ATSC 3.0 Information

The Broadcast and Consumer Electronics Industries have cooperatively developed the Worlds’ first IP-Based broadcast system. MSW’s Dennis Wallace participated in this development process and was active in several of the TG3 activities surrounding ATSC 3.0 development including Participating in the S32 Group that developed the Physical Layer parts of the standard.

This next-generation TV ATSC 3.0 transmission standard is the “glue” that enables broadcast protocol to exist in an internet environment. The standard will permit broadcasters to offer innovative technologies and services to the public, including:

• Visually stunning pictures on large-screen televisions with superior reception;
• Broadcast programming with multiple consumer-friendly features, such as interactivity and personalized audio, which exceed those available through the current broadcast standard;
• Access to unlimited viewing of local and national news and the most popular sports and entertainment programming, and trusted educational and children’s programming, via mobile devices such as tablets and smart phones;
• Seamless integration of broadcast programming with other IP services, with the ability to provide state-of-the-art security that content owners depend upon;
• Advanced emergency alert information backed up with live, professional reporters and connections of public safety officials with the public;
• Datacasting that will offer a new broadband data pipe into the home, thereby giving content providers another means for distributing large video and other digital files to consumers, and providing enhanced opportunities for essential public services including education and public safety; and
• The ability to geotarget news, weather, and other programming.

Broadcasters should identify any potential redundancies for tower work or equipment with a future ATSC 3.0 adoption, potentially saving investment costs by not having to do tower work twice – once as the result of the Spectrum Repack and another time to optimize for ATSC 3.0.

This effort can reduce capital requirements in a number of ways:

• Making the right choice of transmitter, RF system and antenna components that will support a future move to ATSC 3.0, even if this means that stations must make an additional investment beyond the FCC repack reimbursement. Purchasing the components that will support stations’ future ATSC 3.0 plans can greatly reduce expenses during an ATSC 3.0 transition.
• If a new antenna system must be purchased for a channel change, making sure that the antenna conforms to the RF requirements for ATSC 3.0 adoption.
• If a new transmitter will be required for a channel change, broadcasters should evaluate and pick products that are software-upgradable to ATSC 3.0, and have the ability to easily add additional amplification to support the peak power requirements related to Vpol for ATSC 3.0.
• Eventual installation of ATSC 3.0 equipment could mean changes to tower and tower site infrastructure. If broadcasters incorporate ATSC 3.0 into tower structural engineering studies, tower modifications, and transmitter, RF system and antenna installations during the Spectrum Auction Repack, they will pay only once for potentially expensive and time-consuming work.