW YORK-Samsung has maintained, and even grown, its position as the top provider of smart TVs in the U.S., according to the latest report from Statista. Accord...
24/09/2020
SkyBoxe' Hub Gets FCC's OK
SAN JOSE, Calif.-Startup Skyboxe said it has received Federal Communications Commission certification for a new fixed wireless device that would replace the cab...
24/09/2020
Scripps Purchases Ion Media for $2.65B
CINCINNATI-The E.W. Scripps Company has announced that it has acquired the national broadcast network Ion Media for a price of $2.65 billion. The deal will comb...
24/09/2020
AIMS IP Oktoberfest 2020 Sets Schedule
BOTHELL, Wash.-The schedule is set for the Alliance of IP Media Solutions' (AIMS) IP Oktoberfest 2020 virtual event. IP Oktoberfest, taking place from Sept....
24/09/2020
FCC Grants NCE Waiver for MVPD Carriage Notices
WASHINGTON-Qualified noncommercial educational (NCE) TV translator stations will not be required to send an email notification regarding carriage to MVPDs by Oc...
24/09/2020
MLB, Turner Sports Extend Media Rights Deal to 2028
ATLANTA-Turner Sports and Major League Baseball have agreed to a seven-year multimedia rights extension that will keep the MLB and Turner partnership going thro...
24/09/2020
Mistika VR now with enhanced Insta360 Flowstate integration, BRAW support and additional camera presets
View Larger Image SGO has released a new upgrade of the industry-standard VR ...
24/09/2020
New design and experiences help members build meaningful...
New design and experiences help members build meaningful relationships Published on Sep 24, 2020 LinkedIn Corporate Communications Share LinkedIn Fac...
24/09/2020
Junk Kouture powered by RT goes global
Acclaimed sustainability and design contest celebrates ten years by launching in FIVE international cities in 2021 Thirteen cities spanning seven continents by...
24/09/2020
Denison Technologies integrates HMS Networks' Edge Gateways into their Power Quality Monitoring Solution
Denison Technologies, Inc., and HMS Networks, Inc. are pleased to announce a sol...
24/09/2020
Canon U.S.A. Intros New 4K UHD Portable Zoom Lens with Wide Focal Range; New EOS C70 Digital Cinema Camera Debuts
Canon U.S.A. Intros New 4K UHD Portable Zoom Lens with Wide Focal Range; New EOS...
24/09/2020
Turner Sports Re-Ups MLB Rights Deal Through 2028, Adds Tuesday-Night Game Franchise
Turner Sports Re-Ups MLB Rights Deal Through 2028, Adds Tuesday-Night Game Franc...
24/09/2020
Pete Bevacqua Takes Over as Chairman of NBC Sports Group
Pete Bevacqua Takes Over as Chairman of NBC Sports Group He takes the mantle from Mark Lazarus, who was recently promoted to Chairman of NBCUniversal Television...
24/09/2020
SEC on CBS Embraces New Workflows; F&F GTX-19 Is at Center of Production Efforts
SEC on CBS Embraces New Workflows; F&F GTX-19 Is at Center of Production Efforts Golf, NFL coverage gives the team a leg up on the college football season By K...
24/09/2020
NBC Sports Teams With Fighting Irish Media, Notre Dame Studios for Live Football Broadcast
NBC Sports Teams With Fighting Irish Media, Notre Dame Studios for Live Football...
24/09/2020
Telekom helps small business digitalization with free of charge net and personal consultation
Telekom helps small business digitalization with free of charge net and personal...
24/09/2020
Attentive Raises $230 Million Series D Investment, Led by Coatue, to Enhance Product and Expand Support for Customers
The personalized text messaging software company has experienced rapid growth in...
24/09/2020
Brown Note Productions Hits Play on Virtual Concert Series
Clear-Com's FreeSpeak II eases production workflows in unprecedented immersive concert experience In early September, Brown Note Productions (BNP) teamed...
24/09/2020
VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES BROADCAST PARTNERS FOR YASHAHIME: PRINCESS HALF-DEMON
VIZ Media Announces Broadcast Partners for Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon SAN FRANCISCO, CA VIZ Media, the leading pop culture publisher and producer of Japane...
24/09/2020
NAB Show New York Presents Session on Deepfakes and Disinformation in Election Coverage
NAB Show New York Presents Session on Deepfakes and Disinformation in Election C...
24/09/2020
Eutelsat awarded service contract by Ovzon for operation of OVZON-3 satellite
Highlighting Eutelsat's capabilities to support customers by providing satellite operation services for commercial or governmental use. Paris, 24 Septembe...
24/09/2020
Actress Faye Brookes is the fourth celebrity skater confirmed to take part in Dancing on Ice 2021
Actress Faye Brookes is the fourth celebrity skater confirmed to take part in Da...
24/09/2020
Actor and singer Jason Donovan has revealed today that he is the fifth celebrity skater confirmed to take part in Dancing on Ice 2021
Actor and singer Jason Donovan has revealed today that he is the fifth celebrity...
24/09/2020
Nokia and Optus to provide IoT software solutions to Australian mining, utilities and transportation industries
Nokia and Optus to provide IoT software solutions to Australian mining, utilitie...
24/09/2020
Nokia public safety AI prototype wins 2020 AFCEA International EPIC App Challenge
Nokia public safety AI prototype wins 2020 AFCEA International EPIC App Challeng...
24/09/2020
Ericsson, Telia and partners test driverless 5G-enabled electric minibus in Stockholm
From September 24, the 5G Ride initiative minibus will operate along a short rou...
24/09/2020
Automation for Local Spot TV
For what feels like forever, broadcast TV industry buzz has centered around impression-based selling and automated transactions. But while those things are inde...
24/09/2020
Spotify and Chernin Entertainment Announce Multiyear First Look Partnership
As podcasting consumption has grown worldwide, so has the trend of podcasts serving as the source material for movies, TV shows, and news broadcasts for an alwa...
24/09/2020
NELVANA ALIGNS SESAME STREET WITH ICONIC CANADIAN BRANDS IN LATEST COLLABORATIONS
NELVANA ALIGNS SESAME STREET WITH ICONIC CANADIAN BRANDS IN LATEST COLLABORATION...
24/09/2020
The Gadget Show returns to Channel 5 with ATEM Mini Pro
The Gadget Show returns to Channel 5 with ATEM Mini Pro posted: 24/09/2020 Blackmagic Design today announced that an ATEM Mini Pro has helped the latest ser...
24/09/2020
How advanced broadcast control surfaces can advance live esports production
Mark Davies, director of products and technology at TSL Products, explains how advanced control surfaces can ensure creative production freedom and the highest ...
24/09/2020
Boom! How Formula E used shotgun mics to maintain social distancing
Doreen Greaton discovers how shotgun microphones and in-ear monitors helped Formula Es sound team make sure everything was crystal clear By Contributor Publis...
24/09/2020
Broadcast Solutions rethinks' OB van for Germany's WDR
Idea behind the vans concept was to create a multimedia approach reflecting the changes in media production. By Jenny Priestley Published: September 24, 2020 ...
24/09/2020
New look for Croatian news
Philip Stevens investigates a new studio for Croatian broadcaster HRT designed by a rock-star architect By Philip Stevens Published: September 24, 2020 Phi...
24/09/2020
BBC Studioworks launches next generation talent plan
Aims to increase diversity at BBC Studioworks by engaging directly with school leavers and providing opportunities for employment in the Elstree and White City ...
24/09/2020
New Innovation Motion Capture Studio to be based in Bristol
New facility will look at high-end and affordable mo-cap, content generation for TV, film, VR and AR and development of intelligent tools for post production in...
24/09/2020
Is Amazon's IMDb TV preparing to launch in the UK?
Streamer actively recruiting someone to head up the services UK launch By Jenny Priestley Published: September 24, 2020 Streamer actively recruiting someon...
24/09/2020
Isotropic Systems Signs Contract with SES GS to Initiate Multi-Orbit Trials of Next-Gen Multi-beam Antenna Technologies for U.S. Military
Written on 24 Sep 2020 Isotropic Systems' prototype multi-beam terminals t...
24/09/2020
Four ARRI Signature Zoom lenses constitute an unrivalled new cine zoom system
-- ARRI, responding to market requests for high-quality zoom lenses to match and accompany the Signature Primes, announces four new Signature Zooms designed f...
24/09/2020
Sonnet Announces PCI Express 3.0 Adapter Card With Direct Mounting Support for Two U.2 NVMe PCIe SSDs
-- Sonnet Technologies today announced the Fusion Dual U.2 SSD PCIe Card, th...
24/09/2020
Hitachi 4K and HDTV Cameras Double Major at Prince George's Community College
-- Founded in 1958, Prince George's Community College (PGCC) in Largo, Mar...
24/09/2020
CineGear Goes Virtual for 2020 Film Series Competition
-- Cine Gear Expo announces a rousing virtual lineup for their much-anticipated annual Film Series Competition to be held at 12 noon, Saturday, October 3, 202...
