The TV broadcast industry is about to embark on a generational change that hasn’t been seen since the transition from analog / NTSC to Digital TV (DTV). The FCC currently has two major initiatives, the first is deregulation with their new docket titled “delete, delete, delete” and the second is a Public Notice (PN) seeking comments on the NAB’s petition to sunset ATSC 1.0. Both initiatives are expected to usher in major changes to both the technology and corporate ownership of TV stations within the DTV broadcast marketplace. While no one can predict the full impact of deregulation, we can foresee that there will be some sort of schedule for US TV stations to finally transition from ATSC 1.0 to NextGenTV aka ATSC 3.0.

Keep in mind that ATSC 1.0 was approved back in 1995 and subsequently adopted by the FCC in 1996, so the current DTV broadcast standard is now 30 years old. What other technology from 30 years ago still impacts your daily life? Back in 1996, there was no OTT service (Netflix started their internet based streaming service in 2007), and no tablet PC’s (iPad was released in 2010). Gigabit Ethernet didn’t start being deployed until 1999. The first version of Wi‐Fi {802.11 protocol} was released in 1997 and it provided up to 2 Mbps link speeds. The first iPhone was released in 2007 and the last VHS player was manufactured in June of 2016. The DVD debuted in the US back in 1997 and Netflix officially ended their DVD mail-in rental service back in September 2023. It’s time for broadcasters to move on with the newest delivery standard.

Development of the ATSC 3.0 standard started in 2013 and over a 5-year period, it was largely completed by CES 2018. In February 2017, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) to allow the use of ATSC 3.0 for OTA broadcast. The FCC then authorized the voluntary use of the Next Generation broadcast television transmission standard by March of 2018. Much of the last seven years has been used to begin seeding the market with ATSC 3.0 OTA signals.

Since the FCC did not allocate additional TV channels to deploy ATSC 3.0, broadcasters in each TV market had to work cooperatively to share existing spectrum resources for the initial deployment of ATSC 3.0. Most major markets are transmitting an ATSC 3.0 signal on one RF channel / broadcast tower. This plan, known as a “lighthouse” approach, has been an effective way to turn on new ATSC 3.0 signals. Using this approach, ATSC 3.0 has been deployed in 78 markets which covers approximately 76% of US TV households (TVHH), according to the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC). More than 14 million ATSC 3.0 equipped TVs are also estimated to be currently in use.

The fundamental approach of the lighthouse is for an ATSC 3.0 transmitter to carry the primary “dot one” HD service for all the partners in the market, usually four to six programs. Most ATSC 3.0 lighthouses are configured to mimic ATSC 1.0 RF signal coverage which provides approximately 25Mbps of throughput. A lighthouse with five HD programs, each at 4 to 6Mbps, fills up the bandwidth quickly. Therefore, the typical lighthouse approach doesn’t allow broadcasters to fully utilize many of ATSC 3.0’s advanced features since there are little extra bits for data-based services.

In February of this year, the NAB petitioned the FCC for a roadmap to sunset existing ATSC 1.0 broadcasts and transition broadcasters to ATSC 3.0. The NAB’s plan proposed that all full power TV stations in the top 55 Designated Marketing Areas (DMA’s) would fully transition to ATSC 3.0 by February of 2028 and the remaining stations in all other markets by February of 2030. The plan does offer limited waivers for smaller and non-commercial stations if necessary and it does not mandate that LPTV transmitters / translators meet these transition deadlines.

The FCC’s Media Bureau issued a Public Notice (PN) in mid-April seeking comments on the NAB’s petition. Comments to the PN were due by May 7, 2025, and reply comments were due by June 6, 2025. At the time of this article, it seems plausible that the TV broadcasters could have a real plan for a full transition to ATSC 3.0 sometime before the end of 2025.

The top 55 DMA’s have nearly 800 full power and Class A broadcast stations. Approximately 10% of those stations (~70) have already transitioned to ATSC 3.0. That means there are approximately 730 stations that need to plan, budget, and purchase new equipment over the next few years to meet the proposed first phase of the ATSC 1.0 sunset. Like the recent FCC spectrum auction and associated phased TV station repack, this transition to ATSC 3.0 will be a major undertaking by all broadcasters, manufacturers, and integrators. Since ATSC 3.0 is not backwards compatible, upgrading a TV station will, in some cases, be a major update. ATSC 3.0 affects the following major broadcast systems:

• ATSC program encoder plus adding Signaling Server and Gateway
• STL systems including IP and Microwave
• DTV transmitter and the associated exciter licenses
• Sometimes also transmit antenna if adding V-Pol
• Test and monitoring equipment for both the studio and transmitter sites
• IRDs, compliance monitoring, and/or enterprise monitor and control

Heartland Video Systems, Inc. (HVS) recommends that broadcasters look at the transition on a station-by-station basis, starting with the equipment that has the longest lead time. Much like repack, DTV transmitters and associated TV antennas fall into this category. However, many of the DTV transmitter systems replaced in the last 7 to 8 years are ATSC 3.0 ready. Further, the FCC repack likely replaced many of the transmitters in the top 55 DMA’s since that is where the highest need for access to new wireless spectrum was focused.

The next area to be reviewed is the microwave STL system. HVS has been working with many of the major broadcast groups to evaluate existing systems. In many cases, older STL systems are not IP compatible and cannot transport the ATSC 3.0 STLTP signal. Luckily, upgrading an existing microwave STL can be easy since existing dish antennas and associated RF feeders can likely be reused, keeping the cost and on-site work to a minimum.

The last major area to be reviewed is the ATSC 3.0 encoding system. Newer software-based encoding systems from the primary vendors are capable of either MPEG-2 or HEVC. If your station has a main and backup encoding system, one can be used to pre-test the ATSC 3.0 signal chain while the other continues to keep the ATSC 1.0 signal on-the-air. In addition to the encoder, a station will need to install the signaling server and broadcast gateway to process the encoder’s HEVC-DASH output and provide the necessary STLTP signal to the transmitter.

Another item to consider is the EAS system. The requirement to carry EAS remains the same in ATSC 3.0, but adding AEI Advanced Emergency Information is one of the advanced features that ATSC 3.0 provides broadcasters and consumers. AEI requires upgrades to the existing EAS receiver plus implementation of a broadcaster app for information display on the consumer’s ATSC 3.0 TV set.

This will be a massive undertaking, but HVS is positioned to help broadcasters successfully make the switch. Since 1990, HVS has served as a trusted partner for broadcasters and organizations looking to modernize and expand their video workflows. HVS specializes in designing, deploying, and supporting next-generation systems with a special focus on ATSC 3.0 for broadcasters making the transition. HVS offers unparalleled expertise and proven results, their leadership in lab testing, system configuration, and end-to-end integration ensures every ATSC 3.0 rollout goes smoothly.

HVS offers comprehensive services including design and engineering and features a future-proof approach providing state-of-the-art solutions. They stay on top of emerging ATSC 3.0 features like DRM, HDR, immersive audio, datacasting, and interactive apps. HVS also offers pre-launch lab testing, certificates and virtual/BIP/BEST services using their comprehensive facility in Plymouth, WI allowing issues to be uncovered and resolved before a system goes live. HVS also provides installation and support services, their Help Desk support service is available to make sure your operations remain reliable and uninterrupted.

HVS has a history of successful launches, having been the primary designer and integrator on 70 ATSC 3.0 lighthouse deployments across the U.S., from major cities like New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago to mid-sized and smaller markets. Whether it’s turnkey projects or simply engineering support for local broadcasters, HVS can bring a project from concept to reality with a single point of contact.