Sinclair Broadcast Group began the campaign for NextGen broadcasting standards. The company is hopeful of nationwide adoption by the end of this year.
Speaking to shareholders, Sinclair Broadcast Group’s CEO confirmed that the latest advancements in television broadcasting should reach over half of American homes by the end of the year. These innovations introduce new features, such as mobile reception, ultra HD displays, and high-quality sound in TV broadcasting.
Sinclair a Part of National Expansion
Sinclair Broadcast Group is behind the Next Gen TV broadcast technology, also referred to as ATSC 3.0. It marks the most significant change in transmission standards of over-the-air signals in over 20 years.
“Sinclair has been actively involved in the transmission standards overhaul, and we took part in many Next Gen TV launches over the past year,” said Christopher Ripley, SBG CEO, during Sinclair’s annual general meeting. “Through that effort, we expect Next Gen TVs to start encroaching markets soon, and it’s through the consumer interest in the technology that we’ll achieve mass adoption,” he explained in the virtual and in-person meeting held on Monday.
The NextGen Forward Migration to Offer Great Features
The last major leap in broadcasting was migrating analog to digital and high-definition (HD) TVs. However, the broadcasting standards set by ATSC 3.0 are a significant upgrade that many broadcasters appreciate. The technology can catalyze rapid growth and gives them an edge against cable and satellite providers.
Expect audiences to enjoy upgraded over-the-air signal transmissions with an interactive mix of broadcast and online features. It wouldn’t be a better time to initiate these changes than when viewers steadily drop cable transmission in favor of online streaming and broadcast content. The newly created Internet Protocol (IP) based system is engineered to work seamlessly online.
Baltimore Has Adopted the Platform
Six Baltimore-based TV stations announced last week that they’ve already adopted Next Gen TV broadcasting. They include Sinclair-owned WBFF-TV; Sinclair-operated WNUV, ABC’s WMAR- TV, NBAL-TV, an NBC affiliate; and WMPT and WMPB, both owned and operated by the Maryland Public Television (MTP) service. Apart from Baltimore, other TV stations in over 20 cities across the United States have begun broadcasting using Next Gen TV service.
“MTP must join other broadcasting stations in the city as early adopters of this revolutionary broadcasting standard that allows viewers to enjoy a hybrid mix of features and services, “said Maryland Public Television’s President and CEO, Larry D. Unger.
The History and Offerings of NextGen TV
Next-Gen TV technology is not something that Sinclair created overnight. It has taken a decade’s work and consistent effort. Still, most of the features and programs supported by the broadcasting standard are undergoing development. Sinclair anticipates that the elements might vary from device to device as the technology advances and the service becomes widely available in the local market.
The new ATSC 3.0 Next Gen broadcasting standards allow local TV stations to provide viewers with more interactive content, web-based content on-demand, high-tech emergency alert tools, and over-the-air services to many mobile devices, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones without the need to use cellular data. That means that viewers will enjoy the technology’s portability and access their preferred TV content wherever, whenever.
According to the National Association of Broadcasters, it would be best to invest in a new TV to leverage NextGen technology’s new and exciting features. There’re currently adapters available in consumer markets, and some TV manufacturers have already started rolling out NextGen-compatible models.
ABOUT SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP
Sinclair is a diversified media company and leading provider of local sports and news. The Company owns and/or operates 23 regional sports network brands; owns, operates and/or provides services to 190 television stations in 88 markets; is a leading local news provider in the country; owns multiple national networks; and has TV stations affiliated with all the major broadcast networks. Sinclair Broadcast Group’s content is delivered via various platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and digital platforms. The Company regularly uses its website as a key source of Company information which can be accessed at sbgi.net
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