President’s Memo

Posted on January 1, 2015 in ATSC News

New Year, New Candidate Standard!

Happy New Year!  At the ATSC, we’re looking ahead to 2015 with eager anticipation, tempered with a healthy dose of cautious optimism, as ATSC 3.0 next-generation television broadcasting moves to Candidate Standard status in the months ahead.

Key mileposts along road ahead this year include Candidate Standards for the Physical Layer transmission system this spring, followed by the Management & Protocol and Applications & Presentation layers.

To be sure, there’s a lot of work to do.  A working draft of the Physical Layer is already under way with broadcasters and manufacturers participating in the process of documenting the technical decisions of the TG3 technology group and its various specialist groups.

The process is the process, and there will need to be some give and take as everybody works together to pursue our aggressive 2015 Candidate Standard timetable. The ATSC Board of Directors is urging TG3 participants to keep their eye on the prize and quickly resolve issues that arise or find ways to move forward on a path toward resolution as the Candidate Standards are being finalized.

For many countries, time is of the essence for us to put a stake in the ground with the ATSC 3.0 Candidate Standard this year. The eyes of the world are on the ATSC and our disciplined, inclusive, open approach to standards-setting.  As such, it’s crucial that the new standard both moves ahead expeditiously and meets the varied needs of broadcasters, manufacturers and viewers in the United States and around the world.

As the New Year dawns, I hope all ATSC members share our enthusiasm and excitement about the work we are embarking on during 2015, which will set the stage for television’s bright future. I look forward to seeing many of you this month at CES.

Mark Richer, ATSC President

Posted in ATSC News