That was the case with the recent Super Bowl LVII, which was transmitted in 4K with Dolby Vision HDR, but only by cable provider Comcast Xfinity. Imagine being able to tune in sports in 4K – something you currently have to pay for a pricey cable or satellite TV package to experience. And while all ATSC 3.0 stations are currently broadcasting in regular HD instead of 4K, a situation partly due to bandwidth limitations created by the FCC’s simulcasting requirement, their ability to deliver higher-quality video and audio is compelling. The problem with FAST apps is that the quality is generally bad – certainly less than viewers have come to expect in the 4K era. In fact, FAST (free ad-supported TV) apps on smart TVs and streaming platforms like Roku (Roku TV) and Amazon Prime Video ( FreeVee), have gained considerable traction, which is a testament to the power of free TV channels. (Image credit: ZapperBox) Cheap external tuners can accelerate the ATSC 3.0 transitionīroadcast TV has been a consistently popular form of entertainment in the US, even with the onset of cable and satellite and, later on, streaming services. The ZapperBox M1 ($250) set top box connects to an antenna and plugs into an HDMI input on your TV. Sony, meanwhile, has yet to provide detailed specs for its 2023 TV lineup and TCL hasn't announced any new TVs with built-in ATSC 3.0 tuners. LG announced that it would appear in the company’s higher-end models like the Z3 and G3 OLED sets – same as in 2022 – and the same goes for Samsung, which will provide the feature in its flagship sets like the new S95C OLED. Hisense seemed to be the only one championing the format, with its full lineup of 2023 mini-LED TVs slated to get the feature. While those capabilities haven’t yet been tapped by the ATSC 3.0 broadcast TV stations operating in 66 US markets, a footprint covering more than 50% of the country, some of the best 4K TVs, including models from Sony, Samsung, LG, and Hisense now feature built-in ATSC 3.0 tuners.ĬES 2023 turned out to be something of a wash when it came to new TVs with ATSC 3.0 support. Expect ATSC 3.0 set-top boxes to arrive later.That new digital TV standard, ATSC 3.0 (aka NextGen TV), promises to bring advancements including 4K resolution video with high dynamic range and immersive audio formats such as Dolby Atmos to free, ad-supported broadcast TV. ATSC 3.0 will help the broadcast industry transition to 4K HDR and object-based audio via over-the-air broadcasts. ATSC 3.0 is already deployed in South Korea.Īmazon, Netflix and other streaming services have been offering content in 4K HDR for years but the majority is library content. US broadcasters, including NBCUniversal and Sinclair, are planning to launch the first ATSC 3.0 channels in 40 cities in the US by the end of 2020. The ATSC system, developed by the Advanced Television System Committee, is used in countries such as the US and South Korea, while many other countries use the DVB tuner standard. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has adopted ATSC 3.0 as a recommended tuner standard. "Early-adopter consumers with these TVs will benefit from Nextgen TV's new services being launched by local TV stations across America," said Gordon Smith, President of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). LG will include it in its GX, WX, and ZX (8K) OLED series, Samsung in its 8K TVs, and Sony in its X900H model.ĪTSC 3.0 comes at a time where multiple TV makers have started pulling buyers towards their premium 8K TVs, but ATSC 3.0 is currently specified to support 4K resolution only - not 8K resolution yet. It also enables up to 120fps video, higher bitrate over the airwaves, and HEVC compression.Īt CES 2020, LG, Samsung and Sony announced that select 2020 TVs will feature a built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner. 'Nextgen' ATSC 3.0 tunerThe ATSC 3.0 tuner standard, also known as 'Nextgen TV', has been in development for years as a replacement for ATSC 1.0 that debuted in 2009.ĪTSC 3.0 supports 4K resolution, HDR, object-based audio with the ability to enhance dialog, and interactive features. Are you still watching broadcast TV? Select TVs from LG, Samsung and Sony will be the first TVs in the US to have a built-in 'nextgen' ATSC 3.0 tuner for over-the-air channels in up to 4K HDR.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |