Chairman’s Memo: Pushing Forward

Posted on May 4, 2020 in ATSC News

Lynn Claudy, ATSC Chairman

While the COVID-19 crisis has certainly impacted virtually every corner of our world, work continues on deployment plans for ATSC 3.0 – even if it is slowed somewhat by the handicapped supply chain, availability of teams to manage station upgrades or other previously unforeseen factors.  And as a significant milestone, the first ATSC 3.0 consumer receivers are now available for purchase (although seeing them “in action” at many retail stores is not yet possible.)

The broadcasting industry is pushing forward with NEXTGEN TV powered by ATSC 3.0, with new applications arriving at the FCC for station upgrades, numerous ATSC 3.0-related sessions planned for the NAB Show Express online event on May 13-14, and a virtual version of our annual Membership Meeting later this month.

ATSC formed Planning Team 8 on Core Network Technologies to augment our continued look ahead to the future, an effort that will ensure that ATSC remains at the forefront of new technologies.  The new planning team will study core network technologies as they might relate to broadcasting, including ways that ATSC-developed technologies might work together with other data delivery networks.

Next week, ATSC will unveil a comprehensive ATSC 3.0 Progress Report just ahead of the NAB Show Express virtual experience.  Any current ATSC member is welcome to submit product, service and development news and to answer one key question about how your organization is managing through this difficult time.  There is no charge to participate, although the deadline to submit information is at the close of business on Tuesday, May 5.  Submit your information here.

Complementing our Progress Report, ATSC is participating in several NAB Show Express events next week:

• ATSC President Madeleine Noland will join me to present a paper titled “ATSC: Beyond Standards and a Look at the Future,” (also to be included in the online Broadcast Engineering and Information Technology Conference Proceedings) discussing how ATSC has formed planning teams and other groups to examine advanced broadcast technologies, automotive applications, global recognition of ATSC 3.0, developing a near-term service roadmap for ATSC 3.0 services and features, convergence with international data transmission systems, such as the Internet and 4G/5G, and other topics.
• I will moderate a panel titled “ATSC: Perspectives from the Executive Layer” that includes, Fox Television’s Richard Friedel and CTA’s Brian Markwalter, in their roles as ATSC Board Vice Chairs, and Madeleine. This discussion will focus on the implementation plan for ATSC 3.0, overall trends in the digital broadcasting industry and next steps for new membership-driven ATSC programs.
• Madeleine also will present an ATSC 3.0 update as part of the SBE Multiplatform SuperSession.

Other ATSC 3.0-related “events” during the NAB Express virtual tradeshow include a session on the launch of NEXTGEN TVs (featuring ATSC members LG, Samsung and Sony) moderated by CTA, two sessions organized by Pearl TV on NEXTGEN TV’s commercial launch and consumer insights, and a panel on advanced emergency alerting and information, moderated by the head of the AWARN Alliance, John Lawson.

Later in May, we’ll be staging a virtual Member Meeting.  Details are coming soon.  This online session allows us to take care of business for the association, while we plan for a future in-person conference currently scheduled for August 27-28 at the familiar Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C.

This crisis is proof that broadcasting is a critically important and resilient industry, and we hope that a fully deployed ATSC 3.0 system will deliver new capabilities and also new avenues to keep viewers informed and entertained.

Lynn Claudy
ATSC Board Chairman
Senior Vice President of Technology, NAB

Posted in ATSC News