In the more than 25 years since ATSC 1.0 was introduced, Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) standards have completely transformed the U.S. broadcast industry, defining exactly how television signals are broadcast and interpreted. Without ATSC 1.0, the over-the-air broadcast industry would not have been viable, but this year marks the long-awaited introduction of the latest standard: ATSC 3.0. 

The first new standard to be introduced to U.S. broadcasters in more than two decades, ATSC 3.0, which has recently been branded “NextGen TV,” will bring new interactive services and higher-quality video to millions of consumers across the country. As the world’s first IP-based television standard, ATSC 3.0 is breaking new ground, offering broadcasters a greater range of capabilities to help them modernize and futureproof over-the-air transmission. However, to fully appreciate the impact ATSC 3.0 is likely to have, it’s important to look back at the role ATSC 1.0 has played in shaping the broadcast industry as we know it today. 

SWITCHING FROM ANALOG TO DIGITAL

Before ATSC, U.S. broadcasters adhered to the National Television System Committee (NTSC) standards. In use from 1954, the analog television color system was compatible with black-and-white receivers and remained dominant for almost 50 years, until the broadcast industry began the transition to digital. This intended switch was the catalyst for ATSC 1.0, which from 1996 dramatically improved the quality of television and introduced viewers to high-definition resolution for broadcast television with Dolby Digital audio. The widespread adoption of this new standard across the U.S. broadcast industry marked the first step in the HDTV revolution, replacing traditional analog TV signals with digital broadcasting—a move finalized in the U.S. in 2009.

With the switch to digital, viewers were able to experience better picture and sound quality, while the digital signals were no longer susceptible to the same degradation as analog signals. By facilitating digital broadcasting, ATSC 1.0 also allowed broadcasters to broadcast movies in their original widescreen format, rather than having to “pan & scan” films to be viewed on smaller 4:3 TV screens. 

ENTER NEXTGEN TV

Since ATSC 1.0 was introduced, the way we consume media and the technology we use has changed dramatically. Back in 1996, the world-wide-web was still in its infancy and only 0.04% of the world’s population had internet access, but fast forward to today and viewers now expect to be able to watch content on mobile devices just as they do at home. Consequently, ATSC 3.0 has been developed to respond to these changes in technology, making use of both over-the-air signals and broadband connections to deliver an experience closer to cable or satellite and that is in line with modern-day viewing habits and desires. 

Given that it has also been dubbed ‘NextGen TV’, it is clear that there are high hopes for ATSC 3.0 and what it can potentially offer both broadcasters and viewers. ATSC 3.0 is anticipated to provide improved picture quality thanks to HEVC encoding as well as high dynamic range (HDR), wide color gamut (WCG) and high frame rates (HFR). It will also be futureproof, meaning it could support additional benefits further down the line. 

Additionally, Scalable HEVC (SHVC) can deliver an Enhancement Layer that enables HD signals to scale up to 4K. These developments to SHVC mean that over-the-air broadcasters will be able to carry UHD, which could possibly allow them to offer subscription packages for those willing to pay to enjoy 4K, immersive sound and secondary audio commentary, for example, and therefore realize new revenue streams. The potential to create new revenue streams also extends to advertising as ATSC 3.0 allows broadcasters to collect data on viewers themselves, rather than relying on third-party agencies. This will enable broadcasters to gather information, such as the location and age of viewers, and use this to tailor ads to the individuals whose televisions or smart devices are connected to the internet. 

ATSC 3.0 will also allow broadcasters to create new subchannels to appeal to a wider range of tastes and needs. For instance, national news broadcasters could create subchannels to cater for local or regional news, while others could create special interest channels to tap into niche sporting events. This could help over-the-air broadcasters create a broader offering to appeal to a larger audience, which will be beneficial for both them and viewers. 

The ability to create new revenue streams, in the form of subscription packages and targeted ads, gives broadcasters the opportunity to replace lost retransmission revenues, therefore, helping their businesses remain viable in an increasingly competitive landscape. Further to this, as broadcasters will be able to offer more channels and new services, ATSC 3.0 will enable TV stations to offer a more valuable proposition to cable organizations. Consequently, this is likely to lead to a stronger partnership between cable services and over-the-air broadcasters that make use of ATSC 3.0.

A STANDARD FIT FOR THE FUTURE 

Ultimately, ATSC 3.0 offers broadcasters a chance to modernize so they can offer viewing experiences not only fit for the present, but also for the future with the standard’s IP backbone crucial to this. While the current global situation has potentially slowed the transition to ATSC 3.0, plans remain in place to roll it out in more than 60 U.S. markets this year with nine  markets already currently “on the air” and three readying broadcasts. ATSC 3.0 represents the cutting edge of what broadcast technology can achieve so although adoption isn’t mandatory it is likely to be widespread over the next year—revolutionizing the broadcast industry afresh. 

Fred Ramsey is sales director, North America, for ATEME. 

Since their introduction in the 1990s, Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) standards have become an integral part of the broadcast industry. However, while ATSC no doubt revolutionized the broadcast industry, over time ATSC 1.0 became outdated and unable to keep up with an increasingly mobile society. As a result, the industry is continuing to look at the implementation of ATSC 3.0.

ATSC 3.0 is the world’s first Internet-Protocol (IP)-based television standard. It promises resolutions up to Ultra HD 4K TV, high dynamic range, refresh rates up to 120Hz and better reception at home, as well as on mobile devices. It’s little wonder that its introduction looks set to shake up the broadcast industry in the United States.

WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS?

The introduction of ATSC standards in the early 1990s metamorphosized broadcasting with ATSC 1.0 unveiling digital television, which would serve as a replacement for analog TV signals. This began the HDTV revolution and without it it’s likely we wouldn’t have viable over-the-air programming today. However, over time this standard has become outdated, not least because almost 30 years ago nobody could have predicted how mobile the world would become, something that is reflected by the fact ATSC 1.0 was built on a standard that is incompatible with mobile.

Therefore, in the first major update to broadcasting standards in 25 years, ATSC 3.0 was approved by the Federal Communications Commission as the next generation of broadcast standard on a voluntary, market-driven basis back in November 2017. Initially, there had been plans for ATSC 2.0, however, the project became outdated during development and ATSC 3.0 was created in its place.

ATSC 3.0 features a scalable encoding standard SHVC (Scalable HEVC) to enable convergence between broadcast and broadband. Overall, compression is about exploiting redundancies to transmit less data than there was originally. In video compression, redundancies are areas that are similar to what has been previously coded. Those similar areas, called “reference areas,” may be in previously sent pictures (temporal redundancies) or be areas already coded in the same picture (spatial redundancies).

A compression scheme is said to be scalable or layered if those redundancies are in an already compressed stream of the same content. In such a case, the stream that is already compressed is called a base layer of a scalable stream.

Once a scalable encoder finds a similar area in a base layer, it computes the difference between this reference and the corresponding area in the picture to be encoded. This difference is simplified and sent to the receiver as a part of an enhancement layer of the scalable stream. To decode this enhancement layer, the receiver needs to first decode the base layer, which can therefore be used as a reference. Then a decoding device will be able to decode the enhancement layer.

This base/enhanced layer approach is at the heart of ATSC 3.0 video processing: the base layers are broadcast over the air, while enhancement layers are streamed over the internet. Standard digital television receivers are able to decode the base layer, offering a standard viewer experience. Hybrid receivers, on the other hand, receive and decode at all the layers: base layers broadcast over the air and the enhancement layer over IP. In doing so, they offer the best possible video experience.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM ATSC 3.0?

ATSC 3.0 promises to revolutionize the broadcast industry all over again. Unlike 1.0, it’s scalable, mobile and offers more channels. The standard supports 4K, 3D, UHD and high-quality audio, which will hopefully help 4K supersede HDTV. Like traditional broadcast TV, ATSC 3.0 works over the air, but in an increasingly mobile world, it takes advantage of the fact people have good data signals at home and works in tandem with internet connections (including mobile connections, like 5G).

In the U.S., research suggests 33 million people would cancel their subscriptions to cable and satellite TV in 2018. For broadcasters, ATSC 3.0 may help them stay viable and combat this problem, either helping them create new revenue streams or allowing them to create more attractive packages to retain subscribers. For instance, the new standard will allow broadcasters to branch out and create new sub-channels, which could be used for local news or special interest channels. According to a recent study, 89% of adults across the U.S., U.K., Hong Kong, Mexico and Spain would be interested in content that is aimed at their personal interests when watching traditional TV channels. In addition, 68% would be interested in content aimed at their local area. Therefore, the greater choice of channels and content ATSC 3.0 will afford will surely be welcomed by viewers and help broadcasters create a more attractive proposition.

It will also be possible for broadcasters to create targeted content as the IP-based standard allows for a two-way signal, something that wasn’t possible with digital transmission. With ATSC 1.0, broadcasters are reliant on third parties, such as Nielsen, to find out who is watching what, which then informs how broadcasters schedule programs and provides insights into ways to increase revenue.

ATSC 3.0 will cut out the middle man and allow broadcasters to gather information about viewers themselves, enabling them to access details such as the location and age of viewers, as well as what they are watching and when they are watching it.

This means if viewers are connected to the internet, broadcasters will be able to tailor ads to the individual. According to research by Paywizard, most U.S. broadcasters are currently failing to use data to drive customer engagement. As ATSC 3.0 will give broadcasters easier access to information on their customers, it may be possible for them to overcome this obstacle and use data to both engage new and existing customers and create a better customer experience.

For the viewer, there are also a number of benefits to ATSC 3.0. Broadcasters will be able to offer more advanced services allowing consumers to benefit from higher frame rates and more immersive experiences, which the viewer can customize to their needs. Additionally, it will allow them to stream over-the-top subscription services on mobile devices without reaching into a consumer’s wireless data plan.

Furthermore, ATSC 3.0 will allow for emergency signals that will switch on televisions remotely and enable natural disaster warnings and evacuation routes to be much more effective. This will be particularly helpful for people during a blackout or evacuation because emergency signals can be sent directly to phones.

Ultimately, despite being a voluntary standard, at least for the time being, it is likely the majority of broadcasters in the U.S. will adopt ATSC 3.0 over the next five years as it can empower broadcasters to create a more viable proposition that improves the user experience and stems the tide of cord cutting.

Fred Ramsey is sales director North America for ATEME.

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