ATSC Publishes Recommended Practice – Press Release

Posted on January 25, 2009 in Press Releases

For Immediate Release

“Conversion of ATSC Signals for Distribution to NTSC Viewers”

WASHINGTON, D.C., Januaary 26, 2009 – The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) published a new Recommended Practice on January 7, 2009. The “Conversion of ATSC Signals for Distribution to NTSC Viewers” provides guidance to broadcasters and other creators of ATSC high-definition (HD) or standard-definition (SD) content and to the operators of Multichannel Video Programming Distributor (MVPD) systems (such as cable or direct to home satellite). MVPD providers are in the process of providing broadcast channels to their standard definition viewers. Many markets will utilize direct reception of ATSC digital television (DTV) signals. This Recommended Practice (A/79) provides guidance concerning system architectures that may be used by MVPD systems which utilize the DTV signal to provide high quality programming to viewers who only receive NTSC services.

“The effort to develop A/79 is another example of inter-industry cooperation to help ensure that the digital television transition is a smooth as possible for all consumers” said Glenn Reitmeier, ATSC Board of Directors Chair. “This new ATSC Recommended Practice provides technical guidance on the retransmission of over-the-air broadcast DTV signals to analog viewers on multichannel delivery systems”.

The RP has been published on the ATSC web site.

The Advanced Television Systems Committee is an international, non-profit organization developing voluntary standards for digital television. The ATSC member organizations represent the broadcast, broadcast equipment, motion picture, consumer electronics, computer, cable, satellite, and semiconductor industries. ATSC creates and fosters implementation of voluntary Standards and Recommended Practices to advance terrestrial digital television broadcasting, and to facilitate interoperability with other media.

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Contact
Lindsay Shelton-Gross, ATSC (202) 872-9160, lsheltongross@atsc.org

Posted in Press Releases