PRESIDENT’S MEMO

Posted on April 4, 2013 in ATSC News

In a matter of hours, thousands of broadcasters, equipment and technology suppliers, and government officials will converge again on Las Vegas at the NAB Show.  As TV broadcasters grapple with the impact of change, ATSC is well-positioned to deliver solutions to help assure that broadcasters remain vital sources of information and entertainment in their local communities.

Our North Hall exhibit (N2837) at this year’s NAB Show will focus on the near-term opportunities with “ATSC 2.0,” which will add non-real-time and Internet compatibility to the U.S. digital TV standard.  In conjunction with the companies working on the newly-standardized Mobile Emergency Alert System, we’ll be showing how Mobile DTV can be an important conduit to reach viewers in times when people need information most – in bad weather, or in the event of other emergencies.  New Implementation Teams are forming for both of these technologies, ATSC 2.0 and Mobile EAS, and we welcome the active involvement of our members to shape the operating parameters for these enhancements to the ATSC digital TV standard.

I’m very proud to note that one of our most active members, Jay Adrick from Harris, will be receiving the NAB’s top technical engineering award.  Jay’s recent retirement follows a long career at one of the industry’s most important transmission systems companies.  We look forward to sharing in the celebration of his recognition.

Looking to the future, even beyond Mobile DTV and ATSC 2.0, we’re now seeking proposals for the Physical Layer of ATSC 3.0.  With enhanced robustness for mobility and improved spectrum efficiency, it’s likely that ATSC 3.0 will also be a vehicle for broadcasters to deliver Ultra-High-Definition signals to viewers.  While completion of the ATSC 3.0 standard may be years away, our members are already digging in to define the basic parameters, collect proposals for the Physical Layer, and then keep the project moving to completion.

ATSC’s Annual Meeting in Washington on May 9 will be a great opportunity to network with fellow members and get updates on how ATSC broadcast technologies are evolving.  We welcome your participation and hope to see as many members as possible in Washington for the day-long session.

Mark Richer

ATSC President

Posted in ATSC News