NAB 2026: Americas Broadcasters Launch NEXTGEN TV Converter Box Program

America's broadcasters are launching the NEXTGEN TV Converter Box Program, a new initiative designed to provide millions of American viewers with a low-cost option for upgrading their TV viewing to NEXTGEN TV. The program is now open to consumer electronics manufacturers interested in the estimated market of more than 20 million U.S. households that use an antenna on at least one television to watch local channels. Initial prototype converter boxes from ADTH, Skyworth, and Zinwell will be on display at NAB Show 2026 at the ATSC booth (Central Hall 1655) beginning Sunday and continuing through Wednesday.

This effort brings together broadcasters who are transmitting in ATSC 3.0 with high-volume consumer electronics companies who see the potential to sell low-cost receivers with a simple purpose - easily and affordably making the jump to NEXTGEN TV with a simple converter box that will connect to a display via HDMI, just like other accessory components. At the NAB Show in Las Vegas, we're officially launching the NEXTGEN TV Converter Box Program and inviting qualified electronics companies to join with broadcasters to offer a new range of receivers, says Anne Schelle, Managing Director, Pearl TV.

More than 75% of U.S. households are now reached by NEXTGEN TV broadcasts from local stations, as TV broadcasters move from HDTV (ATSC 1.0) to NEXTGEN TV (ATSC 3.0). Of approximately 23 million over-the-air households in the U.S., Pearl TV estimates at least 15 million will be looking for this type of device.

The NEXTGEN TV Converter Box is built to serve that market: a compact, easy-to-use HDMI accessory that delivers the NEXTGEN TV experience on any existing display, at a suggested retail price of $60 or less. We know that not every consumer will want to buy a new TV, which is why the NEXTGEN TV Converter Box Program is so critical for a successful transition from ATSC 1.0 to ATSC 3.0. A device that qualifies under our Converter Box Program will not include an integrated display or a digital video recorder and will have no more than one tuner. This keeps the design lean, the bill of materials manageable, and the $60 price point achievable, Schelle explained.

This is a new product category - distinct from existing retail ATSC 3.0 set-top receivers and smart TVs - with its own branding under the NEXTGEN TV umbrella.

The program is open to all qualified device manufacturers on a fair and non-discriminatory basis, with no preference for any chipset, operating system, software stack, or supply chain approach.

Core device requirements include:

Full ATSC 3.0 and ATSC 1.0 reception, supporting both broadcast standards

4K-capable HEVC video decoding with High Dynamic Range (HDR) support

Dolby surround audio

Support for emergency alerts, closed captioning, audio descriptions, dialog enhancement, and parental controls

Over-the-air electronic program guide

Simple, consumer-first user interface

No internet connection required

Device manufacturers may also offer more fully-featured receivers that include broadband connectivity for access to additional programming options.

Devices must meet NEXTGEN TV Converter Box certification requirements covering applicable standards from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) and the ATSC 3.0 Security Authority (A3SA), as well as new RF sensitivity and user interface standards. Interested manufacturers should contact [email protected].

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