My first Consumer Electronics Show was 2006. That year the conversion to digital TV (ATSC 1) was underway and manufacturers of all sizes were showing TV sets of all sizes, as well as converter boxes people could use to receive the digital broadcasts on their existing analog TVs. Fourteen years later, TV sets have been replaced by large displays with streamed programming.

In the limited time I had to walk through the exhibits at this year’s show, I saw media products had taken a back seat to artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and sensors, smart home/city, gaming, drones and health products. Hyundai had a big air taxi on display (see Fig. 1), joining the Bell air taxi that attracted interest last year. I didn’t see any mention of over-the-air TV (outside the NextGen TV exhibit), except for one sign touting Samsung’s technology advances, with ATSC 3.0 listed under 2020.

However, the major TV manufacturers are supporting NextGen TV. LG Electronics, Samsung and Sony announced they would have ATSC 3.0 tuners in several of their 8K displays. Because there is limited 8K content, manufacturers are using AI to up convert 2K and 4K content for viewing on the 8K screens. This is important for broadcasters, since data bandwidth for ATSC 3.0 will be precious until ATSC 1 is shut off, making it unlikely there will be any 8K broadcasts and a limited number of 4K broadcasts.

I’m concerned that when people start taking these expensive 8K TV sets home later this year and decide to try out that new tuner, they may be disappointed in the quality of the over-the-air video compared to 4K and the limited 8K streaming content. I expect the quality will improve, just as it did in the years after the rollout of HDTV 20 years ago.

CES attendees could see NextGen TV in action and the plans for the rollout later this year at the NextGen TV exhibit in the Central Hall. The good news is there will be options for receiving NextGen TV without purchasing a 75-inch 8K display.

TESTING NEXTGEN TV

Gaian Solutions, an India-based technology development company, was showing an inexpensive set-top box running GAIATV3.0 middleware on Linux that, with the addition of an ATSC 3.0 USB tuner, was able to receive ATSC 3.0 broadcasts, run applications and display them on a connected display (Fig. 2). The good news is that the STB should be available in quantity for under $50. The bad news is that at this time, the only ATSC 3.0 USB tuner I’ve found will cost much more than that—close to $1,000 individually.

The good news for stations wanting to test many NextGen TV applications is the Gaian Solutions STB and middleware will work over ATSC 1, allowing use of an ATSC 1 USB tuner costing well under $100. A station using the GAIATV3.0 software and STB can roll out demonstrations of guide services, targeted advertising and such using their existing ATSC 1 facility.

Gaian Solutions plans to sell the STBs and receivers in bulk to broadcasters or distributors (with custom branding) and may also have a direct purchase option.

AIRWAVZ REDZONE TVXPLORER

As far as I know, the RedZone Receiver from Airwavz is the only ATSC 3.0 USB tuner available now that anyone can purchase. I met Bonnie Beeman and John Casey from Airwavz at CES to get an update on the tuner and evaluate their latest TvXplorer software.

The RedZone Receiver I have uses an LG demodulator chip and Silicon Labs tuner. The current RedZone Receiver uses a Sony tuner and demodulator, which Casey said reduces power consumption and provides additional data for the TvXplorer application.

The TvXplorer application runs on Windows and shows ATSC 3.0 signal and payload characteristics in expandable tables with the ability to view the xml code directly if needed. During the transition from analog to ATSC 1, Rod Hewitt’s TSReader program gave broadcasters and TV enthusiasts a way to dig into the ATSC signal, see the PSIP data and identify problems with ATSC streams.

TvXplorer provides similar features for ATSC 3.0 with the addition of physical layer data identifying modulation, coding, data rates and SNR. It also has a zero–100 quality scale calculated by comparing the received SNR with the required SNR for the signal’s required SNR for its modulation constellation and coding. This should be useful for field measurements of stations with PLPs (Physical Layer Pipes) with different modulation and/or coding.

I had no problem receiving the Channel 33 ATSC 3.0 signal transmitted at 35 kW ERP from Black Mountain. I used the Walmart Onn indoor antenna I described in my last column and my older RedZone Receiver with the latest TvXplorer software (Fig. 3 shows the setup). The software was running in a Virtualbox Windows 10 virtual machine on my portable laptop.

The signal analysis worked fine, but I ran into CPU limits when attempting to stream the ATSC 3.0 video to VLC or TvXplorer’s built-in viewer. I did not have a chance to try streaming to a player in Linux (outside the VM), which might have worked better. The video streaming worked fine on John Casey’s Surface Windows laptop at the CTA lounge. The ATSC 3.0 signal was very robust.

In testing at the CTA lounge, it was hard to break the reception—collapsing the whip antenna to minimum height didn’t kill it; even unscrewing the whip antenna from the mount (only a stub remaining) didn’t completely kill reception, although there were errors. Figs. 4 and 5 show the setup and some data from my TvXplorer hotel room testing.

The Redzone Receiver and TvXplorer bundle isn’t cheap. The website shows the current price as $1,995. While this is more expensive than a high-end 4K large screen TV, the price is reasonable when compared to alternatives, which often include annual support fees.

Airwavz promises lifetime support and updates at no additional charge. Stations launching their own ATSC 3.0 services will probably want the more expensive options from companies like Avateq and Triveni, but for engineers looking for a tool they can put on their own laptop, take to transmitter sites and use to monitor ATSC 3.0 broadcasts from other stations in the market, the bundle is attractive. TvXplorer is still evolving and future versions may include support for checking and decoding the ATSC STL-IP protocols.

OTHER OPTIONS

I have heard rumors of lower-cost ATSC 3.0 USB tuners coming from Korea and China and also got a glimpse of a ONE Media dongle at last year’s NAB Show. I expect we’ll see other options at the 2020 NAB Show.

One of the companies I’ll be following is BitRouter, which had an ATSC 3.0 STB demonstration in a suite at the Westgate, but unfortunately I was unable to connect with them before they took down the demonstration. Details on the BitRouter ATSC3pro are available at https://bitrouter.com/products/atsc3pro/, as well as a timeline for implementation of various ATSC 3.0 features.

The company said pricing would be announced at the NAB Show. I was told the ATSC3pro uses the Sony chipset and the website says it will be a USB tuner, like the GAIATV3.0. Like Gaian Solutions, BitRouter also offers ATSC 3.0 middleware (visit https://bitrouter.com/products/atsc3pak/ for information on its ATSC3pak).

We’ll have to wait until late this year to see how the NextGen TV rollout proceeds. How many TVs with ATSC 3.0 capability will be in viewers’ homes by the end of the year? Given the initial cost of those 8K sets I expect the number to be small, but the people that buy them will likely be enthusiasts who will want to hook up an antenna and try out the ATSC 3.0 tuner.

Will they find a signal? For those that aren’t in the market for a new TV, the boxes and software from companies like Gaian Solution, BitRouter and Wipro will provide viewers a lower-cost ATSC 3.0 solution, provided the price of ATSC 3.0 USB tuners drops to the point where they are less expensive than a big screen TV.

Is your station planning to launch ATSC 3.0 broadcasts? Are you ready to buy an ATSC 3.0 receiver? Which do you think will arrive first in your town—the Hyundai air taxi or NextGen TV? Contact me atdlung@transmitter.com.

For a comprehensive source of TV Technology’s NextGen TV coverage, see our NextGen TV silo.

As the world’s largest gathering of consumer electronics technology, the annual Consumer Electronics Show has greatly expanded its focus over the years as more household products become digitized and then connected. The days where TV sets were once the biggest stars are long gone but even today, some of the new entrants at the 2020 show prompted some head scratching.

For example, why would Impossible Foods, one of the world’s largest developers of meat-alternatives be showing at an electronics show? The company used the gala event to roll out their latest experiment in ultra-processed food: fake bacon; nevertheless the connection between their newest concoction and electronics is tangential at best.

Although one could certainly draw a straight line between TV watching and food, the main themes at this year’s show were traditionally consistent with the trends in recent years, namely, 5G, AI, IOT (now referred to as the “intelligence of things”) and for television: 8K.

While sales numbers are still in the single digits for 8K sets worldwide, TV manufacturers were all aboard the high resolution bandwagon at this year’s CES. The fact that there is little to no 8K content available has not deterred manufacturers who claim that their upscaling and display technologies will satisfy consumers’ thirst for the best pictures available.

Concerns over how the variety of televised programming is displayed on their new UHD sets was a priority for the UHD Association, a consortium of studios and set manufacturers promoting high resolution television. Specifically, the association used CES 2020 to formally roll out “Filmmaker Mode,” a setting that will be adopted by most major TV manufacturers to ensure that the correct viewing mode is being used.

As it currently stands, many 4K and 8K sets come out of the box with default modes that don’t necessarily represent how content is to be viewed. Viewers have complained about movies shot in 24 fps being displayed in video mode (aka what has been referred to as “the “soap opera effect”). Needless to say, Hollywood has not been pleased.

“Most people today are watching classic films at home, where existing technology presents all media in exactly the same way, whether it’s a football game or ‘Lawrence of Arabia,’” said director Martin Scorsese. “With Filmmaker Mode, different works will be presented accurately, as they were created and designed by the filmmaker. Filmmaker Mode is a long overdue and welcome innovation.”

Some sets currently on the market offer viewers the ability to activate a “cinema mode” in the TV’s settings, however, Filmmaker Mode will be activated automatically, through metadata embedded in the content. LG, Panasonic and Vizio were among the first set makers to commit to offering it in their 2020 television products; Samsung, Philips/TP Vision, and Kaleidescape will also offer Filmmaker Mode in its TV products this year as well.

Samsung dazzled attendees with its modular “The Wall,” returning to CES this year, offering four new sizes in addition to its largest option—a whopping 292 inches. The Wall includes Samsung’s “MicroLED” screen technology that allows consumers to customize the size of their screens.

Samsung has also upgraded its AI Quantum Processor for its QLED 8K TVs and redesigned the sets in an “ultra-thin” form factor as well introducing its concept of the “Infinity Screen,” which produces a screen-to-body ratio of 99%. LG, as well introduced displays with a 3.5 mm ultra low narrow bezel and providing a wider viewing angle.

But perhaps the TV product that garnered the most buzz was “Sero,” which, with the simple press of a button, rotates to vertical mode to view content created from smartphones. Gone are the vertical bars that characterize the display of vertical videos on horizontal sets.

Our sister brand TechRadar summed up its review of the Sero thusly:

“As a conceptual and cultural piece, the Samsung Sero TV is incredibly interesting. It’s a relic of the internet era, and one that will have a certain appeal to anyone who uses their phone more than their TV. To that end, optimists might say that the Sero could be the bridge that gaps the divide for a younger generation that watches less and less traditional TV while pessimists, very rightly, might just call it a passing fad.”

Once again, CES proves that when it comes to television, there are still no new ideas (or fads) too outlandish to try.

LAS VEGAS—Three out of the four commercial TV broadcast networks are fully behind deployment of ATSC 3.0, and the fourth is not anti-NextGen TV but does not want to take a leadership role in the rollout, said Gordon Smith, president and CEO of NAB.

During an interview following a celebration of NextGen TV that brought together Madeleine Noland, ATSC president, Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, and Smith on the main stage in the Grand Lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center on Jan. 8 during CES 2020, the NAB chief responded to a question about the willingness of TV networks to advance ATSC 3.0 deployment.

“I think three without any reservation [support ATSC 3.0], and another one has told me: ‘We’re not against it; we just don’t want to be in the first wagon,” he said.

Smith did not identify which of the networks wishes to hold back; however, CBS has gone on record in the past about its desire to make its subscription over-the-top CBS All Access service a top priority.

“They are for it, and they, I think, will participate in all of the momentum that’s behind this,” he said.

In Smith’s view, supporting 3.0 for broadcasters is a matter of remaining competitive in the future. “The NFL and different sports networks, they are going to want this 4K.”

“They [broadcasters] are going to want to have the best and the brightest so broadcasting can continue to be the best way to grow their [sports leagues’] fan base,” he said.

Network support for the standard is an important ingredient to its rollout and ultimate success. Because broadcasters must continue to transmit ATSC 1.0 to viewers for the foreseeable future and because they have not been granted additional spectrum to simulcast both 1.0 and 3.0, a new level of cooperation involving the relationship between networks and their affiliates, as well as among competitors in local markets, will be needed to bring NextGen TV to local viewers.

Smith is optimistic about the prospects for cooperation. “I have no doubt about their [local stations’] willingness to cooperate with one another, and I know some are already working on it,” he said. “This is a harder lift than analog to digital, so it will take that cooperation to make that lift happen.”

Another key ingredient will be educating the public about NextGen TV and promoting its benefits. NAB has a line item in its budget for the 3.0 rollout, said Smith.

“We are very invested in making this happen,” he said. “Having all these qualitative improvements [made possible by 3.0] will be something that sells in the store and will be viewed with great favor by the American people,” he said.

For a comprehensive source of TV Technology’s ATSC 3.0 coverage, see ourATSC3 silo.

Las Vegas, NV – Electronics innovation will be on vibrant display in the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s (HKTDC) 43rd annual Hong Kong Pavilion at CES, featuring 47 companies in bold and exciting exhibits that showcase why electronics is the number one export for the world city.

Strategically located in the heart of Asia, within a five-hour flight to half of the world's population, Hong Kong has long been a hotbed of entrepreneurship. The city boasts the fifth-fastest growing start-up ecosystem in the world and was the world's #1 IPO center in 2019. It's strong global financial hub, coupled with the city's supportive regulatory structures, low taxes, attract top investments to help fuel new and long-term development.

Today, more than 3,100 start-ups call Hong Kong home, a 21% increase from 2018. Co-organized with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP)

20 of these start-ups will be exhibiting in Eureka Park, including 6 winners from the Start-up Express – a development program launched by HKTDC to assist Hong Kong start-ups in building networks, marketing their business and enhancing brand awareness globally. There are also two winners from IPHatch Hong Kong – an open-innovation competition to bring business concepts to fruition by commercializing the intellectual property and technology portfolios from renowned multinational corporations.

As a key international sourcing hub, 27 Hong Kong innovators will also be featured in the Design and Source to supply the needs of global buyers who attend CES this week.

Exhibitors representing a broad spectrum of applications will be on display, including:

1. Artificial Intelligence: Jedies Advance Tech, Veztan

2. Wellness/Wellbeing: CYC Motor, Contact Beverage

3. Lifestyle: Knitwarm, Maxconcept

4. Wearables and Medical/Healthcare: Taison Digital, MedEXO, Incus

5. Eco/ Smart Home: AIRXED, Hi-Cooler, Epro

6. Smart City: RaSpect, , Affluent Growth & Innovation Tech

7. IoT & Sensors: R-Guardian, Prodigy, Meridian Innovation

8. Lighting: LiPhy, Rayson

9. Safety & Security: GL Technologies, KiLax

10. R&D: NAMI, Innoplay

11. AR/VR: PPK, Kazoo

12. 3D: PlusD,

13. E-commerce: LinkedMarts

14. Electro/Acoustic: Innovation Technology, Kan Tsang, Chiba, Shiba

15. Testing & Certification: ECTest, STC

As the world’s freest economy for the past 25 years, and ranked as the world’s third best and easiest place for business by the World Bank’s Doing Business Report 2020, Hong Kong presents an ideal opportunity and platform for companies seeking to enter the fast-growing Asian market. Electronics products are currently Hong Kong's biggest export, accounting for over 68% of Hong Kong's total exports in 2018 and supplying global demand for high-tech products including telecommunications equipment, semiconductors and computer items, etc.

For more about HKTDC, please visit www.hktdc.com and for registration details for CES, please visit www.ces.tech.

To learn more about the 47 Hong Kong companies exhibiting at CES, click here.

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organizes international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. 

LAS VEGAS—A team effort between Keysight Technologies and MediaTek offered CES attendees a chance to see just how 5G can help power 8K video streaming content during a special presentation.

In a joint demonstration, Keysight and MediaTek uses 5G wireless connectivity to showcase 8K video streaming to a smart TV. Using Keysight’s 5G emulation solutions with MediaTek’s Dimensity 1000 5G mobile system-on-chip, the demonstration delivers data rates of up to 1 gigabit per second, which helps ensure continuous 8K video streaming to an 8K smart TV without a wired connection.

MediaTek uses Keysight’s 5G platform to establish a new 5G new radio connection using the non-standalone mode. The connection will also use dual connectivity to generate an aggregated data stream created from both LTE and 5G signals.

“This demonstration highlights the application diversity our 5G solutions support, which enables a connected ecosystem to deliver products that depend on a reliable 5G connection,” said Jeffrey Chen, general manager of greater China wireless application engineering at Keysight Technologies.

This demonstration is a result of collaborations between Keysight and MediaTek for more than three years.

The demonstration will take place throughout CES 2020, and will be shown at MediaTek’s booth, 3601 in the Tech West Pavilion.

LAS VEGAS—Are VR headsets soon to be a thing of the past? Panasonic has announced that it has developed HDR capable UHD virtual reality eyeglasses, a first according to the company, and is showcasing them at its booth (12908, Centrla Hall) during CES 2020.

The expected launch of commercial 5G services are likely to benefit new VR experiences, like sports viewing and virtual travel experiences. But instead of the often large VR headsets currently needed for such viewing, Panasonic says its new design offers a comfortable fit akin to wearing eyeglasses.

The high-performances display device was developed in cooperation with Kopin Corporation, a manufacturer of display devices for VR glasses. Panasonic’s audio and visual technologies have been incorporated into the VR eyeglasses, including signal processing technologies, acoustic technologies of Technics audio products and optical tech use in Lumix digital cameras.

The main features of the new VR eyeglasses are the UHD high-quality images that are capable of displaying HDR thanks to a micro OLED panel and high-quality sound can be reproduced over a range of frequencies from ultra-low to high.

Panasonic is expected to continue developing the VR glasses so they can be used in a variety of applications.

WALTHAM, Mass.—CES 2020 is serving as a showcase for Zixi to demonstrate new updates to four elements of its Software-Defined Video Platform—the ZEN Master, Video Solutions Stack, Zixi Protocols and the Zixi Enabled Network.

SDVP has been updated to version 13 that provides new functionalities for the central management of broadcaster video networks with software and integrated devices regardless of the underlying IP. Control functions like monitoring, fault recovery and security are included in every aspect of SDVP, which can be deployed on-premises, through a cloud infrastructure or hybrid IP networks.

First among the four elements of SDVP that Zixi is showcasing at CES is ZEN Master, which features a cloud-based interface that provides visual tools to configure, orchestrate, manage and monitor live and live linear broadcast channels at scale and across industry protocols. With a customizable UI, users can view channels, grid-based object and resource monitoring and channel visualization with debugging and root causes analysis. The platform also facilitates the configuration of notifications and error escalation, free form notes on Zixi Feeder, Receivers, broadcast clusters, sources, channels and targets, as well as cloning of channels and targets, event filtering by Access Tag, creation of sticky search fields and the configuration of panels for display and preview.

Additional ZEN Master features include customizable granular reporting; advanced automation and scheduling capabilities; and integrations with AWS, Google Cloud Platform and Azure for operations within ZEN Master.

The Video Solutions Stack provides foundational software tools and core media processing functions for the transport of live video over IP networks, protocols and cloud providers correcting for packet loss and jitter. Key features on display include Video Solutions Stack’s software algorithms that optimize streams between Zixi Feeders, Zixi Broadcaster and Zixi Receivers and work together to deliver live video over IP and Hybrid IP networks. A Hitless Failover technique provides reliable transport between sources and receivers, while the Hybrid Network Sequenced Hitless Failover uses Zixi’s own extension and improvement of SMPTE 2022-7 with a package sequence alignment to create a coherent stream out of multiple stream fragments. Then a Hybrid Network Bonded Hitless failover enables the blending of internet, fiber, satellite and cellular connections to form a virtual bonded network. Broadcasters also have access to tools to streamline workflows like live 4K transcoding and repackaging, and machine learning based on ePSNR.

With the Zixi Protocol, the company has added machine learning algorithms to power Zixi’s next-gen transport streaming protocol for real-time assessment of networking conditions. The algorithms utilize data like round-trip time, jitter, channel lost rate, burstiness and more to determine the most effective data to FEC overhead ratio. There is also a multilayered security approach to conduct video transportation.

Zixi will also highlight its growing Zixi Enabled Network, which features more than 150 technology partners and media service providers. In 2019, 50 technology vendors joined the network, including AppearTV, ATEME, Edgeward, RedBee MEdia, Telstra, Telestream, Vimond and more.

More information is available at www.zixi.com. 

LAS VEGAS—Speaking in front of the Consumer Technology Association’s Government Affairs Council, FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks took the time to recognize many of the biggest tech advancements being made today, but rather than just marvel at them, take a critical look at where they are coming from and how we may need to protect ourselves against them.

Giving his speech on Jan. 6 before the official start of the CES 2020 conference, Starks laid out what his primary goals will be for 2020: “... ensuring that our communications networks and technologies support security, privacy and our democratic values.”

Starks brought up many different forms of technologies that on the surface prove beneficial to our everyday lives—entities accessing our data for more personalization; algorithms that can help classify and research topics based on data and past trends; and face recognition technology for increasing security. But he also offered instances where all of these technologies can prove dangerous or misleading.

“We must undertake, right now and continuously, the thorough examination of all these new capabilities to decide now how we will ensure that they are all poised to serve a future that creates opportunities instead of reinforcing existing inequalities,” he said.

He also brought up the potential danger he sees in China. He notes that he has been working to remove equipment provided by Huawei and ZTE from communications networks because he says there have been instances when such equipment transferred secure data to the Chinese government. He also says that technology developed in China is often not taking into consideration the civil liberties that are required for non-authoritarian regimes.

Potentially helping alleviate all of this, according to Starks, is 5G.

“I am optimistic that technology developments, especially 5G standards, will support our efforts to improve network and data security,” he said. But still, it will fall on people to make sure that the new technology meets the appropriate standards.

“If we work together, I am confident we can build a future that is more advanced, more secure and more prosperous, and more equitable for all.”

LAS VEGAS—Dolby Laboratories is making the most of the CES 2020 stage, highlighting new features for its Dolby Vision immersive entertainment technology, the Dolby Vision IQ.

Dolby Vision IQ extends the benefits of Dolby Vision beyond HDR by optimizing picture quality experiences for viewers in any room. Using Dolby Vision dynamic metadata and the ambient light sensors inside the TV, Dolby Vision IQ detects how bright or dark a room is and displays every detail of the content to match. It can also inform the TV what is being watched so when the channel is switched, the TV will modify its settings appropriately.

Dolby Laboratories is also highlighting its Dolby Atmos sound technology at CES, specifically how it is being used in the music industry.

LAS VEGAS—TV brand Hisense took the opportunity of the CES 2020 stage to introduce its 2020 lineup of TV models that utilize a wide variety of technologies, from ULED to multiple content platforms to smart home capabilities.

A number of the TVs that Hisense introduced include its patented ULED technology meant to provide enhanced picture quality. One model featuring this is the H9G Quantum Dot series at its new batch of upgrades like the addition of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos image and sound technologies, as well as local dimming zones paired with Quantum Dot. The H9G has also added a built-in Google Assistant feature for voice control of the TV and other smart home devices. Similar features have been added to Hisense’s H8G Quantum series 75-inch model.

There was also the H65G series, a 4K UHD TV that features Dolby Vision, DTS Virtual: X, Motion Rate Technology and Bluetooth Audio, available in six different screen sizes.

A new model from Hisense that was on display is the L5 4K Ultra Short Throw Laser TV, which the company describes as a model to bring a cinema-like experience to any room. The L5 features a blue laser light source that can produce high-resolution and detailed images without light dispersion, says Hisense. Fast-moving images appear smooth and precise, and the model features embedded speakers with a dbx-tv audio experience.

Hisense also has a number of models that incorporate the Roku TV streaming platform. The R8F series is Hisense’s first 4K ULED Roku TV model and supports Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG, as well as featuring Motion Rate processing technology. The R6E3 Series is a 4k UHD model TV that features more than 8 million pixels with DTS Studio Sound and can be controlled by Alexa or Google Assistant devices.

The company also has a TV model that is designed specifically for the cord cutters and streamers, the H4G series. The model is equipped with built-in Wi-Fi and offers 2K pictures. It also can be controlled by Alexa or Google Assistant devices.

Updates were also made to Hisense’s XD9G 4K ULED XD TV, which was first unveiled at CES 2019. It now features Quantum Dot technology, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

All of these TV models are on display at Hisense’s booth, 10039 in the Central Hall during CES 2020.

For more information, visit www.hisense-usa.com. 

LAS VEGAS—Panasonic wants it to be known that bigger isn’t always better with its three latest cameras—the HC-X1500, HCX2000 and AG-CX10—that were announced at CES 2020. Billed as the smallest and lightest 4K 60p professional camcorders by Panasonic, the new models are meant to provide a high standard of on-site mobility as well as high-quality recording capability.

The camcorders’ lightweight and size is achieved with a new heat-dispersing design that borrows air from the rear panel of the camera to efficiently disperse heat from the front panel. With this design, Panasonic can create these smaller cameras capable of 4K 60p while also providing extended shooting capability.

All three of the cams feature an optical 24x zoom that ranges from 25-mm wide angle to 600-mm tele; it also has i.Zoom for 32x at 4K and 48x at Full-HD. Each camera also comes with the 4-Drive Lens System that controls the lens group independently. Additional lens features include a Leica Dicomar lens; two manual rings, one for focusing and one for iris or zoom operation; and ND filters from 1/4, 1/16 and 1/64.

The cameras provide Face Detection AF/AE for precise focusing and sufficient exposure. It works with the precise focus lens drive on focusing speed, stability and tracking performance for 4K and Full-HD. Subject tracking with color recognition can be activated on the LCD panel.

In both UHD and FHD models, there is Optical Image Stabilization and Electronic Image Stabilization that can detect and correct shakiness in five axes, including rotational blurring. The Ball O.I.S. system reduces friction on the drive section, helping to produce images with suppressed handshake even at 24x optical zoom.

Panasonic also provided its Venus Engine from its Lumix camera series for these trio of camcorders, enabling 4:2:2 10-bit internal recording up to 29.97p in UHD and up 59.94p in Full-HD. HEVC recording is also supported. All the models support MOV, MP4 and AVCHD files, but the AG-CX10 also supports P2 MXF for broadcast station editing systems; AVC-Intra/AVC-LongG codecs are also supported.

Additional features include super slow-motion recording; a 3.5-inch monitor with 2,760K-dots of resolution; double SD card slot; 48-kHz/24-bit high resolution linear PCM audio recording; a built-in Wi-Fi module; and an optional handle unit that is equipped with a two-channel XLR audio input, audio control and LED light.

Panasonic will make all three camcorders available in March 2020.

For more information, visit www.panasonic.com. 

LAS VEGAS—With 2020 set to be a big year for ATSC 3.0, Sinclair Broadcast is using the CES platform to highlight the new standard, announcing that it will provide live demonstrations of Next Gen TV on the CES show floor.

These demos will use signals from KSNV TV, Las Vegas’ local NBC affiliate. The station has switched its back-up transmission to ATSC 3.0.

Attendees will be able to see multiple examples of what the Next Gen TV standard can do at different locations. At the ATSC booth (11329, Central Hall), the signals will be used for a demo of a consumer OTA and OTT converged application that Sinclair says makes switching between Next Gen TV and OTT channels “effortless.”

At both the Samsung (15006, Central Hall) and SK Telecom (13529, Central Hall) booths, KSNV signals will showcase automotive applications, multiple angle sports coverage, client-side ad insertion and news applications.

Then, the Saankhya Labs suite at the Wynn Hotel will use ATSC 3.0 signals to showcase the flexibility of its direct-to-mobile device technology, which will feature three different middleware stacks to drive a tablet, mobile phone, a Saankhya dongle and DigiCap Home Gateway device.

Next Gen TV is poised to be one of the hottest topics at CES 2020, with the first batch of consumer related products set to be shown, including ATSC 3.0-compatible TVs by LG.

CES 2020 takes place from Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas.

For a comprehensive source of TV Technology’s ATSC 3.0 coverage, see ourATSC3 silo.

LAS VEGAS—CES 2020 officially kicks off on Jan. 7, but Samsung offered a peek of what attendees will see on the show floor in terms of their new TV offerings. The lineup includes new models featuring MicroLED and QLED technology, as well as Samsung’s Lifestyle TV, the Sero.

Saying that it is home-ready, Samsung’s new TV model with MicroLED technology comes in 75-, 88-, 93-, 110- and 150-inch displays and feature next-generation screen technology with customization capabilities, the company says. With the 88- and 150-inch models, Samsung used a ultra-slim infinity design that virtually removes all four sides of the bezel so it looks like it blends into the wall. Customers can also connect multiple MicroLED panels together to create new combinations and adapt the TV to a specific space. Samsung also touts the models’ high resolution and peak brightness of 5,000 nits.

The company’s QLED offering will come in the form of the Q950TS QLED 8K TV. One of the new features with the Q950 model is the “infinity screen,” which produces a screen-to-body ratio of 99%. The TV is also equipped with the AI Quantum Processor 8K for 8K AI upscaling and deep-learning capabilities that can automatically upscale non-8K content to 8K. The AI Quantum Processor also powers Samsung’s open smart home platform, Tizen.

Additional image features for the Q950TS include Adaptive Picture to optimize the screen for both ambient conditions and individual images, and the adoption of AV1 codec to enable better compression rates and support HDR10+ technology, image dimensionality, brightness optimization and contrast ratio. The model also has new sound features like the Q-Symphony, Object Tracking Sound and Active Voice Amplifier for a more immersive and dynamic sound experience, per Samsung.

It was also announced that Samsung's 2020 QLED 8K TV lineup will offer ATSC 3.0 tuners.

Samsung also has its Lifestyle TV line, which at CES will be headlined by the Sero. Sero means “vertical” in Korean, and this model lives up to its name by having the ability to pivot between horizontal and vertical orientations. The model’s display orientation connects with users’ mobile devices to display content in the appropriate way. Having launched in South Korea in 2019, Samsung will roll out the Sero to global markets in 2020.

“As our lifestyles continue to evolve, the TV screen is evolving with them to provide consumers access to their favorite content and real-time information whenever and wherever they want it,” said Jong-hee Han, president of Visual Displays at Samsung Electronics. “As part of our vision of ‘Screens Everywhere,’ we’re thrilled to deliver a more vivid and connected at-home viewing experience by incorporating AI-enabled features and 8K technology into our displays.”

Samsung Electronics will showcase all of these TVs at their booth, GL-14.

LOS ANGELES—The development of the ATSC 3.0 standard and AI has proceeded on parallel tracks, but next week at CES 2020 in Las Vegas the two look to come together in the form of a new publishing platform that promises to make the most of the personalization and addressable advertising potential of Next Gen TV.

Fincons Group, an IT business consultancy, will show its Smart Digital Platform (SDP) that leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning with plugins for machine learning engines to enable broadcasters to take advantage of new monetization models enabled by Next Gen TV.

The platform addresses application development by enabling their automatic generation to speed delivery of advanced television services. At CES, the company will demonstrate the platform being used in live applications that take advantage of the TV personalization potential of Next Gen TV, the company said.

The company also will show how ATSC 3.0 interactivity in combination with cloud machine-learning services can be used to analyze video assets and enable viewers to personalize navigation. This platform is already in use by sports networks and leagues to develop TV apps for contests, betting and gaming, the company said.

The framework for the publishing platform distributes functions in logical smart modules forming the basis for hybrid TV solutions. Among its capabilities:

• enabling broadcaster apps to be monetized via addressable advertising;
• providing contextual information via a Now/Next and Channel dashboard;
• promoting deeper viewer engagement with an Electronic Program Guide; and
• supporting video on demand and catch-up content

The new platform is the first to offer complete compatibility with both the European HbbTV and IP-based ATSC 3.0 standards, which reflects the company’s role in development of both, Fincons Group said.

“A year ago we announced our new platform, the Fincons Smart Digital Platform to the market and explained its potential as the sole platform that integrates with both HbbTV and ATSC 3.0 standards,” said Francesco Moretti, deputy CEO of Fincons Group and CEO of Fincons.US.

“We have been working hard since then to turn this potential into live, working applications that we are proud to be presenting to you here at CES. Our objective is to continue to deliver on our commitment towards advancing technology for Next Gen TV for broadcasters and the viewers of the future.”

More information is available on the company’s website.

For a comprehensive source of TV Technology’s ATSC 3.0 coverage, see ourATSC3 silo.

LAS VEGAS—CES 2020 will serve as the introduction of the first U.S. consumer receivers featuring integrated Next Gen TV, aka ATSC 3.0, capabilities, ATSC has announced. This will be one of many ATSC 3.0-centric events planned for CES 2020.

The ATSC 3.0 receivers set to be revealed are said to feature consumer benefits of enhanced audio and video designed to offer an immersive experience for the early adopters of Next Gen TV.

The week of CES will have many different events that focus on ATSC 3.0, including one on the eve of the show when the IEEE International Conference on Consumer Electronics hosts a Next Gen TV session, “U.S. Launch of ATSC 3.0 Next Gen TV,” led by ATSC President Madeleine Noland and featuring representatives from LG, Samsung and Sony. This session is scheduled for Jan. 6 from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Tuscany Hotel, Florentine Rooms C and D.

When CES officially gets underway on Jan. 7, ATSC will have a special exhibit where consumers can experience Next Gen TV and its benefits on the show floor, marking the first time ATSC has exhibited at CES. The booth will feature presentations from ATSC sponsors Pearl TV and the Phoenix Model Market, Sinclair Broadcast Group and ONE Media, Gaian Solutions and Sony.

“We’re looking forward to showing the latest working models, highlighting results from initial consumer research and explaining how broadcasting will implement ATSC 3.0 to offer new Next Gen TV services,” said Noland.

A pair of special presentations are also scheduled during CES. On Jan. 8, Noland will be joined by CTA President and CEO Gary Shapiro and NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith to commemorate the launch of Next Gen TV products at CES. Then on Jan. 9, reps from Pearl TV, Samsung, LG, NAB and ATSC will participate in “What Next Gen TV Means for Tech” to provide more in-depth information on the rollout of Next Gen TV throughout the U.S., which is expected to hit 60-plus markets by the end of 2020.

Though many of these programs have a U.S. focus, international attendees at CES can garner a great deal from them following the International Telecommunication Union’s recent adoption of ATSC 3.0 as a recommended digital broadcast standard.

CES 2020 takes place from Jan. 7-10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. ATSC’s will be located at booth 11329 in the Central Hall of the convention center.

For more information, visit www.atsc.org.

For a comprehensive source of TV Technology’s ATSC 3.0 coverage, see ourATSC3 silo.

LAS VEGAS—Last month’s launch of Disney+ marks a milestone in television that will have a significant impact on the future of the medium, according to Bob Iger, chairman/CEO for the Walt Disney Company.

“The disruption is very permanent in nature,” he said just before the streaming service’s debut. “This is a dramatic shift in the way people consume entertainment and information.”

His remarks presaged the streaming and Internet Protocol developments that will permeate CES 2020 in Las Vegas, Jan. 7–10.

Iger’s enthusiasm was predictable Hollywood hype-speak accompanying the launch of a high-profile venture that is confronting Netflix, Amazon Prime and dozens of other steaming competitors. But the media mogul’s underlying message was game-shifting—especially coming from an executive who oversees a broadcast TV network and its stations (ABC) and strong cable TV networks (notably ESPN).

“The [traditional] business is eroding fast, and it’s going to continue to do so,” Iger said at the Wall Street Journal’s Tech Live conference in Laguna Beach, Calif. “We can’t sit back and simply say our business is changing. There was no way to do something small or incremental.”

Iger’s expectation that its new streaming venture “from a strategic perspective... will be among the most valuable business initiatives that we’ve got” fits into the digital delirium that builds up each year just before the technical extravaganz a that once was known as the Consumer Electronics Show.

At next month’s CES electronics bazaar—now more suitably labeled a “technology tsunami” with its vast array of products and services—the shifting role of video and television will be discernible amid the autonomous vehicles, wellness/fitness devices, wearables and telecommunications tools. The array of 8K ultra high-definition TV displays will grow, high dynamic range video will be almost ubiquitous (“reaching down into the market,” as one analyst puts it) and the first phalanx of NEXTGEN TV (aka ATSC 3.0) will be on display.

Where once TV sets and stereo equipment once reigned supreme, the 2020 stanza will again be dominated by smart cars, a growing array of lifestyle devices and an influx of 5G communications promises.

TELEVISIONS STILL GRAB ATTENTION

“TVs are still a big part of the entertainment experience,” says Karen Chupka, executive vice president for CES at the Consumer Technology Association, which produces CES. “There’ s always a TV that comes out at CES that stuns the audience. Every year you think it cannot get better, and every year you come away saying, ‹Oh my gosh: look how far TV has come.’” But she didn’t predict what the stunning new TV set would be this year.

Chupka pointed out the growing role of “C Space,” the marketing/advertising/branding event, which has grown since its introduction five years ago. The venue gives programming and other non-tech companies the opportunity to see how they can embrace new platforms to reach their customers.

The growth of C Space has triggered rearrangements of several traditional CES programs, with sports technology conference programming and exhibits having been moved into C Space.

“That’s an important addition because so much of what’s happening in sports tech is related to advertising,” Chupka explains, noting that categories such as eSports are deeply involved in brand activation.

Brian Markwalter, senior vice president of research and standards at CTA, agre e s that streaming media will be a major topic throughout CES. “It will permeate the discussions,” he said, and he expec t s “some big announcements.” He draws a connection between the value of smart TVs and Wi-Fi, which made it easier to stream video to a TV display.

“Once Wi-Fi was built in, the connection rate s went ‹way up,” Markwalter said.

8K OR NOT, THAT IS THE QUESTION

Markwalter also expects that most manufacturers will have some sort of 8K display, mostly for very large screen devices.

“It’ll be inter e sting to see what CES shows us about the breadth of 8K offerings,” Markwalter said, recalling there was a “tipping point” about five years ago when 4K “went from three or four makers and the next year they all had it.”

Kristen Hanich, senior analyst at Parks Associates, which tracks consumer technology trends, also expects 8K will be omnipresent at CES.

“The 8K transition will be less noticeable because most people cannot see the difference in screen quality, which makes it a harder sell,” she said.

“We’re seeing the trend going toward bigger, cheaper 4K sets with HDR,” Hanich said. “TV makers putting techno logies into smaller models... where consumers are more comfortable. “Consumers adopt hardware before content is available,” she said, noting that Parks expects the 8K adoption will resemble the cycles that HDTV and 4K faced, following the replacement cycle of five to 10 years for an upgrade.

In contrast, Stephen Baker, vice president-industry analysis at The NPD Group, expects 8K will be “a drop in the bucket” in 2020.

“8K adds some incremental revenue in the short term but the volumes are so small that the impact is small,” he told TV Technology. NPD predicts that less than 1% of sales in 2020 will be 8K TVs. “It will mostly be a way for tier 1 brands to try to maintain premium pricepoints.” Nonetheless, Baker expects the average selling price (ASP) of 8K receivers could fall to $2,000 by 2021, which would expand the market.

NEXTGEN TV, SMART TVS AND MORE

NEXTGEN TV will make its first official appearance on the CES show floor via an exhibit at a primary crossroads in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Grand Lobby and possibly at some exhibitors’ booths. The display will emphasize ATSC 3.0’s Internet Protocol capabilities.

Although it was unclear at presstime how many exhibitors—or which companies—will actually show ATSC demos within their booths, leading advocates/ATSC members such as LG and Samsung are expected to do so. Some 3.0 dongles may also be on display as a transitional tool, although product specifications are being withheld until show time.

“We expect CES 2020 will feature a wide variety of reception devices—integrated 4K Ultra HD TVs, gateway receivers, portable devices and more—optimized for reception of NEXTGEN TV signals,” said Markwalter at the 2019 NAB Show.

“We’re going to aggregate all the 3.0 services in one place, so that we can point to all the products that are at the show,” said Madeleine Noland, president of the Advanced Television System Committee. “There is a lot of 3.0 stuff. In order to understand the critical mass, we need to put it into one place.” Demonstrations will include business-to-business applications to explains the growing ecosystem, Noland added.

She said that ATSC’s booth will include pointers to other exhibits on the show floor, even those of companies that are not ATSC members. “It’s to the benefit of all members and non-members for everything to be included,” she said.

Noland envisions positioning the new “NEXTGEN” brand as part of the ATSC 3.0 story.

“We will not drop the 3.0 monicker since 3.0 can do more” than just video delivery,” she said. “We think of it as ‘NEXTGEN TV powered by ATSC 3.0.’”

“I’d like to see some products and services out there in 2020 that catch the attention of early adopters,” Noland said. “Our job is to insure that the standard is well understood and it supports the various business models that CE makers and broadcasters want. “

Anne Phillips Schelle. managing director of Pearl TV, a consortium of broadcasters and manufacturers promoting and testing ATSC 3.0, calls 2020 “our year to kick it off.”

“I’ve seen a lot more investment interest,” including from retailers, she said. Schelle said the station groups’ goal is “to ramp expansion of 3.0” beyond the video services.” At CES, Pearl will distribute a “station manual that shows a profile of recommended services that stations should support to match what receivers can receive.”

Pearl will also unveil findings from its Consumer Labs, which tracked early field trials. Schelle pointed out that “audio played well,” noting that consumers “loved the Dolby AC audio coding features,” such as “voice boost” which assures consistent audio volume across channels.

Pearl will showcase applications that were developed with stations in the Phoenix model market trial. At its demonstration suite at Wynn’s Hotel, Schelle also expects that Pearl will continue its discussions with automakers about future reception capabilities in vehicles—a process that she acknowledges can take three years.

ONE Media 3.0, Sinclair Broadcasting Group’s technology unit, is also expected to demonstrate its 3.0 progress; however, the company did not respond to a request for a preview of its CES presentations.

Analysts also have plenty to say about the arrival of NEXTGEN TV.

“The time has come for NEXTGEN TV devices to show up,” says Brett Sappington, senior research director and principal analyst at Parks Associates. “Broadcasters have a vested interest in how to live in a streaming world, and 3.0 enables them to do that. They are making sure that 3.0 is adopted by consumers.”

Sappington contends that broadcasters must have content for 3.0 sets.

“If content and hardware comes out within a year... broadcasters will be able to pitch that to consumers,” he said. “The opportunity is there and the market is there because so many people want to cut the cord.”

There is every opportunity for broadcasters to be successful, according to Sappington, “but it will depend on execution.”

The growing presence of smart TV sets plays into this scenario. Parks data shows that by September of this year, 50% of U.S. broadband homes owned at least one smart TV and 85% of those households connect at least one to the internet, she said.

“We’re seeing that smart TVs with smart operating system in all sizes and all price ranges,” Parks’ Hanich added. “Smart TVs offer all kinds of revenue opportunities,” citing the appeal for streaming content and the growing use of advertising metrics through the connected sets.

Sappington also noted the growing role of smart speakers, and ancillary devices that put another smart screen in the home, such as Echo Show, Facebook Portal or Google Home Hub.

It’s not TV, but it moves closer to it,” he said.

Baker of NPD agrees there are “certainly some interesting opportunities.” But he frets that “broadcasters are not the ideal folks to take advantage of that and, traditionally, the TV hardware makers have not dabbled in that area.”

Baker’s research finds that consumers are now “mostly reluctant to buy a TV that isn’t smart, even if they intend or prefer to use a plug-in smart device like Roku or Apple TV.”

“There is an opportunity, for good or bad, for TV makers to view the screen as valuable real estate and try to sell access to it,” Baker adds. “The challenge is that TVs are mostly [even with the ubiquity of pre-installed OS’es] an open platform.” Nonetheless, Baker is upbeat about TV.

“Consumers love screens, they love big screens and they want to watch great content on those big screens,” he added. Baker singled out “the fastest growing segments of big screen TV buyers is late stage millennials.”

“They want that TV the same way the generations before them did. And I believe it will stay like that for some time to come,” Baker predicted.

One wild card is a 5G TV receiver, which Huawei announced for China earlier this year. Hanich cited the potential, but concluded it will probably not be a U.S. product in the immediate future. She suggested that it’s more likely in India where wireless video is more widespread.

COMING BACK TO IGER’S OUTLOOK

The “digital overload”—which is in the DNA of CES’s overwhelming experience—all comes back to Disney’s Iger and his recent musings about the changing roles of the content and hardware and transmission industries.

As Iger said during last month’s Disney+ hypefest, today’s video options “require an immediate shift in strategy in order to... thrive in a world that doesn’t look anything like” the TV business a few years ago.

“If you look at the erosion of the multichannel bundle, and the ways that people are consuming media... there’s a migration that… will speed up.” He cited the growth of “direct-to-consumer” (D2C) services and acknowledged that his company will look for “more program rights for ESPN Plus,” the on-demand streaming video venture. There will come a time “down the road… when the shift of the consumer perspective is enough to warrant” further moves of programming from linear platforms to streaming, Iger said.

“You’re seeing a frenzy for a good reason right now,” he added. “There is real change in technology that is driving a huge change in consumer behavior. It’s hard to predict whether there’s a settling down or a settling in. The world is so aswirl in change today; it’s hard to imagine settling in for anything we do.”

Underscoring the expanding reach of CTA into new tech realms, CTA and the World Bank Group will reveal more details of “The Global Tech Challenge,” their partnership “to mobilize the tech community” announced last month. The challenge will focus on three topics: health, gender barriers and technologies that enable communities to be more resilient in the face of disasters and climate change. Makhtar Diop, World Bank vice president of infrastructure, characterized the project as seeking to encourage “the tech community to come up with bold and practical ideas to solve specific challenges... [and] to bring the voices of entrepreneurs from countries often under-represented to the global tech stage.” Finalists of the challenge will be announced at CES 2021.

CES By the Numbers

In an early experiment of practicing what it preaches, CTA is adopting an evolving category - facial recognition—as part of its attendee registration process. People can pick up their on-site badges by smiling into a camera, matching their mugs to the photo ID required in advance online registration. Although there’s no estimate about how many attendees will use the process rather than the traditional method of pulling out a driver’s license or passport, it will become another statistic in the growing tally of datapoints about CES.

For example, the 2020 line-up envisions:

• “More than 170,000” attendees is the official CTA forecast, but many veterans expect the final body count to fall between 175,212 people (2019 audited attendance) and 182,198 (in 2018), depending in part on holiday sales volume and economic expectations for 2020.
• Among the attendees, 75,000 will be “senior executives” and 60,000 will come from outside the U.S. (not mutually exclusive). About 6,000 “media” (reporters, editors, analysts) are expected.
• 4,500 exhibitors, slightly more than in previous years, fueled by the growing number of small, startups in the Eureka Park section.
• 2.9 million square feet of exhibit space spread among three “campuses,” each of which includes multiple buildings and hotels.
• 300 conference sessions ranging from artificial intelligence to sports technology. In addition, several events will take place adjacent to CES, including the 38th International Conference on Consumer Electronics 2020 (ICCE).

ARLINGTON, Va.—The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) this week issued a call for speakers for CES 2020, Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas. Notably missing from the specified topics on CTA’s speaker list was ATSC 3.0 Next Gen TV.

“Global innovation will achieve its fullest potential by embracing individuals from all backgrounds,” said Karen Chupka, EVP at CES. “We’re calling on the entire tech industry to ensure we have full representation and a diversity of voices on the CES 2020 stage.”

The absence of 3.0 from the list of speaker topics may not be as bad for broadcasters as it initially appears. According to a CTA spokesperson, the list of topics enumerated in the call for speakers was not comprehensive.

That list specified CTA was seeking speakers to address: 5G, advertising, marketing, content and entertainment, AI, healthcare, product design, sourcing and manufacturing, resilience, smart cities, sports, tourism and hospitality and transportation, including automotive technology.

When asked why Next Gen TV speakers were not being sought, the spokesperson replied next-gen TVs, including 8K and full immersive entertainment, will be “a strong focus of the show” in the conference program and on the exhibit floor. The conference program is still under development, and as of now CTA is unable to confirm whether or not 3.0 TVs, receivers or other devices will make the cut, the spokesperson added.

Many broadcast backers of Next Gen TV have looked hopefully to CES 2020 as the coming-out party in the consumer electronics industry for 3.0 TVs, receivers and other related devices.

Information on how to apply to be a speaker is available on the CES.tech website. Submissions will be accepted through July 12.