Lots of confusion still, evidently. Not sure if it is real or if the goal is
obfuscation.
"The NextGen TV standard was developed from the ground up as a totally new
standard that combines over the air RF transmissions with IP-based services.
This combination will allow broadcasters to provide the following (not a
comprehensive list):
" 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range and higher frames per second
" Immersive audio (with the ability to listen in multiple languages)
" Robust captioning (personalized in multiple languages)"
So, these top 3 items can all be provided, compatibly, with ATSC 1.0.
Potentially, for 4K, with an enhancement layer to 4K receivers, but certainly
with a simulcast stream.
" OTT-DVR type services (Cloud storage allows broadcasters to offer on-demand
programming with DVR-type controls)"
Correction. OTT-DVR type services rely 100% on the Internet connection to the
TV set, and 0% on the ATSC 3.0 broadcast channel. There may be some ease of
correlating a TV broadcast program with this added-on Internet service,
perhaps, but even that could be done with ATSC 1.0. It would not have been too
difficult to transmit some extra data in ATSC 1.0 overhead, to allow a local
broadcaster's Internet server to correlate with the broadcast in that instant
of time. Even without using IP overhead, in the ATSC 1.0 main broadcast, which
is also possible. Anything other than this, though, in truth, depends entirely
on the broadband link, and does not need a one-way broadcast channel.
" Mobility: The OFDM modulation standard is better suited for mobility and
provides better coverage"
True. Except we have even better support for mobility already, in the form of
cellular radio. But yes, COFDM does mobility better. (DVB-H a great success?
ATSC 2.0?)
" Advanced Advertising: Broadcasters will be able to use viewer data to
personalize and geo-target advertising far more targeted than traditional
methods"
Correction. In fact, this too relies 100% on the Internet connection, and not
on the broadcast channel. Geo targeting on individual households is very high
resolution. You can't reasonably clutter up the broadcast channel with separate
ads for separate households. And, if it's so important to pretend, ATSC 1.0 can
also do it. ATSC 1.0 could send separate ads, with separate headers, to
households set up for that service. While retaining the default ad, same as
always, in the main broadcast streams.
" Emergency Alerting: Broadcasters will be able to send far more detailed
information and graphical data to viewers during emergencies and in certain
cases be able to "wake up" devices when an alert occurs
" Datacasting: NextGen TV will also allow broadcasters to offer
enterprise-level datacasting services to businesses and first responders
And, even these last two are possible with ATSC 1.0. Even if the receivers
which would make use of such new services have not yet been made available.
Bottom line: the only credible new feature, which requires the new standard, is
better reception in mobile environments and SFNs. All of it having to do with
COFDM, at layer 1. Time will tell if that's enough to justify a whole new and
incompatible standard. Or whether, for example, if takeup of ATSC 3.0 is not
stellar, but the broadcast industry really and truly wants to provide some of
those 4K, datacasting, or emergency alerting new services, would not get clever
with ATSC 1.0 instead. One service we have no problem with is that
Internet-based OTT/DVR stuff they mention, which has been available since 2006.
Bert
----------------------------------------------
https://www.tvtechnology.com/resources/atsc-30-the-skinny-on-nextgen-tv
Here's the Skinny on ATSC 3.0: Broadcast's NextGen TV Standard
By Tom Butts a day ago
New standard combines over the air broadcasts with IP
A new generation of over the air broadcasting is coming to the United States in
2020 in the form of ATSC 3.0 (aka NextGen TV). Several dozen of the country's
largest markets plan to deploy NextGen TV by the end of the year and consumer
electronics manufacturers plan to debut TV sets with NextGen TV chips by the
2020 holiday shopping season.
Here's what you need know:
HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM THE TRANSITION TO DTV?
Unlike the transition to digital TV two decades ago, the transition to NextGen
TV is strictly voluntary; there are no government mandates or timelines to
deploy NextGen TV. However the FCC does require broadcasters deploying NextGen
TV to partner with other broadcasters in their markets to simulcast both
NextGen TV and ATSC 1.0. Since there is no FCC mandate, there also is no
government assistance to help consumers purchase DTV encoders either, nor is
there a mandate to require NextGen TV tuners in TV sets or other consumer
electronic devices.
In addition, NextGen TV is not backward-compatible with current TV sets or
devices. Anyone wishing to receive NextGen TV will need to purchase a set
compatible with the new standard.
During the DTV transition, the FCC passed rules that allowed multichannel video
program distributors to carry broadcasters' analog signals and phase in
carriage of their DTV simulcasts. There are currently no requirements for MVPDs
to carry NextGen TV.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM NEXTGEN TV THAT I CAN'T ALREADY GET WITH ATSC 1.0?
The NextGen TV standard was developed from the ground up as a totally new
standard that combines over the air RF transmissions with IP-based services.
This combination will allow broadcasters to provide the following (not a
comprehensive list):
4K resolution with High Dynamic Range and higher frames per second
Immersive audio (with the ability to listen in multiple languages)
Robust captioning (personalized in multiple languages)
OTT-DVR type services (Cloud storage allows broadcasters to offer on-demand
programming with DVR-type controls)
Mobility: The OFDM modulation standard is better suited for mobility and
provides better coverage
Advanced Advertising: Broadcasters will be able to use viewer data to
personalize and geo-target advertising far more targeted than traditional
methods
Emergency Alerting: Broadcasters will be able to send far more detailed
information and graphical data to viewers during emergencies and in certain
cases be able to "wake up" devices when an alert occurs
Datacasting: NextGen TV will also allow broadcasters to offer enterprise-level
datacasting services to businesses and first responders
IS NEXTGEN TV AVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD?
South Korea launched ATSC 3.0 broadcasts in 2017 and demonstrated its
capabilities at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. TV sets with ATSC 3.0
reception are available at retail stores in South Korea and the country plans
to eventually transition to all-4K over-the-air broadcasts. (Note, the term
"NextGen TV" is a marketing term currently applicable to the U.S. only).
WHEN CAN I BUY A NEXTGEN TV-COMPATIBLE TV SET?
At the 2020 CES, LG, Samsung and Sony all announced that they would offer up to
20 different TV sets with support for NextGen TV by the 2020 holiday shopping
season. Most of the compatible sets are high-end OLED (or Samsung's QLED) 8K
sets, so the entry point for early adopters will be expensive.
There are currently no NextGen TV-compatible tuners or mobile devices on the
market and no plans have been announced to include such chipsets in any devices
yet. However, Sinclair has dropped hints that there may be a NextGen
TV-compatible mobile phone shown at the 2020 NAB Show in Las Vegas in April.
Viewers will still be able to receive broadcasts via the same antenna setup
they currently use.
WHO ARE THE PLAYERS?
Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC): A coalition of broadcasters,
manufacturers and related technology companies that developed the NextGen TV
standard.
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB): The main lobbying group for
broadcasters in Washington, D.C. The NAB provides broadcaster guidance and
support for the rollout and R&D for future applications.
Advanced Warning and Response Network (AWARN): An alliance of broadcasters,
public agencies and manufacturers promoting open standards-based, terrestrial
broadcasting of public emergency alerts news and information. AWARN will have
the capability to distribute rich media alerts simultaneously to an unlimited
number of enabled fixed, mobile and handheld devices, indoors or outdoors
across an entire television broadcast coverage area.
Pearl TV: A consortium of broadcasters and manufacturers tasked with testing
ATSC 3.0 technology and analyzing market opportunities. The group sponsors the
Phoenix Model Market project, which is currently testing ATSC 3.0 in the
Phoenix area.
HOW LONG WILL THE TRANSITION FROM 1.0 TO 3.0 TAKE?
When the FCC approved the ATSC 3.0 standard in November 2017, it required
broadcasters currently broadcasting in ATSC 1.0 to deliver "substantially
similar" programming as the 3.0 channel for five years. However, it's highly
likely that the FCC will revisit this timeline and extend it based on
broadcasters' progress in deploying ATSC 3.0 and consumer market penetration.
WILL ATSC 3.0 BE CARRIED BY CABLE OR SATELLITE?
ATSC 1.0 signals are still subject to mandatory carriage rights on cable and
satellite TV systems, but there are currently no requirements to mandate ATSC
3.0 for carriage on MVPDs.
HOW WILL BROADCASTERS TRANSITION?
The transition will require broadcasters who normally compete with each other
in markets to cooperate. A station deploying ATSC 3.0 could arrange for a
same-market station to carry either its 1.0 simulcast or the 3.0 feed. E.g., if
just one station in a designated market area lights up 3.0, it could have the
cooperating station host its 1.0 signal, or if two fire up 3.0, one could carry
the next-gen transmissions and the other, the legacy 1.0 signals.
The host, also known as the "lighthouse" station, could initially carry all the
3.0 signals in a market, and as more 3.0 receivers are deployed, ATSC 1.0
transmissions could be finally carried by just one "nightlight" station. The
FCC requires next-gen broadcasters to transmit "at least one free ATSC 3.0
video stream... at all times throughout the ATSC coverage area," and that it be
"at least as robust as a comparable DTV signal."
HOW MUCH WILL THE TRANSITION COST FOR BROADCASTERS?
The costs to broadcasters to outfit their plants to broadcast ATSC 3.0 will
depend on a variety of things, but it's not expected to match the costs
incurred when broadcasters transitioned to digital two decades ago. Those costs
involved not only transmission, but also new acquisition and production tools
to upgrade to HD. For most broadcasters, the minimal outlays could involve
upgrades to antennas, towers, transmitters, gateways and system integration.
This link provides more details.
For more information, check the NAB's helpful Next Generation Television (ATSC
3.0) Station Transition Guide and keep checking back with TV Technology for
industry updates.
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