Presidents Memo: Showcasing ATSC 3.0 Worldwide

Posted on September 19, 2024 in ATSC News

International recognition of ATSC 3.0 continues to grow, with the outstanding reception for ATSC at the SET Expo event in São Paulo, Brazil in August and many conversations about next-generation television at the IBC Amsterdam event.

Brazilians took advantage of SET Expo to unveil the new consumer-facing moniker for their new TV 3.0 system: DTV+. Largely based on ATSC 3.0 technologies, excitement about DTV+ was evident at the show, which boasted a sold-out exhibit floor and drew 21,000 attendees, up from 14,000 in 2023. ATSC had its first ever booth presence at SET Expo, where Saankhya Labs, ETRI/Cleverlogic, Enensys, Triveni and DigiCAP staged demonstrations. The booth was busy with visits from VIPs from MCOM, SBTVD Forum, SET, and the São Paulo Indian Consulate to name a few. With DTV+ pilot stations launching in 2025 and commercial services planned for 2026 (in time for the FIFA World Cup), ATSC looks forward to exhibiting again next year.

IBC also saw an uptick in attendance with approximately 5% more attendees in 2024 vs. 2023 and an expanded exhibit floor in Amsterdam. I attended as did several ATSC Board members, and many ATSC members were among the 1,000+ exhibitors. From the rise of streaming services to opportunities for new revenue streams to ever-improving experiences for television audiences to identifying business models for mobile services, there is much to discuss and exchange with our colleagues from Europe and around the world.

It will be great to see an old friend back at U.S. retail stores soon, this time with NEXTGEN TV.  Panasonic recently announced that it is coming back into the consumer TV market with a line of OLED and mini-LED sets in seven different screen sizes, powered by Amazon’s Fire TV operating system.  With a software update coming later this year, the new sets will add support for ATSC 3.0.  Panasonic was a key player in the original development of ATSC 1.0, and they’re returning to the consumer market in the U.S. to build on their presence as the world’s fourth largest TV maker (behind Samsung, Sony, and LG).

The ATSC Board Business Advisory Council conducted its inaugural meeting this month. Led by Mary Crebassa of LTN, the roster of experienced business people with great insights will advise the ATSC Board of Directors on the continual evolution of ATSC 3.0 and beyond. The Council recognized the inflection point that the broadcast ecosystem is experiencing today, as the broadcast industry moves from a pattern of infrequently developing major new, non-backward compatible technologies to a pattern of continually evolving a flexible platform.

As work progresses in ATSC to add VVC video coding, Digital Radio Mondiale capability, Broadcast Core Network, mobile-friendly improvements, and physical layer extensions inspired by Brazil’s requirements, the Business Advisory Council’s input on the development roadmap will be critical to organizing the path forward for ATSC.

ATSC is now an Associate Member of CITEL PCC.II.  The Organization of American States (OAS) is the primary regional forum for political dialogue, cooperation, and problem-solving in the Americas, bringing together 35 Member States from across the Western Hemisphere. One of its key entities is the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL), which facilitates the development and coordination of telecommunications across the region. CITEL’s Permanent Consultative Committee II (PCC.II) focuses specifically on radiocommunications and broadcasting, addressing issues like spectrum management, digital broadcasting, and emerging technologies. For ATSC, being an Associate Member of PCC.II is highly valuable because it provides direct access to key policymakers, broadcasters, and regulators throughout the Americas, helping to promote the adoption and harmonization of ATSC 3.0 technology. This membership allows ATSC to contribute to discussions that shape the future of broadcasting, ensuring that its standards are considered in regional initiatives and that it stays aligned with regulatory developments. The PCC.II meetings are taking place now in Merida, Mexico and I look forward to my first experience in this forum.

This month I want to thank Amy Lodes for her service to ATSC for the past three years, as she moves on to a new chapter.  Amy was a critical part of ATSC’s effort to enhance ATSC’s sponsorship opportunities and increasingly foster member engagement. After a well-earned break, and she is planning to seek consulting engagements from her home in Denver.  ATSC is starting the search for a new manager of communications and membership engagement. If you or someone you know may be interested in this opportunity, I welcome your inquiries via email:  mnoland@atsc.org.

Posted in ATSC News