When it comes to low latency and the fastest possible access to live action, over-the-air broadcasters were a clear winner of Super Bowl LX. A new study of various feeds for the big game found that over-the-air broadcasts delivered the action on the field to viewers with only 19 seconds of latency. That is much faster than the 48 to 62 seconds of latency for major streamers, researchers from Stats Platform found.

Cable TV offered the next best low latency at 38 seconds (double the latency of broadcast feeds), followed by Peacock streams (48 seconds), YouTube TV and Hulu (tied at 53 seconds), DirecTV Stream (60 seconds) and NFL+ (62 seconds).

To make the measurements, Stats Perform conducted a comprehensive latency study across leading streaming providers during Super Bowl LIX, that involved building a measurement system using a globally synchronized clock (accurate within half a second) with in-stadium staff to measure when key events occur, such as kickoffs and quarter starts. Remote staff and volunteers then took measurements when these key events happen on their screens across various services and devices. By combining these measurements, they quantified both the average latency behind on-field action and the ranges of lag for viewers on the same platform, known as drift.

Stats Platform also surveyed 1,000 NFL fans aged 18-64 across the U.S. to explore how streaming delays influence viewing habits, expectations, and platform choice. That survey found that feal-time viewing is the minimum expectation of NFL fans, with nearly all NFL fans (93%) say it’s important to watch live games as close to real time as possible, with 45% rating it very or extremely important.

“Ultra-low latency has become a defining factor in how fans expect to consume live sports. This research connects our direct Super Bowl latency measurements with first-party fan data to quantify how delays impact viewing experience, frustration, and engagement, and what that means for streaming providers looking to retain fans on their platforms,” according to Umair Ikram, UX Researcher, Stats Perform.

More information and data is available here.

ATLANTA—Free TV Networks (FTN) has announced new multi-platform distribution agreements spanning broadcast and streaming. The deals mark the company’s first major expansion since becoming part of Versant in Jan. 2026.

As part of the expansion, Free TV Networks has secured a broadcast distribution agreement with CBS to bring its over-the-air networks 365BLK and Outlaw to CBS’ Owned & Operated (O&O) station group. In addition, FTN is accelerating growth on streaming with new FAST distribution for Pam Grier’s Soul Flix on Sling Freestream.

Under the CBS agreement, Free TV Networks’ 365BLK and Outlaw over-the-air broadcast networks will launch across 16 of CBS’ O&O markets in high-visibility positions. The rollout expands 365BLK consumer availability to 92% of U.S. television households and extends Outlaw’s reach to more than 90%, reinforcing both brands as scaled destinations for viewers and advertisers.

The CBS O&O footprint strengthens FTN’s position as a owner of free broadcast networks and reflects the growing demand for high-quality, advertiser-supported programming with broad national reach.

On streaming, Pam Grier’s Soul Flix continues to build momentum following its launch in January 2025. With more than 13 million hours viewed, the acclaimed FAST channel broadens its footprint with new distribution on Sling Freestream, bringing Grier’s curated collection of film favorites to millions of additional homes nationwide.

“These agreements accelerate our growth plans and represent our first major expansion under Versant,” said Jonathan Katz, president of Free TV Networks. “Free TV Networks’ partnerships with CBS and Sling Freestream are strategic steps forward that amplify scale, broaden reach, and deliver meaningful value to our viewers and advertisers.”

“These agreements represent an early example of how we’re putting our strategy into action,” added David Pietrycha, chief revenue and business officer of Versant. “By expanding Free TV Networks’ distribution across both broadcast and FAST platforms, we’re diversifying our entertainment business, extending our reach to new audiences, and advancing a scalable, free, ad-supported model that complements our broader portfolio and supports our long-term growth strategy.”

Participating CBS O&O stations and markets for 365BLK are:

• WCBS – New York
• KCBS – Los Angeles
• WBBM – Chicago
• WPSG – Philadelphia
• WUPA – Atlanta
• KPIX – San Francisco
• WWJ – Detroit
• KDKA – Pittsburgh
• WJZ – Baltimore

Participating CBS O&O stations and markets for Outlaw are:

• KTVT – Dallas
• WBZ – Boston
• WTOG – Tampa
• KSTW – Seattle
• WCCO – Minneapolis
• WFOR – Miami
• KOVR – Sacramento

USA Today in November tackled the Disney-YouTube TV standoff that at the time prevented subscribers from enjoying ESPN and other Disney-owned media, including ABC stations, via the subscription streaming service.

The opinion piece by Chris Bumbaca did a nice job of laying out the conflict between the corporate behemoths and its implications going forward.

“The bigger picture is that the blackout is a harbinger of the future of how we watch sports and the rivalries that define where we consume the content,“ he wrote. “Because caught in the middle of the boardroom back-and-forth are the fans.”

True, they will always be caught in the middle, but that doesn’t mean they are powerless. Fans can simply sidestep a lot of the pain by installing an antenna.

Granted, relying solely on antennas won’t give fans all of the sports they would have otherwise. But the simulcast of ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” coverage is certainly available over the air on ABC O&Os and affiliates, as are many other games. Ditto the other broadcast networks and their affiliates with their sports coverage.

But who can blame Bumbaca for not mentioning TV antennas? Not only is he of a generation largely unaware that TV is the O.G. of wireless video delivery, but also the television industry has done a poor job of informing viewers about OTA transmission and reception.

Consider the NAB’s “Keep Football Free” ad. The 30-second spot takes direct aim at YouTube TV, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. “Cha-Ching! You might shell out 50 bucks a month and that’s just the beginning. Good thing we have local TV stations bringing us games for free,” the NAB spot says.

The ad concludes by urging viewers to text TV to 39197, saying “And let’s keep football free.” So far, so good. But when the public goes to the site, it’s asked to sign a letter that goes to Congress urging reform of existing broadcast ownership caps. There’s not a hint of antenna reception as it relates to keeping football free.

As this issue goes to press, NAB launched its new “Game On” website, complete with a holiday themed video. The website includes a link to the same letter to Congress. What is missing everywhere is the word “antenna.”

None of this is surprising. Years ago, I recall being at a conference jointly put on by Broadcast Engineering and B+C magazines. At the time, Sinclair’s Del Parks offered the broadcasters there a promo it had produced to tell the public that HDTV programming was available for free over the air.

But there were few, if any, takers. Why? There was little desire to rock the retrans-fee boat by being seen as aggressively competing with MVPD partners for viewers.

All true, but how are ownership rules and retrans fees linked? Look no further than the International Center of Law & Economics, which released a white paper in November.

It says in part: “The ideal deregulatory solution would eliminate outdated ownership restrictions and the retransmission-consent framework.” As the Federal Communications Commission continues reviewing broadcast ownership rules and is expected to move forward on that agenda, don’t be surprised to see the agency seek comments on the retrans issue and a host of commenters arguing to end the fees.

Regardless of how all this plays out, can’t an industry required to serve the public interest do a better job of informing viewers that they can receive television programming—including sports—over the air?

SOUTHPORT, Conn.—Main Street Sports Group’s FanDuel Sports Network has announced ambitious plans to offer free streams of some live local NBA and NHL games on major streaming platforms beginning mid-November. All of the as-yet-unspecified games will also air for free in over-the-air broadcasts by local stations.

Earlier this month, during the Local Strategies sessions co-hosted by NAB Show New York and TVNewsCheck, Main Street Sports Group’s chief revenue officer, Eric Ratchman, said Main Street had reached deals with some station groups and teams to offer the free streams. The company has not, however, released details of the games or the specific station groups.

FanDuel Sports said it would bring select live game productions of its NBA and NHL team partners—also available in-market on an over-the-air (OTA) basis—directly to Pluto TV, Prime Video and Samsung TV Plus, with more platforms and services to be announced. Games will be presented outside the networks’ paywall, which the owner of cable regional sports networks hopes will help drive subscriptions and increase fan interest in the teams.

FanDuel Sports also stressed that the launch of some free-streaming games in November marks the first phase of its broader, multiphase free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) strategy. That strategy is designed to extend reach to younger, digital-first sports fans while fueling direct-to-consumer and linear TV growth and creating a new path for marketers to reach sports viewers through advertising and sponsorship opportunities, the network said.

"Launching this digital game offering is a big step in expanding our national reach and continuing to prioritize the different ways fans can watch their hometown teams," Ratchman said. "By bringing games to free streaming platforms that reach hundreds of millions of viewers, we're making local sports more accessible than ever and proving what our ubiquitous access model can deliver."

FanDuel Sports plans to launch a dedicated 24/7 FAST channel in 2026, which will serve as a national front door to help amplify its growing roster of programming, including “Golic & Golic,” “Countdown Live” and more, it said.

FanDuel Sports Network is a group of RSNs created after Bally Sports, which had been owned by Sinclair, filed for bankruptcy protection and was rebranded. FanDuel Sports Network, which emerged from bankruptcy in early 2025, is owned by Main Street Sports Group, formerly Diamond Sports Group.

LAS VEGAS & CINCINNATI—The Las Vegas Aces and Scripps Sports have signed a multiyear agreement to make Scripps' Vegas 34 station the official broadcast home of WNBA team.

Under the new agreement, Scripps Sports will televise all non-nationally exclusive Aces games with distribution on cable, satellite and over-the-air television. Financial terms were not disclosed.

In addition to game broadcasts, the Aces and Vegas 34 are also partnering to produce and air "In the Paint," an weekly, 30-minute show featuring highlights, interviews and behind-the-scenes access to the 2025 Las Vegas Aces.

"We are beyond excited to partner with Vegas 34," said Nikki Fargas, Las Vegas Aces president. "Looking at the upward trajectory the Aces are on, winning two WNBA championships over the past three years and playing in front of sold-out crowds night after night, this partnership with Vegas 34 will allow even more fans the opportunity to watch this incredible team as we strive for our third championship."

"The Las Vegas Aces are one of the best teams in the WNBA, and their passionate fan base deserves to be able to see the Aces on the largest available broadcast platform. Scripps Sports couldn't be more thrilled to bring the exciting action of Las Vegas Aces basketball to Vegas 34 as this team pursues its third WNBA championship," said Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports.

Scripps also owns KTNV-TV Channel 13, the ABC affiliate in Las Vegas, which will provide a strong marketing platform for the Aces telecasts.

"Vegas 34 is proud to be the home of champions – as the place to turn in Las Vegas to watch the Vegas Golden Knights and now, the Aces," said John Cook, vice president and general manager of Vegas 34 and KTNV-TV.

The Aces' complete local television schedule on Vegas 34 will be made available once the full WNBA national broadcast schedule is announced. The regular season begins Friday, May 16.

In a world increasingly dominated by subscription-based streaming services, over-the-air (OTA) television remains a crucial source of free, accessible content. From local news and sports to public service announcements and diverse programming, OTA broadcasting offers invaluable services to communities without requiring costly subscriptions.

Despite its benefits, many households overlook this resource due to the challenges associated with external antennas. By reintroducing built-in antennas into modern television sets, these barriers can be eliminated, ensuring OTA broadcasting continues as a vital, equitable and efficient medium in the digital age.

OTA Broadcasting in the Streaming Era: Challenges and Potential
Despite its longstanding history and wide availability, OTA broadcasting faces a curious contradiction: it offers content at no cost, yet accessibility challenges make it less appealing.

External antennas, once a standard feature of television viewing, have largely disappeared as minimalist TV designs dominate the market. This trend has inadvertently restricted access to a resource with immense potential, especially for diverse communities.

Barriers to Accessibility
External antennas present significant barriers to widespread adoption. Many viewers find setting up external antennas technically complex and intimidating. Achieving optimal signal reception often involves trial-and-error adjustments, which can be frustrating and time-consuming, particularly for those unfamiliar with the technology.

Aesthetic concerns also discourage use; sleek, modern interiors often clash with the visible, cumbersome nature of external antennas. In urban settings, especially for apartment or condominium residents, restrictions on antenna placement add another layer of difficulty. Geographic challenges further exacerbate accessibility issues.

In rural or remote areas, specialized antennas are often necessary to achieve strong reception, a requirement that adds complexity and discourages adoption even in communities that stand to benefit most from OTA broadcasting.

Societal Consequences
The difficulties in accessing OTA broadcasting have far-reaching societal implications. Limited access to OTA content diminishes community engagement by reducing the shared experiences facilitated by local programming, such as live sports or emergency updates. This decline weakens the collective understanding and connection within communities. Local broadcasters, whose revenues rely on advertising, suffer as viewership dwindles.

This financial strain undermines their ability to produce high-quality content, further compounding the cycle of declining interest. Moreover, limited access to OTA broadcasting jeopardizes public safety by reducing the reach of critical emergency alerts, leaving households unprepared during crises such as natural disasters or severe weather events.

The Unique Value of OTA Broadcasting
Unlike streaming platforms that depend on stable internet connections, OTA broadcasting operates independently of broadband infrastructure, making it particularly valuable in areas with limited connectivity or during service outages.

OTA broadcasting can deliver content to an unlimited number of receivers without additional infrastructure costs, a feature that makes it inherently scalable and efficient. These qualities reinforce its role as a vital component of a balanced media ecosystem, complementing the on-demand nature of streaming platforms.

Built-in Antennas: A Path To Accessibility and Equity
Reintegrating antennas into television sets directly addresses the accessibility challenges posed by external devices. Built-in antennas simplify the process, eliminating technical and physical barriers while presenting OTA broadcasting as a modern and practical alternative to streaming services. By integrating the antenna into the television sets, viewers gain a straightforward plug in-and-play solution that benefits a range of audiences. Those less familiar with technology can access OTA content without navigating complex setups, while urban households with space-conscious living environments benefit from an unobtrusive solution. In areas where high-speed internet is unavailable or unreliable, built-in antennas offer a dependable source of news, entertainment, and emergency alerts.

By expanding the viewership of OTA broadcasting, built-in antennas maximize the use of the public spectrum, a finite resource allocated for societal benefit. This broader utilization enhances the impact of OTA broadcasting, fulfilling its role as a public service. Reintegrating antennas also align with media accessibility principles.

Contemporary theories, such as postphenomenology, argue that unnecessary technological complexity creates barriers between users and content. Simplifying access fosters a direct connection with OTA content. Media ecology theory further emphasizes the need for diverse platforms in the media landscape. OTA broadcasting, with its real-time content, complements streaming services and strengthens civic engagement and cultural connection.

Advances in Antenna Technology
Modern technology has made it possible to integrate antennas into television designs without compromising aesthetics or performance. Innovations such as compact antenna designs allow for discrete integration within slim TV profiles, ensuring high-quality reception while maintaining visual appeal. Smart signal-tuning technology enables automated optimization of reception, adapting to environmental or geographic variables without manual intervention. Hybrid designs offer flexibility, combining built-in antennas with optional external connections for areas with challenging signal conditions.

The potential of built-in antennas extends beyond hardware integration. Smart TVs can incorporate OTA capabilities into their interfaces, presenting OTA channels alongside streaming services in a unified menu. This integration bridges traditional broadcasting and digital media, enhancing user experience through features like voice search and personalized recommendations. Televisions equipped with intelligent switching technology could seamlessly alternate between OTA and streaming content delivery, offering the best option for any given program without user intervention.

Broader Benefits of Built-in Antennas
The reintegration of built-in antennas offers significant benefits across various domains. For households, it provides access to free, high-quality programming without the need for additional equipment or subscriptions.

This is particularly impactful for families in areas with limited broadband access or those seeking cost-effective alternatives. Local broadcasters benefit from increased OTA viewership, which boosts advertising revenue and supports the production of high-quality, localized content.

Television manufacturers gain a competitive edge by offering products with advanced built-in antenna features, such as smart tuning or integrated interfaces, adding value for consumers. Enhanced access to OTA broadcasting also strengthens public safety by ensuring more households receive timely emergency alerts, particularly in scenarios where internet services are disrupted.

Implementation Strategies
Achieving the potential of built-in antennas requires a coordinated effort. Collaboration among television manufacturers, broadcasters, and policymakers is essential to developing high-performance integrated designs that meet existing and future OTA standards.

Consumer awareness campaigns can educate the public on the benefits of built-in antennas, dispelling misconceptions and repositioning OTA broadcasting as a modern and reliable option. Policymakers can support these efforts through regulatory incentives that encourage manufacturers to include built-in antennas while preserving the spectrum allocations necessary for OTA broadcasting. Content investment is also crucial; engaging, high-quality programming is essential to attract and retain viewers, showcasing the unique advantages of OTA broadcasting.

Measuring Success
The success of this initiative can be measured by increased OTA viewership, higher engagement with local content, and improved dissemination of emergency alerts. Surveys and audience data provide valuable insights that inform continuous improvements in both technology and content delivery.

Conclusion
Reintroducing built-in antennas offers a forward-thinking solution to revitalizing OTA broadcasting. By removing access barriers and embracing modern design, this initiative ensures the continued availability of free, reliable content for all. It reflects a broader commitment to accessibility, equity, and the public good.

As a cornerstone of public media, OTA broadcasting’s universal access, cultural connection and environmental efficiency remain indispensable in the digital age. Through thoughtful collaboration and innovation, built-in antennas bridge OTA’s legacy with the demands of the streaming era.

DALLAS—As many streaming services and video distribution companies struggle to expand their reach and develop profitable offerings, a new white paper from Parks Associates and JW Player (JWP) highlights the increased complexity of a video landscape and the ongoing decline of traditional TV.   

The survey found that 67% of consumers watch social video and 50% watch free ad-supported video. But only one-third watch pay TV, and 14% use an antenna to watch over-the-air broadcast. 

In addition, 65% of U.S. internet households report watching video on a mobile phone, a significant increase from ten years ago, when just 30% regularly watched video on a mobile phone.

The research, “Video Delivery: Maximizing Efficiency and Monetization”, addresses the challenges of managing content delivery, user engagement, and content monetization with a fragmented tech stack. In addition, the research addresses how operations can be streamlined for cost reduction, mitigation of operational breakdowns, and faster output of content in a variety of formats to diverse platforms.

"The video streaming business is in a transformative stage," said James Burt, senior vice president of broadcast solutions for JWP (JW Player). "It's full of requirements that change to align with shifts in viewer consumption trends. Streaming management is also technically complex, with broadcasters struggling to balance operational efficiencies with innovation and growth. Yet there are more viewers using digital platforms to consume content than ever before. Streaming companies must review their technology, operations, and productivity and make adjustments to create economies of scale and improve ROI."

These efficiencies are critical given the fragmented market and new mobility around video viewing -- televisions, smartphones, tablets, laptops, exercise equipment, and smart displays are all options today for video consumption, creating a more complex environment for streaming providers to operate, the researchers reported. 

"In the early days of streaming, services were focused on building subscriber bases through low fees, ad-free programming, and high-quality original content," said Sarah Lee, research analyst, Parks Associates. "Now, to fully monetize these efforts, they need to deliver a consistent, high-quality viewing experience that goes across all platforms."

The streaming industry has transitioned to more advertising-based models, to bring in additional revenue alongside subscriptions. Parks Associates' consumer research finds 50% of people who consume video on a viewing device (TV, computer, tablet, or phone) watch a free, ad-supported service (FAST) or ad-based video on-demand service (AVOD) at least once a week. The ads are an equally important part of the experience, as consumers expect ads to be relevant, original, and appropriate to the viewing platform.

"To preserve competitiveness and optimize operations, advertisers and content providers must acknowledge the necessity of investing in modern strategies and technologies that allow for proactive rather than reactive pivots," Lee said.

CHANTILLY, Va.—BIA Advisory Services has issued a new U.S. Local Advertising Forecast for 2025 that is predicting the local digital ad spend will surpass traditional media for the first time, with 52% of the total $171 billion local ad spend in 2025. 

This represents an increase of 5.5 percent in non-political spending over BIA’s revised 2024 estimate. When including political advertising, the 2025 estimate represents a 1.3% decline from the revised estimate of $173.7 billion for 2024. In this forecast, BIA raised its 2024 local advertising estimate primarily due to an expectation of increased political advertising of $560 million. 

As part of the revised forecast,  BIA is now predicting that TV OTA will be $20.752 billion in 2024, up 28.1% from $16.203 billion in 2023. That is a 0.2% downward revision from the March forecast. 

TV digital will hit $2.2296 billion in 2024, up 25.4% from 1.7778 billion. That is a 0.4% upward revision.  

BIA did not provide breakdowns by sector for its 2025 estimates. 

“With macroeconomic conditions impacting 2024 local advertising spending, it has been slower than anticipated, and we've adjusted this year’s forecast,” said Nicole Ovadia, vice president of forecasting and analysis, BIA Advisory Services. “We've refined our projections for local advertising, both with and without political advertising, to better reflect anticipated overall media spend and to offer a view in the advertising marketplace from different perspectives.”

The recent forecast update shows a small increase in expectations for local political advertising in 2024. BIA now projects $11.7 billion in spending this year, up $560 million from its previous estimate in March. This political spending estimate represents a significant increase of 21.3 percent over the last general election that took place in 2020. Local television continues to get the largest share of the spending. 

At the same time, the firm projects that Connected TV/Over-the-Top (OTT) will receive much of the additional political ad dollars added to the mix. 

For 2025, Ovadia noted that “If the Fed adjusts interest rates as indicated, post-Q1 2025 or early Q2, and inflation cools and the labor market settles out, we anticipate some economic relief by mid-year. This will boost consumer confidence and, subsequently, increase media ad spend. While we're optimistic, we're also being cautious with our projections at this early stage.”

In 2025, BIA’s forecast shows that digital’s share of total local advertising will be greater than traditional media’s share for the first time. Digital ad revenue will get 52 percent of the overall advertising spend at $89 billion compared to traditional advertising revenue that is slated at 48 percent of the ad spend at $82 billion. 

Growing media in the forecast without political for 2025 include PC/Laptop (+13%)
, CTV/OTT (+9.1%)
, Out-of-Home (+5.9%)
, and TV Digital (+5.4%).

“In previous forecast rounds, we reported robust growth in CTV/OTT, but different factors have led us to moderate expectations around the speed of that growth,” BIA’s managing director Rick Ducey said. “One factor is that while streaming viewing is growing, there’s less available ad minutes in streaming versus linear TV. However, this channel continues to present valuable opportunities for advertisers due to how it combines the power of premium TV with the precision of digital audience targeting. Political and issue campaigns are tapping into this capability, and it will be interesting to unpack the use cases and outcomes.”

BIA’s local advertising forecast covers 12 vertical categories and 96 local verticals. Key vertical categories for 2025 include: restaurants (+9.5 percent); real estate (+6.7 percent); retail (+5.5 percent)

"Restaurants, Real Estate, and Retail – we’re referring to them as the Three Rs of 2025 – are ripe for expansion, and they all tie back to local advertising and media in meaningful ways. We'll be keeping a close eye on opportunities in both traditional and digital ad spend across these verticals," Ovadia noted.

Where to Get the 2025 U.S. Local Advertising Forecast

BIA ADVantage is the company’s local advertising revenue platform that delivers immediate access to its forecasts for all local television and radio markets for 16 media and 96 vertical categories. Clients can log into the platform to view the updated U.S. Local Advertising Forecast and their local market forecast updates. To purchase a subscription to BIA ADVantage, email advantage@bia.com. 

The nationwide forecast can also be purchased on the company’s shopping cart here. 

MILWAUKEE—The recently launched PurpleTV, political broadcast TV channel has ramped up its content with a deal with Civic Media.

Civic Media owns a network of 20 radio stations across Wisconsin in 12 distinct news/talk media markets, that will allow PurpleTV to offer video-taped versions of some of the shows on those radio stations. 

The shows went live in the runnup to Republican National Convention (RNC) that's taking place in Milwaukee from July 15 – 18.  

PurpleTV airs over-the-air on channel 16.1 on WWMW in Milwaukee and is streamed live on its website. 

"Programs like The Maggie Daun Show, Matenaer on Air, The Todd Allbaugh Show, and so many others in the Civic Media family do a great job of covering politics, and their coverage of the RNC is sure to be exceptional, too," said Ken Switzer, director of marketing and communications for PurpleTV. "We want to help expand their coverage to broadcast television and reach a wider, potentially different audience than the one they already have."

As previously reported, PurpleTV was launched as an over-the-air service to tap into heightened interest in politics during the 2024 election cycle. It does not offer a conventional TV watching experience and was designed to more closely resemble an internet feed or social media stream. It provides bite-sized videos and informational text to the "purple majority"—those who aren't, politically speaking, all red or all blue.

PurpleTV said it will soon announce an expansion to other broadcast TV stations both in Wisconsin and other swing states. Matthew Davidge, CEO of PurpleTV said, "We'll be taking PurpleTV to West Palm Beach and other TV markets where people could use a purple perspective."

Milwaukee has, at 27%%, one of the highest percentages of over-the-air (OTA) audiences in America as measured by the percentage of TV households, the service reported. Channel 16 reaches 2.25 million people, so approximately 600,000 people can view PurpleTV.

A December 2023 report from Parks Associates revealed a couple of somewhat surprising research findings: 20% of U.S. internet households own a TV antenna, and 12% of those that don’t plan to buy one in six months.

OTA has long seemed like the perfect complement to streaming services for cordcutters, and the popularity of antennas among internet households appeared to confirm that notion. But why now? This has long been the case.

I interviewed Alan Bullock, author of the Parks Associates “ATSC 3.0: Impact and Opportunity for Video Services” report to find out and to explore a little deeper where NextGen TV stands.

(An edited transcript.)

TVTech: Your latest report finds OTA popularity is growing among internet households. Presumably, many of these households already stream content. So why the uptick in antenna use? Is it an economic factor like inflation that is driving viewers to over-the-air linear television to complement free streaming options like FAST and AVOD channels?

Alan Bullock: That wasn’t the main focus of the report, but peripherally, I do think inflation is causing people to reevaluate the number of services that they subscribe to. Over the last few years, especially during COVID, the average number of services people subscribed to has crept up.

Our latest research finds that close to half of internet households that subscribe to streaming services subscribe to at least five. Of course, most if not all of those services have been implementing price increases. So, the total cost is creeping up.

I think as people are affected by inflation, they're looking for ways to cut back. Certainly, if they recognize the ones they're not watching, they may decide to pare back.

TVT: Does that mean it also is encouraging viewers to consider free OTA?

AB: I think you’re right. We asked how many had an antenna and how many intended to buy one. That is one of the selling features of an antenna as you know, the plethora of free digital channels that are on the air. Now there are the new features ATSC 3.0 enables. They offer additional reasons to buy and use an antenna if the consumers know about them.

TVT: How aware is the general public about ATSC 3.0/NextGen TV?

AB: Unfortunately, it’s very low. 

TVT: How low?

AB: This is Alan-based, not research-based. We haven't gotten into this specific survey questions on ATSC 3.0 technology or NextGen TV as it's to be marketed to consumers. But I think 10% [knowing about 3.0] would be generous, especially if you're talking about a working knowledge of what it actually does for them.

People may have heard of NextGen TV, and if they're paying any attention in the store they may see it on most if not all of the Sony TV boxes and a few of the models from other manufacturers.

So, they may have seen the term, but then they get mixed messages from the retail employees who may or may not actually know what it’s all about. I’ve asked a few, and they say, “Well, it’s a better picture,” or “It’s a better quality stream,” or “It’s a better quality image and sound.” All of those answers are not untrue. But they are far from the complete picture.

TVT: So, people don’t know what NextGen TV does.

AB: I would say they don’t.

TVT: How is the public finding out about what 3.0 offers at this point?

AB: The plan is for some industry groups [like Pearl TV] and some station ownership groups as they launch 3.0 in various markets to do some media campaigns. And I understand that there are plans to do additional campaigns.

I live in Raleigh, N.C. We’ve got ATSC 3.0 on the air. I don’t recall seeing any marketing efforts here.

TVT: There has been the understanding among broadcasters that ATSC 3.0 tuners in new TVs are along for the ride with many new models. That means that over time the audience will be populated organically with NextGen TV receive capability—a solution for not having a DTV conversion-like government mandate, extra channels for simulcasting and a conversion box coupon program. Is that understanding about being along for the ride correct?

AB: I would say it’s correct. The consumer electronics industry is looking at 10 million NextGen TV sets having been sold, and I have no reason to question that number. But I would dare say that most of the consumers who bought one probably don’t realize they have NextGen TV capabilities built into their sets and what it can do for them.

TVT: OK. If it’s not consistent, memorable marketing, if it’s not a well-informed retail sales force, if it’s not a clear understanding of its benefits by consumers, what is driving the sale of NextGen TV sets?

AB: I don’t know. I would be hard pressed to say anything is driving the sales of NextGen TVs. Like I said, a lot of people, if they are getting a higher end 4K television might be getting NextGen TV. Certainly, if they’ve buying a Sony 4K television, they’re getting NextGen. 

But I am not sure there is anything that’s causing consumers to run out and say, “I’ve got to have one of those NextGen TVs.”

Inscape, a major provider of currency-grade smart TV data from millions of Vizio TVs, has announced they are expanding measurement coverage of local stations by tapping directly into tuners built into Smart TVs.

The new solution will significantly increase Inscape’s coverage to thousands of local stations and offer local TV stations a big data source for over-the-air viewing spanning all stations and markets., the company said.

The launch comes at a time when cord cutting has made the measurement of over-the-air signals more important than ever. Currently about 18% of TV households report having a digital antenna and watching TV over the air., Inscape reported.

Both Comscore and Videoamp are adding the data to their measurement solutions.

“For Comscore, having multiple sources of data capture is a key component of our TV measurement approach, which spans across all 210 local markets. Incorporating Smart TV Tuner Data from Inscape gives Comscore additional views into local station viewing behaviors, enabling us to better serve our clients with the most precise measurement,” said David Algranati, chief innovation officer, Comscore.

“By unlocking the potential of local TV in this game-changing way and bringing the full power of big data to OTA signals, clients and the industry as a whole will now have a critical entrypoint to previously unfeasible attribution of local TV content,” said Charbel Makhoul, vice president of product management, data science and analytics at Vizio/Inscape.

“We’re excited that Inscape is bringing the scale and representativeness from its 22+ million opt-in Smart TV homes to local,” said Josh Chasin, former chief measurability officer, VideoAmp. “In doing so, the entire local marketplace will now have access to the highest fidelity data in order to capitalize on the growth potential that CTV brings to the space. Local TV, and especially over the air (OTA) digital broadcast, is one of the most robust spaces in the video ecosystem. We’re thrilled that Inscape is proactively supporting the measurement of this vital piece of the video pie.”

The company said that Inscape’s Tuner Data will help address the longstanding challenge of measuring viewers and developing accurate audience insights regarding the viewing of local Over-the-Air (OTA) TV signals. The Tuner Data will help overcome this blindspot by creating an industry-wide solution for local TV markets regardless of size, the company said.

More specifically, the new solution builds on Inscape’s ACR technology that is always running to identify content and commercials on the TV screen. The new Tuner Data will layer on additional data points collected directly from built-in televisions tuners to supplement exposure signals for smaller markets. This also marks a major step forward in accurately capturing the audiences of smaller subnets, Inscape said,

BURBANK, Calif.—Nexstar’s The CW Network continues to expand its sports programming lineup with a new deal for rights to be the exclusive broadcasters for the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

The deal begins in 2025 and extends through the 2031 racing season, during which The CW will broadcast 33 live NASCAR Xfinity Series races annually, along with practice and qualifying events each weekend. 

The deal offers another example of sports rights moving to broadcast as rights holders look to maximize audience reach at a time of declining pay TV subs. 

Starting in 2025, for the first time in series history, every NASCAR Xfinity Series race will be available on free, over-the-air broadcast television with additional content available through The CW’s digital platforms. 

“Landing the NASCAR Xfinity Series is a game changer for The CW and our CW Sports division and represents another important building block in our programming strategy,” said Dennis Miller, President of The CW. “Live sports are the most watched television content and with The CW’s national reach, moving NASCAR Xfinity Series to The CW will transform and elevate the viewing experience for the series and its fans. The CW has quickly become a destination for sports, as the NASCAR Xfinity Series joins our growing slate of sports programming, including INSIDE THE NFL, ACC college football and basketball, LIV Golf, and the motorsports documentary series 100 DAYS TO INDY. Beginning in 2025, The CW will have 48 weekends per year of live sports programming. With ubiquitous distribution across one of the nation’s five major broadcast networks, NASCAR Xfinity Series races on The CW will deliver more access for fans and far more revenue opportunities for The CW and its affiliates.”

All NASCAR Xfinity Series races and ancillary content will be fully produced by the Emmy Award-winning NASCAR Productions group, in close collaboration with The CW Network.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series primarily features NASCAR’s younger, up-and-coming drivers, with the sport’s future stars often competing side-by-side against NASCAR’s biggest names – many of whom earned their stripes and won championships in the Xfinity Series. 

NASCAR Xfinity Series races in some of the nation’s largest markets—from Chicago to Los Angeles to Miami—and at the sport’s most iconic tracks, including the Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and the series championship at Phoenix Raceway.

NASCAR Xfinity Series races draw an average of approximately 1 million viewers per race each season. 

It historically aired on a combination of cable and broadcast television, but will now be entirely and exclusively distributed on broadcast television. 

PHOENIX—As regional sports networks struggle to stay afloat amid an increase in cord cutting and rising sports rights fees, one broadcast station group has decided to follow the cord cutters and bring live professional sports back to free over-the-air TV. 

In an agreement characterized as “transformative,” Gray Television today announced a deal with the Phoenix Suns NBA and Phoenix Mercury WNBA teams to bring every locally broadcast game to viewers for free in a statewide distribution model utilizing Gray’s Phoenix television stations KTVK (Arizona’s Family 3TV) and the newly launched KPHE (Arizona’s Family Sports & Entertainment Network). 

Up until the regular 2022-2023 season, Suns games were aired on Bally Sports Arizona, a division of Sinclair-owned Diamond Sports Group RSN, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month.

The agreement is subject to the approval of the NBA and WNBA and any required resolution with Diamond, which issued a statement immediately following the announcement, claiming that the deal violates its existing agreements with the Suns.  

“The Phoenix Suns breached our contract and violated bankruptcy law, and Diamond Sports Group will pursue all remedies against any parties that attempt to exercise control over our property interests while we reorganize,” Diamond Sports said in a statement. “This is an improper effort by the Suns to change their broadcasting partner without permitting Diamond to exercise our contractual rights.”

Gray has not issued a response. 

If it survives legal scrutiny, upon the expansion of KPHE into the Tucson and Yuma markets in the next several weeks, the new media rights deal will make the Suns and Mercury games available to nearly 2.8 million households across all three of Arizona’s three media markets, tripling the teams’ reach to fans who have been unable to access the games through its previous distribution arrangement with a non-broadcast regional sports network.

The deal will also allow Suns and Mercury fans to watch games over their smartphones and Smart TVs alongside the over-the-air broadcast product via a Suns or Mercury-branded app developed by Kiswe, a startup that specializes in developing live sports streaming tech. The 2023 Phoenix Mercury season will stream DTC for free.

“Live sports can bring a community together. Combining that with the power of broadcast television and Arizona’s Family, it becomes a multiplier effect benefitting the team, the fans, and the clients,” said Debbie Bush, Vice President and General Manager, Arizona’s Family. “Our goal since day one has been creating a model that provides all fans the ability to connect with and cheer on their favorite teams via the distribution method of their choice. We are confident this model will increase fan loyalty and engagement.”

All Suns and Mercury non-national exclusive games will be broadcast between the two stations. KTVK will air a total of 13 Mercury regular season games and all available post-season games, with the remaining regular season games airing on KPHE. The Suns will have a minimum of 70 games broadcast each season, with at least 40 regular-season games on KTVK and the remaining on KPHE.

“We’re thrilled this partnership will connect our loyal family of viewers with the Phoenix Suns and Mercury,” said Pat LaPlatney, President & Co-CEO of Gray Television. “In a very short window, Mat Ishbia has begun to build a world-class organization both on and off the court. And with today’s announcement, Mat has made good on his promise to focus on the community and put their fans first. We are very pleased to play a part in that effort with our stations in Phoenix, Tucson, and ultimately Yuma.”

“We are excited to be partnering with the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, and Gray Television on this groundbreaking new direct-to-fan distribution model,” said Glenn Booth, CEO of Kiswe. “Kiswe's goal is to bring live sports to all fans through immersive digital experiences, and we can't wait to start streaming games to any Arizona basketball fans who want to watch these iconic teams.”

The first Phoenix Mercury game will air live on KTVK and simulcast on KPHE Thursday, May 25th at 7p.m. when the Mercury take on the Minnesota Lynx.

This article has been updated to include Diamond's response to the announcement. 

A new survey suggests that viewer attitudes towards what they want from the Super Bowl viewing experience and how they plan to watch the big game are shifting. 

As in earlier years, the largest group will be watching via a pay TV provider but cord cutting is cutting into that audience, with about 49% of Americans saying they planned to watch the game using their pay TV subscription, followed by streaming (22%) and over-the-air using an antenna (10%), according to Amdocs. 

Their survey of about 1,000 Americans also found that  81% of Americans who will be tuning into the game are interested in a more robust Super Bowl Sunday experience. 

Many of those who planned to watch the game expressed concerns about costs, with 44% stating cost is a factor when it comes to streaming. 

But many consumers (31%) were not aware they could watch the game and other sporting events aired by broadcasters for free via an antenna. About 46% said they were aware they could use an antenna but reported they don’t use one and 23% said they were aware and did use an antenna. 

Of the 31% who said they weren't aware that they could watch it via an antenna, 17% said they didn’t know about antennas and were interested in the idea; 14% said they didn’t know about antennas and weren’t interested. 

In 2022, Nielsen estimated that about 18.6 million homes were using antennas, or 15% of the U.S., a higher percentage than the 10% of respondents in this survey who said they planned to use an antenna to view the game over-the-air. 

The survey also found that consumers want new Super Bowl experiences beyond watching, with over half of viewers (58%) expressing interest in the metaverse to create a virtual stadium. AR/VR, a 360-degree live view of the game and increased interaction also generated interest.  

About 20% of viewers would be interested in augmented reality to make Rihanna’s half-time performance come to life 

Anthony Goonetilleke, group president of technology and head of strategy for Amdocs, explained that the findings underscore the need for network readiness to ensure all viewers have the same opportunities available during major cultural events. He added that the findings also indicated that more service providers will begin offering unique ‘experience packages’ that can be tailored to end-users, in order to compete in the new digital world. 

As cord cutting hits record levels, a new study from Horowitz Research finds that in 2022, almost two in ten (18%) TV content viewers report having a digital antenna and that digital antenna ownership has grown among younger viewers from 14% in 2021 to 23% in 2022. 

Despite the growth in younger viewers, the penetration rates for OTA antenna was similar to 2021 and lower than the penetration during COVID, during which antenna adoption and usage spiked.

Notably, hyper-local content is very important to antenna owners, with 58% saying they are interested in hyper-local news and information from their specific community.  The Horowitz study also found that interest in hyper-local content is on par with interest in national and regional news.

 “There is still a healthy market for the live, linear local and hyper-local broadcast news and information that digital antennas can deliver for free to consumers,” notes Adriana Waterston, chief revenue officer and insights and strategy Lead for Horowitz Research. “But consumer education is critical to drive awareness, continued adoption, and viewership. There are many consumers who would benefit from having a digital antenna but don’t know it’s an option for them. It’s in the best interest of broadcasters to make a concerted effort to change that.”

The data is from Horowitz’s latest State of OTA 2022 report, which tracks the evolving market for over-the-air (OTA) antennas, wireless 5G home internet services, and other disruptive technologies. The study looks at the role digital antennas play in keeping consumers connected to live, linear broadcast content as Americans continue to shed traditional cable or satellite (MVPD) services.

The study found that younger viewers now over-index on digital antenna usage compared to their older (50+ year-old) counterparts (23% and 15%, respectively). 

The study also finds that Latinx viewers over-index on digital antenna ownership compared to all other segments (25%, compared to 18% among white non-Latinx and Black viewers, and 19% among Asian TV content viewers).

The new State of OTA 2022 survey also reports that digital antennas have priority placement in the home, perhaps filling in the space once occupied by cable/satellite set-top boxes in homes that have shed traditional pay TV service. Two in three digital antenna owners (67%) have an antenna on the TV that is used the most in the home, a number that rises to almost 8 in 10 among digital antenna owners who do not have MVPD service (78%).

The study also shows that antenna owners are using them. Self-reported time spent with content delivered through a digital antenna accounts for about 1 in every 4 viewing hours among antenna owners overall, growing to over 4 in 10 hours of viewing time spent among antenna owners without MVPD service (42%). Streaming accounts for a little over half of their viewing time spent, Horowitz said. 

According to the digital antenna owners surveyed, being able to get live access to local broadcast channels is the main reason for getting an antenna, followed by being able to access local news, the researchers reported. 

The study also points to some challenges and opportunities in the digital antenna/OTA space.  The majority (62%) of owners are satisfied with their digital antennas, but reliability and the number of channels available are frustration points for some consumers. 

The researchers also noted that, given the desire to remain connected to live, local and hyper-local content, there is a missed opportunity to better market the technology to non-adopters. Over half (54%) of non-antenna owners say they know only a little about digital antennas. When presented with a description of the technology and its benefits, non-antenna owners say they would be interested in getting a digital antenna. Overall, the study finds that 13% of TV content viewers are either planning to get a digital antenna or would be very likely to adopt an antenna in the near future based on the description provided in the survey.

The full State of OTA 2022 report provides analysis of TV content viewers 18+ who have at least one TV set in the home and are decision makers.  The survey was published in November 2022 in English among 1,600 adults, with an oversample that resulted in 855 antenna owners. Data have been weighted to ensure results are representative of the overall TV universe. The report is available in total market, FOCUS Latinx, FOCUS Black, and FOCUS Asian editions.

CHANTILLY, Va—While traditional OTA broadcasting still garners the majority of TV marketing bucks, the OTT TV market is the fastest growing segment when it comes to attracting advertisers, who prefer the programmatic nature of targeted advanced advertising. 

This is the conclusion of a new report from BIA Advisory Services The Local Programmatic Marketplace – OTT and Digital Reach Extension Channels, which explores local OTT advertising trends and programmatic buying that provides access to a network of OTT ad inventory from a variety of publishers. The paper includes findings from executive interviews performed for the preparation of the paper. Participants included local TV group executives, agencies, and technology solution providers, along with OTT platforms and aggregators. The report, sponsored by Madhive, is free to download.

In BIA’s current edition of its U.S. Local Advertising Forecast issued in June 2022, the fastest-growing media segment is OTT with an annual growth rate of 57.4% in 2022. OTT spending will exceed $2.0 billion this year, drawing strength from multiple business verticals and political, BIA said.

From 2022 to 2026, OTT will grow at 14.3 percent CAGR and hold the second spot behind TV Digital (owned and operated streaming and website advertisements sold by local broadcast stations), showing its impact on OTT video in various local markets, according to the report.

In the chart below, the tipping point seems to be nigh, with just over 50% of ad dollars currently going to traditional OTA TV and the other half coming from new OTT and digital platforms, with digital increasing its share of the pie over the next few years.

 BIA is forecasting that spending on digital will grow to $116.6 billion by 2026 while spending on traditional OTA TV will only rise to $93.6 billion, having digital sales expand by 8.0 percent from 2022 to 2026. During that same period, BIA says that local TV spending will decrease from 51.2% to 41.7% of local video ad spending and local cable will decline from 16.2% to 12.5%. 

Conversely, the market for all digital video ad platforms is growing with video display ad spend on laptops/PC nearly double in this period between 2022 and 2026 from 13.7% to 22.6% of local video spending. Spending on digital media spending will grow to 55% of total local ad spending by 2026.

The BIA report illustrated how the pandemic impacted the market, showing that from 2019 to 2022, locally targeted digital sales rose from $55.9 billion to $79.5 billion, while traditional sales declined from $92.5 billion to $87.9 billion. When the lockdown occurred in 2020, more consumers turned to online platforms, driving a shift of 9.8% traditional sales towards digital across all TV markets. 

The first half of 2022 saw the rate of cordcutting accelerate as more than two million TV households cancelled their pay TV services during the period. This is prompting media providers to focus on aggregating audiences across local TV and OTT distribution platforms, BIA said, which urged broadcasters to combine OTA/linear and digital premium video ad inventory to bring both linear and digital premium video ad inventory to cross-platform buyers through programmatic trading.

As explained by Ducey, “Programmatic trading is fast becoming the new norm because it empowers data-driven automated platforms to manage real-time and forward reserve bidding that matches publisher inventory with ad buyer targeted consumer segments at sufficient scale and at mutually agreeable price points.”

Programmatic platforms allow advertisers to maximize their ad inventory by providing the granular data that help marketers identify and activate targeted groups at scale across many publishers, protect against fraud, and deliver campaign optimization, analytics, and key performance metrics. The report offers a full explanation of both direct and programmatic trading and the impact on buyers and sellers.

Auto manufacturers and local auto dealers are the top 1 and 2 segments of the programmatic TV advertising market,  according to the BIA report, with healthcare and legal three and four on the list.

The report notes that while local TV and OTT have traditionally operated separate and apart, things are changing as more advertisers demand more targeted advertising through programmatic. BIA cited TEGNA’s deployment of OTT streaming apps for its 64 local stations in 51 markets—which will bring its linear and digital premium ad inventory to cross-platform buyers—as one of the examples of this change. 

“OTT is the fastest growing channel for local media in 2022 and looking ahead to next year,” said Rick Ducey, Managing Director at BIA Advisory Services and the report’s author. “It is progressively serving as a digital reach extension to linear TV. Until recently, however, local TV and OTT have operated in silos, each with its own culture, workflow, and different levels of automation. Our research shows this is changing as marketplace trading moves to a much faster pace of innovation than in the past.”

BOISE, Idaho—Evoca, the hybrid OTA-OTT pay-tv service that leverages the ATSC 3.0 standard for content delivery, today announced a partnership with Sling TV that allows its subscribers to add Sling Blue, Sling Orange or both to their Evoca subscriptions.

Subscribers who add the Sling offerings to their Evoca package of more than 60 channels, which includes live local sports and family programming, will receive a $5 bundle discount, Evoca said.

“Between Sling’s innovative live streaming packages and Evoca’s unique converged broadcast-broadband system, consumers can now experience the future of television at an affordable price,” said Todd Achilles, president and CEO of Evoca. “This partnership supports our commitment to provide high-quality regional and national sports, news, lifestyle and educational programming to the communities we serve.”

Evoca subscribers wishing to participate can sign up for Sling via Evoca’s online ordering process and then access the Sling TV app directly through the Evoca user interface, the company said.

Among the Sling channel offerings are CNN, BBC, ESPN, FS1, HGTV, Disney Channel, AMC and A&E. Evoca will continue to offer sports fans access to regional favorites. 

The monthly subscription fee for Evoca and either Sling Orange or Sling Blue is $55 plus the receiver. Both Sling Orange and Blue as well as Evoca is $70 per month plus receiver. An Evoca subscription alone is $25 per month plus receiver.

Current Evoca subscribers can add Sling TV by responding directly to a company email announcement or contacting customer service directly at support@evoca.tv.

CINCINNATI—E.W. Scripps has announced plans to take Newsy, its OTT news network, over the air, setting an Oct. 1 launch of an OTA Newsy network. According to Scripps, this will make Newsy the only American news TV network with ubiquitous OTT and OTA distribution.

The decision is designed to serve what Scripps calls “the growing OTA market of cord-cutting self-bundlers.” As of its launch, Newsy will be available over the air to at least 80% of U.S. TV homes, carried primarily by Scripps-owned ION stations and select Scripps local TV stations and those of other station groups, Scripps said.

“As TV viewers ‘self-bundle’ by combining free television with subscription video-on-demand services, Newsy will build on its success in OTT by joining the other Scripps Networks in the over-the-air marketplace to bring these viewers high-quality, free news programming,” said Lisa Knutson, Scripps Network president.

Newsy will be headquartered in Atlanta, with nearly a dozen bureaus across the country, including in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Denver and Phoenix. It will continue to use resources from Scripps Washington Bureau and Scripps’ local TV stations.

Kate O’Brian will serve as Newsy’s head of news.

For more information, visit www.scripps.com.  

WASHINGTON—Broadcasters potentially stand to gain millions of NextGen TV over-the-air viewers thanks to FCC rule changes and clarifications released Jan. 19 that expand the permissible range of signal spillover from DTS (distributed transmission system) transmitters.

The impact of the rule changes will be significant when it comes to the number of people and devices able to receive ATSC 3.0 signals and services, said Erik Langner, president of Public Media Group (PMG), a NextGen TV infrastructure company that will partner with broadcasters to operate ATSC 3.0 facilities.

Estimated population gains for broadcasters in five markets illustrate what the rule change may mean. Comparing big stick transmission to a DTS NextGen TV network received by devices indoor at a height of 1.5 meters, PMG estimates OTA population gains of 4.3 million in Los Angeles; 3 million in Boston; 2.7 million in Miami; 2.5 million in Dallas; and 1.5 million Detroit.

“We have worked with multiple public and commercial broadcasters in various markets to design single frequency networks, and the impact is significant in terms of the number of people and devices that will receive ATSC 3.0 signals and service,” he said.

The 1.5-meter height was selected because consumers are more likely to use an indoor antenna or watch on mobile devices than mount a rooftop antenna at 10 meters, he added.

The new rules remove nebulous language that described permissible spillover beyond a station’s authorized service area as a “minimal amount” and replace it with precise language. 

For UHF stations, the rules now mandate the 41 dBu F(50,50) contour for each DTS transmitter in use not exceed the reference station’s 41 dBu F(50,50) contour. The corresponding values for low VHF are now 28 dBu and for high VHF 36 dBu.

Langner isn’t alone in the upbeat assessment of the rule change. Both America’s Public Television Stations and NAB, which asked the FCC to make the rule change, lauded the action.

“America’s Public Television Stations applaud the action taken today by the FCC, a welcome endorsement of changes in the current rules that will allow broadcast television stations to unlock the benefits of NextGen TV through DTS operations that better serve their viewers and preserving their commitment to localism,” said Lonna Thompson, executive vice president, chief operating officer and general counsel of APTS. 

The FCC Report and Order, released Jan. 19 and adopted Jan. 13, follows a petition for rulemaking submitted by APTS and NAB, which prompted the agency to release a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking leading to the changes.

“NAB applauds the Commission for adopting rules that will allow broadcasters to offer improved service to viewers,” said Ann Marie Cumming, senior vice president, Communications, at NAB. “The balanced approach taken by the order represents a fair compromise that will provide greater certainty to stations seeking to deploy NextGen TV. We particularly appreciate the hard work of the Commission staff in this technical proceeding.”

Pearl TV, which last fall began SFN testing in Phoenix as part of the model market project, welcomed the news.

“We're pleased that the Commission adopted this change to the rules on Single Frequency Networks [a synonym for DTS networks], since it will help broadcasters roll out NextGen TV more quickly and more efficiently,” said Pearl TV Managing Director Anne Schelle. 

The rule changes will enable ATSC 3.0 to fulfill its potential, said Jerald Fritz, executive vice president at ONE Media 3.0.

“The promise of 3.0 is the ability to provide robust services—video and data—to all parts of licensed service areas,” he said. “SFNs will enhance that enterprise, and the new DTS rules will enable those new service nodes. So, we are pleased the Commission allows us to enhance our services to more parts of our licensed service areas.”

Merrill Weiss, DTS pioneer and owner of Merrill Weiss Group, sees the rule changes as a positive development.

“The DTS Report and Order goes a long way toward overcoming the most serious limitation that has held back DTS implementation over the dozen years that DTS has been in the FCC’s rules. It will enable providing higher and more uniform signal levels throughout stations’ service areas,” he said.

“It will allow designs of DTS networks to be created with knowledge on the parts of their designers that their designs will be acceptable for authorization. It also will expand the use of DTS to more types of digital stations on a routine basis, now including Class A and Low Power stations in addition to full-power stations.”

CHANDLER, Ariz.—Channel Master, a manufacturer of over-the-air TV products, has announced it has entered into an exclusive, strategic agreement with TiVo to offer its DVR technology for OTA antenna users.

As part of the partnership, Channel Master will begin providing the 500GB TiVo Edge DVR this summer. TiVo’s Edge device is designed for antennas and will have the same functions and features of its 2TB predecessor, including voice control, recommendations across live and streaming content, 4K UHD, Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision HDR.

“One of the first things cord cutters discover is that they really need a DVR for the TV antenna in order to have the traditional viewing experience that they had with cable, and TiVo DVRs provide a premium solution for that need,” said Mike Lynch, chief strategy officer at Channel Master.

Lynch says that in addition to recording live TV, the Edge can integrate major streaming services, including Netflix, YouTube and Hulu into its interface.

For more information, visit www.channelmaster.com.  

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—Sling TV has announced a new feature that will allow some of its subscribers to more easily access their local over-the-air channels for free. On 2020 LG Smart TVs—LG OLED and LG Nano Cell TV models—local OTA channels will be integrated into the Sling TV guide via the Sling TV app.

To make this integration work, LG Smart TV owners must have an OTA antenna that they will connect to their TV. A one-time channel scanning process will occur, which can be done through the TV’s settings tab, to bring all local channels (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS) onto the Sling TV interface.

“We’re making it easier than ever to watch free local channels directly within the Sling TV app, making 2020 LG Smart televisions an amazing value for those who appreciate a quality viewing experience, live local programming and OTT content from Sling TV,” said Jon Lin, vice president of product, Sling TV.

Sling TV is making further accommodations for local OTA channels, sharing that consumers can filter local channels within their guide or adding it as a “My Channel.” For customers that are interested in adding local channels, Sling TV is also providing a local channel finder tool to let them know what is available in their area through this program.

For more information, visit www.sling.com/LG.  

SAN JOSE, Calif.—Pixelworks has announced the launch of what it is calling a universal over-the-air integration platform, EasyOTA. The main goal of the EasyOTA platform is to simplify the integration of local OTA TV channels into existing or new OTT streaming services.

EasyOTA offers live local channels through a home-network OTA streaming device using Pixelworks’ XCode technology. This prevents any burdens on the network or additional content license fees, says Pixelworks, and can help maintain subscriptions.

“With the dramatic growth in OTT streaming services as well as increased antenna usage, there is a huge opportunity for service providers to easily combine OTA and offer a cost-optimized streaming service while still providing a comprehensive lineup of rich TV content to their subscribers,” said Anselma Pilla, senior director of marketing, Video Delivery, at Pixelworks.

The EasyOTA platform is part of Pixelworks’ FlexVU ecosystem and will be available to qualified OTT partners.

More information can be found on Pixelworks’ blog.

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.—Over-the-air TV broadcasting is experiencing a growth spurt with one-in-three U.S. television viewers using a TV antenna to receive television, new research reveals.

“Horowitz’s State of Pay TV, OTT & SVOD 2019” from Horowitz Research finds antenna owners are younger—40% are age 18-34 vs. 31% of total content viewers. They also skew male—59% vs. 49% of all TV content viewers. Overall, 34% of TV content viewers access TV content with an antenna.

“Pay TV’s advantage has long been its variety of content, superior picture quality and reliability,” says Adriana Waterston, SVP of Insights and Strategy at Horowitz.

“As the broadcast industry works to improve its standards and achieve widespread adoption of ATSC 3.0 –which, according to announcements from NAB, will reach 40 markets by 2020—that advantage gap has the potential to shrink, with adoption of over-the-air viewing increasing,’’ she said.

The research shows that among non-subscribers to traditional MVPDs, 51% report owning an antenna. In traditional MVPD subscriber households, 30% say they own an antenna.

Antenna owners also are more likely to subscribe to one of the three major SVOD services. Seventy-eight percent subscribe to Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video vs. 67% of TV content viewers.

Antennas receiving OTA broadcasts appear to be giving consumers who are turning away from traditional MVPDs a means to access live, local content, the data suggests.

When it comes to how viewers split their viewing time among content sources, the research shows antenna owners spend 19% of their time viewing TV via their antenna, 44% streaming, 32% with an MVPD watching live, DVR or VOD content and the rest viewing DVDs.

“Many TV viewers have long felt tied to traditional cable because of their desire to stay connected to live news and sports, along with local and national content from broadcasters,” says Stephanie Wong, Horowitz director of Insights and Strategy.

“With today’s stronger signals and advances in technology, along with improved design aesthetics, antennas are re-emerging as an inexpensive and practical way of accessing TV content.”

Newer technologies are giving viewers a way to DVR over-the-air content, she adds. With products like TiVo’s Bolt OTA, Plex and Amazon’s Fire TV Recast, and using SVOD services, viewers are able to “piece together their ‘cable service’… at what they perceive to be a dramatically reduced cost,” she said.

“Most importantly, TV and streaming technology is improving to a point where being able to access different sources of video is no more difficult—or perhaps even easier—than navigating through a cable set top box menu,” said Wong.

More information is available at www.horowitzresearch.com.

NEW YORK—Many TV consumers are making their way back to over-the-air TV according to a recent study from Nielsen, but thankfully the rabbit ears aren’t. As many consumers continue to decide to cut the cord on cable packages, OTA offers them free TV through a digital antenna that can even provide HD quality content. But it’s not just traditional OTA offerings that have led to this growth, as streaming services also factor into the equation.

Overall, per Nielsen’s May 2018 population estimates, more than 16 million homes in the U.S. fall into the OTA category, just over 14 percent nationwide. At the start of the decade, 2010, that number was at 11 million. That represents a near 50 percent increase over eight years, with a potential for continued growth as more consumers consider an a la carte approach to television.

What constitutes an OTA home today though is different than what it may have been in the past thanks to streaming services. From the May 2018 report, 41 percent of homes considered OTA are “traditional,” meaning they do not have a streaming service provider. The remaining 59 percent do have one or more streaming subscriptions; this also includes homes that have a virtual video multichannel programming distributor (vMVPD), aka a skinny bundle, that allows them to stream cable programs (think Hulu or YouTube TV).

The makeup of the “traditional” households and the streaming households are noticeably different. The average age for a house without a streaming service is 55, while those with are 36 on average. Roughly half of the homes that have a streaming subscription are married and/or have children, while those numbers fall to 28 percent and 27 percent respectively in non-streaming homes. Another big difference is the median income; non-streaming homes average $21,000, while streaming homes come in at $44,500.

Daily viewing in OTA homes comes to about three hours a day for broadcast content on TV, however that differs depending on a home’s setup. Homes without a streaming service average about four hours and 51 minutes of broadcast a day; those with just a streaming service spend a little more than an hour and a half watching broadcast; and those with access to a skinny bundle spend nearly equal time between broadcast (an hour and 12 minutes) and cable TV options (hour and four minutes).

For more information, view the Nielsen report here.

The number of households receiving their television via over the air antenna now represents 14 percent of all U.S. television households, nearly double what it was eight years ago, according to a new report from Nielsen.

With the television industry being upended by the emergence of multiple streaming options, the result has been declining pay-TV subscriptions and the increasing use of alternate methods of distribution, including the old-fashioned TV antenna.

“As of May 2018, more than 14% of all TV households—or 16 million homes—have OTA status, and that number is on the rise,” said Justin Laporte, vice president of Local Insights for Nielsen, in its latest “Local Watch Report.” “As consumers look for more on-demand and cost-effective options, there has been a resurgence in this type of television household.”

In its report, which analyzes the evolving habits of viewers, Nielsen divided these OTA households into two categories: “Plus SVOD,” those households that supplement their viewing options with streaming services such as Hulu (not Hulu Live), Amazon Prime and Netflix; and “No SVOD,” households that get their television strictly via antenna.

There are distinct differences in the demographics and behavior of the two types of households, according to Nielsen.

“The ‘No SVOD” homes tend to be older, more diverse and have a smaller median income, compared to the “Plus SVOD” segment, which skews younger, more affluent and more device-connected,” Laporte said said. “We see different media behavior with Plus SVOD homes consuming less traditional media and spending more time on personal devices. In an average day, the No SVOD homes have more viewing to broadcast stations, at almost five hours, than all of the TV usage combined in Plus SVOD homes.”

A third, but smaller and growing category—part of the “Plus SVOD” group—consists of households that get their programming via streaming services such as DirecTV Now, Youtube TV, Sling TV and others. These “virtual multichannel video programming distributors,” (vMVPD) make up 1.3 million of the Plus SVOD households, according to Nielsen.

“Sharing a similar profile to the Plus SVOD group as a whole, these consumers have a higher median income and access to more devices,” Laporte said. “They also have access to individual cable networks and spend an almost equal amount of time watching broadcast and cable sources.”

Here is the breakdown:

No SVOD: This group represents 6 percent of total U.S. homes, comprising 6.6 million homes in the U.S. This demographic skews older, with over half households of median income of less than 30K. They are also less likely to own mobile devices such as smartphones, streaming devices or tablets.

Plus SVOD: There are 9.4 million homes, representing 8 percent of total U.S. homes that make up this segment. The median viewer age is 36 and the households have a higher average income and more “well connected” with more access to mobile and streaming devices.

Geographically, Milwaukee has the largest percentage of “No SVOD” households: (11.1%) and Plus SVOD households (no vMVPD): (16%), while Dayton, Ohio has the largest percentage of “Plus SVOD (with vMVPD) households, representing 2.7% of all U.S. households.

Regardless of what Nielsen labels them, they are all considered “cord cutters” or “cord nevers” by the industry. 

SAN JOSE, CALIF.—A group of companies including developers of antenna and hardware/software technologies have created a new marketing coalition to make it easier for consumers to view over the air broadcast with streaming services.

In the announcement of its formation last week, the companies, which include Antennas Direct, Hauppauge, Nuvyyo, Pixelworks, Plex GmbH, Resonian, and Shenzhen Geniatech cited the complexity cord-cutters face when trying to combine OTT/streaming services with free over-the-air local broadcasts.

“As a growing number of consumers abandon traditional cable and satellite subscriptions to gain increased control over content selection and the associated cost of video entertainment, they are often faced with added complexity as well as limited or overpriced access to local broadcast TV channels,” they said. “The genesis of FlexVU is a mutual end-goal of helping consumers “select the most seamless and high-performance cord cutting solutions, including the ability to access TV content from anywhere with a connected display device.”

[Read: Cord-Cutting Pace Accelerates As Viewers Seek Premium Programming, Says EMarketer]

As part of its initiative, the coalition said it would be advancing what it termed “a broader ecosystem under a newly recognized and industry-supported brand.”

Along with offering so-called “skinny bundles”—lower cost OTT services which target cord-cutters—several consumer electronics vendors like DISH and TiVo have made recent attempts to integrate OTT and OTA. Earlier this year, DISH launched “AirTV” an over-the-top, over-the-air service that gives customers access to dozens of over-the-air broadcast channels across multiple devices inside and outside of the home. Last week TiVo introduced its “Bolt OTA for Antenna” which combines OTT and over-the-air signals, delivering four tuners and a one terabyte hard drive capable of recording 150 hours of HD programming. The company describes the new box as a an “upgrade” to its “Roamio” DVR, which targets cord-cutters and has been available for four years.

Likewise, FlexVU member Nuvyyo offers its Tablo device that features an OTA tuner that provides DVR-type services to over-the-air viewers, as well as the ability to stream OTA signals to home Wi-Fi setups.

The coalition defined five elements that make up the FlexVU initiative—TV antenna, TV tuner, transcoder, software for the user interface and a DVR that allows consumers to view content on any device anywhere. It has also launched a consumer education portal www.flexvu.tv, which includes specific product and component recommendations, testimonial videos from FlexVU partners and useful links to tools, such as a Channel Finder to help consumers determine what local TV channels can be access based on their zip code. In addition, the FlexVU Web site has a helpful animation that provides an easy to understand overview of the key benefits and messages of the FlexVU initiative.

BETHESDA, MD.—About 8.1 million Americans will buy TV antennas this year, according to a mid-year analysis by the Consumer Technology Association, reflecting the growing audience for over-the-air broadcast signals as more homes cut—or at least trim back—their cable subscriptions. This year’s estimates will mark a peak in antenna sales, which have been hovering just under the 8 million level for several years and which are expected to decline only slightly in the near future, according to CTA’s latest analysis.

One wild card in future antenna sales is the impact of the new ATSC 3.0 standard, which will debut over the next several years.

“When 3.0 rolls out, consumers will become aware of additional services, and that will give a boost to antenna sales,” said Brian Markwalter, senior vice president, research and standards for CTA. “Viewers won’t need any special antennas to receive 3.0, but reception may be affected by the repack” of channels.

SUPPLEMENTING PROGRAM CHOICES

Markwalter, as do others who follow the antenna business, contends that the steady sales of home antennas reflects the increased rate of cord cutting by cable subscribers.

CTA’s research shows “one in five consumers say they watch OTA through an antenna,” said Ben Arnold, senior director of innovation and trends at CTA. “The reasons all revolve around supplementing their programming.” Cord-cutters or trimmers “want live TV plus OTT,” Arnold adds.

That combination of OTA and OTT is reflected by some of the new antenna kits that combine access to OTA and broadband. Likewise, viewers who toggle between live broadcasts and on-demand streams keep their antennas inside. Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at research firm NPD Group, Inc., says that the bundled products “solve some of the customer satisfaction issue.”

“People aren’t necessarily buying [antennas] on their own when they cut the cord, but are getting them through their subscriptions or their devices that are enabling them to make the cut,” he said.

Although most antennas sell for about $30–$80, versions for multidirectional (180-degree range) and long-range directional (up to 100 miles) reception cost up to $160. NPD, which estimates about 34 million antennas have been sold since 2014, has found that the average retail price of about $26 “has been very stable over that time,” Baker said. He doesn’t expect many repeat or add-on sales since antennas are “not a product that gets a lot of upgrade or replacement purchases [unless something happens to the old one] due to a change in technology.”

“About 90 percent of the antennas are classified as indoor,” said Baker, whose firm also tracks hardware sales and usage. “Obviously most antennas today are pretty small and digital. They are not like those rooftop things from the ’60s but are more like ‘modern rabbit ears.” He also points out that cord-cutters who discover antennas may have to be trained about how to use them, especially since many customers have little understanding of OTA broadcasts.

“They need some help in being reminded what an antenna is for,” Baker said.

AVAILABLE OPTIONS

Joe Bingochea, president of Channel Master, one of the largest U.S. antenna makers, agrees that while not all cord-cutters will use OTA, “our experience shows that a percentage of them will use OTA to supplement whatever streaming services they choose.”

Bingochea adds that antenna reception can be tricky. “When the consumer cuts the cord, who do they look to when there is a problem?” he asks rhetorically, explaining that his company’s components, including cables and connectors, enable users to put together entire systems. Channel Master’s product line includes the “Stream+” (for OTA and DVR) and the “Smartenna+,” a smart indoor antenna with active steering technology.

Bingochea says that Channel Master sales are diversified among a variety of retail, installer and online avenues. Antennas are sold at Best Buy, Home Depot, Fry’s Electronics as well as small dealers and etailers including Amazon and the company’s own website.

Richard Schneider, president of Antennas Direct, expects the market for antennas “will accelerate as cord-cutting becomes more mainstream.” The company’s new ClearStream antennas relay signals over a home’s Wi-Fi network, allowing customers to place the antenna in a convenient location then send signals to TV sets around the home.

The company started as an e-commerce venture from suburban St. Louis, but has migrated to other sales outlets and now only about 10 percent of its sales come from the Web, Schneider said. Its products are available in 8,000 stores, include Walmart, Best Buy, Lowes, Fry’s and regional chains plus Amazon.

Schneider’s customer research has found that new customers are “more female and less tech oriented.” Antennas Direct’s early users were people trying to connect a “$50,000 home theater” whereas today’s budget-conscious customers “is usually buying an antenna to complement a Netflix subscription,” Schneider told TV Technology.

FIRST TIMERS

One gauge of consumer interest in antennas is the growing usage of AntennaWeb.org, which lets consumers figure out what kind of antenna they’ll need to pick up local broadcast signals based on their address.

More than 2.6 million users checked into the site during 2017, and at least 85 percent of them were first-time users, according to Mick Rinehart, president of TitanTV Inc., which operates the free online service. AntennaWeb was created by the Consumer Technology Association at the dawn of the digital TV era a decade ago. NAB teamed up with CTA, and both are now co-sponsors for TitanTV’s antenna checking service. Users see a color-coded “selector map” which matches the labels on antennas, indicating the type of device needed for a specific location.

“From the number of new visitors, it is apparent that interest in cord cutting continues to grow,” says Rinehart.

He acknowledges that AntennaWeb originally focused on signal strength calculations and antenna recommendations for outdoor reception; but now there is high interest in indoor antennas. The reception information, based on signal data from CTA and other sources, incorporates topographic and environmental factors that can affect television reception at a viewer’s location.

“There are many variables within their home that will also impact reception via an indoor antenna,” Rinehart adds, pointing to a resources section of the site that offers advice on how to choose, connect and place an indoor antenna for optimum reception.

BROADCAST PARTNERSHIPS

Antennas Direct saw the increased demand for over-the-air antennas even before the current cord-cutting trend began to take hold.

Phones at the company’s St. Louis headquarters “started ringing off the hook” a few years ago, with all the calls coming from Sacramento, Calif., recalled company President Richard Schneider.

“Unbeknownst to us, the Gannett station [now Tegna Media’s KXTV-10] was endorsing one of our models on a live newscast,” he said. “Then the following week, WLUK in Green Bay [Sinclair Broadcasting] asked if we could come up in 48 hours to hand out antennas and appear on the news during a retransmission dispute,” Schneider continues.

“And I thought, ‘hey’—there are 1,800 full-power broadcasters, so we should do this 1,798 more times.”

As a result, the company set up a “Broadcaster Partners Program,” which involves antenna giveaways in exchange for on-air time in which Antennas Direct “extols the virtues of free over-the-air TV,” Schneider said.

“So far we have given away more than 14,000 antennas in 52 markets.”

Schneider said he wants to “partner with more broadcasters to get the news out about how... using an antenna with a streaming service can save the average household about $1,800 per year.”

Other antenna marketers have collaborated with TV broadcasters as well. Channel Master has “several relationships” and has launched joint promotions with stations “to promote OTA awareness,” according to Bingochea.

IMPACT OF REPACK, NEXT GEN TV

CTA’s Arnold expects antenna prices may go up slightly because 3.0 will deliver new features that may require better antennas, but any increases may be offset by volume deals as more customers buy antennas.

Bingochea of Channel Master contends that the 3.0 business model “is not far enough along to gauge the potential impact” although he believes that the addition of 4K and HDR will attract new consumers.

AntennaWeb’s Rinehart expects the upcoming channel repack program, which affects broadcasters and their channel assignments, will give new impetus to the antenna selection process. But he acknowledges that some customers may be surprised by what they find.

“If a local station that you would expect to see is not listed in AntennaWeb, its predicted signal strength may be calculated to be just a fraction of a dBu below the threshold for that channel,” he explains. “Nevertheless, because it is below the minimum dBμ cutoff value, it is not displayed.”

Rinehart also pointed to a growing consumer complaint about finding shows—especially in a milieu of blended OTA and OTT content.

“The emergence of Diginets [DTV auxiliary channels] has expanded the genre and variety of content free for viewing,” he said, but cited the challenge for consumers who want an electronic program guide when moving between paid and free video. His company’s free consumer TV Listings site includes channel lineups for all platforms (OTA, OTT, cable, satellite) and can be blended into a single custom guide from disparate sources.

NAB agrees that antennas are a permanent part of the expanding media landscape.

“More than 72 million Americans rely on over-the-air television received through an antenna,” said Dennis Wharton, executive vice president of communications for the association. “Traditional OTA viewers as well as cord-cutters and cord-nevers are discovering an abundance of today’s most popular HD broadcast programming available for free using an antenna, which now come in sleek easy-to-install designs.”

Nielsen’s first quarter 2018 Total Audience Report noted that “broadcast-only” homes were up by 6 percent (to 16.53 million households) compared to previous quarter. During the past year, the share of homes getting OTT and other subscription video-on-demand services also climbed and now reaches 64 percent of U.S. homes.

Bingochea of Channel Master sees the current OTA/OTT era as the continuation of the evolving video delivery industry. He says that he has “experienced the changes in the antenna business over the years when things like cable, C-band satellite and Direct Broadcasting Satellites were introduced.”

“Now we are just in a new phase.”

Dish Network’s Dish DBS Corp. officially launched its AirTV service Wednesday, an over-the-top, over-the-air service that gives customers access to dozens of over-the-air broadcast channels across multiple devices inside and outside of the home.

Dish originally introduced AirTV late last year in a limited soft launch of the device to test consumer interest. The company had also earlier debuted the AirTV Player, an Android TV based streaming device that allowed access to over-the-air content as well as Netflix, YouTube and apps on Google Play. The AirTV Player is still available – Dish also officially launched a cloud DVR for that product Wednesday, which it beta-tested earlier this year.

The AirTV is a sleek portable box that connects directly to a home broadband connection utilizing Dish’s Slingbox technology to offer broadcast content both at home and on the go.

With AirTV, free local channels, like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and PBS, are available for viewing via the Sling TV or AirTV app on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and iOS and Android phones and tablets. Local channel availability depends on the OTA signal availability at the user’s home location. In many major markets, customers can receive 50 or more local channels for free.

[Read: Sling’s AirTV Expected To Blend OTA + OTT]

There is no monthly charge for AirTV. Customers just have to buy the equipment, which retails for $119.99 and the service can be integrated into an existing SlingTV subscription – meshing with the customers other pay TV channels – or as a standalone. Customers don’t have to subscribe to Sling TV to use the Sling TV app for the broadcast service.

“Customers can mount their antenna connected to AirTV wherever the signal is strongest, whether it’s tucked away in an attic or hidden behind the living room TV,” AirTV director of product development Mitch Weinraub said. “AirTV wirelessly streams to AirTV-enabled devices visible to a home Wi-Fi network, so there’s no longer a need to run cables across the home to get OTA signals.”

Existing Sling TV users can integrate AirTV directly into their accounts. Customers can also set up a free Sling TV account to access their local channels via AirTV, or create a free account with the stand-alone AirTV app.

The AirTV device also eliminates the need to wire multiple rooms with individual antennas – the box connects devices and TVs throughout the house via WiFi connection. The AirTV box also can be located anywhere in the house – making for optimal antenna placement – and up to two streams are available inside the home. One of those streams can be viewed outside of the home.

Weinraub said SlingTV hasn’t offered broadcast channels in the past specifically because of the cost and hassle for customers. Local broadcast channels can be pricey – he estimated that the typical pay TV customer spends between $10 and $15 per month to receive broadcast stations via their pay TV subscription.

“That’s a lot of money,” Weinraub said. “Our goal is to not make them pay that when they don’t have to.”

The device also helps Sling TV avoid retransmission consent fees – the national service has no carriage deals with local broadcast channels. Customers who buy an AirTV box also have to buy an antenna – which can vary in size from shelf units to roof-top mounted devices and can be purchased separately or through professional installers -- to access channels for free over the air.

The AirTV box is available for purchase on Amazon.com, through regional retailers like Microcenter and via the AirTV website. Weinraub said Dish is talking to other retailers like BestBuy and hopes the equipment will be available through their stores soon.

With about 14 million homes without a pay TV subscription and more and more households cutting the cord every day, Weinraub said AirTV believes the market is ripe for the product. And he added that most customers don’t understand the level of content that is available for free over the air. In addition to the major broadcast networks ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, My Network TV, the CW and PBS stations, some metro markets have 50 or more digital channels available, ranging from station-affiliated networks like MeTV and Acorn TV and movie channels and lifestyle channels. In the New York area alone, 72 channels are available over the air in SD and HD quality. Customers can determine which channels are available in their areas via the AirTV website. 

DALLAS—With the decrease of pay-TV subscriptions and the increase in OTT video subscriptions, people are able to find different ways to get the content they want, and one way appears to be digital antennas. According to a report from Parks Associates, “360 View: Access and Entertainment Services in U.S. Broadband Households,” by the end of 2017, 20 percent of U.S. broadband households used digital antennas, up 16 percent from 2015.

“Increasingly, consumers are cobbling together their own bundles of content sources,” said Brett Sappington, senior director of research at Park Associates. “Digital antennas are experiencing a resurgence as consumers consider over-the-air TV and OTT video services as alternatives to pay TV. The percentage of ‘Never’ households (households that have never subscribed to pay-TV services) has held steady and the percentage of households actually cutting the cord has increased between 2015 and 2017. Antennas are affordable source for local channels to these households.”

[Making Over-the-Air TV Cool Again]

Parks Associates findings show that the high cost and a low price/value perception are key reasons for people canceling their pay-TV services and bundle shavings, with more than 50 percent of homes that have cut the cable citing the service is “not worth the cost.”

There are opportunities, per Parks Associates, to improve this perception. The report found that 46 percent of pay-TV subscribers are aware they have access to on-demand content. Many also indicate they want to purchase online video services through their pay-TV provider and to access through their channel guide.

Additional findings from the report showed that 63 percent of subscribers who can’t current restart programs from the beginning find the feature appealing; 17 percent of consumers who cancel their pay-TV service would have stayed with their provider if there were no monthly fees for set-top boxes; average fees for standalone broadband have increased nearly 25 percent since 2010; and 20 percent of Wi-Fi homes experience problems with coverage in their home.

See the full report here.

JOHNSTON, IOWA—One of the mysteries that has perplexed me for a number of years is how traditional broadcasting became so uncool at the same time that wireless connectivity for watching content became cool. Our industry has been wireless since it began more than 100 years ago! What’s up with that? I could also make the case that the earliest wireless communications were done with Morse Code, a sequence of dots and dashes that equate to 1’s and 0’s and are therefore digital, albeit painfully slow digital.

But be that as it may, thanks to the cord-cutting and cord-shaving and cord-nevering that is going on, we may actually be seeing the beginnings of a bit of a renaissance of over the air broadcasting. Assuming this is actually happening, this may be just the groundswell our industry needs to begin embracing ATSC 3.0 and the capabilities it adds to the services that local broadcasters can offer. Like in surfing, if we start paddling as the swell is approaching we can ride the crest of the wave to completion.

BACK TO THE DARK DAYS

However, to help insure that this renaissance actually happens, I want to take us back into the dark days of the past and the birth of the Satellite Home Viewer Act, TV broadcast white spaces and the processing of waivers to allow for the importation of distant signals. For the most part these issues have gone away as satellite antennae became smaller and local-into-local became the norm. I would, however, remind you that one of the most common reasons given for why a viewer within the coverage of local television deserved a waiver: My homeowners association or condo association or local association doesn’t permit the installation of an outdoor television antenna.

[FCC Overrules Condo TV Antenna Rules]

In those dark times, the consumer was looking for a reason not to put up an antenna to receive a service that was theoretically available via their subscription to satellite. For most, they were looking for something to replace their cable service, which was too expensive or not available because they were too far from a high density population area to run the cable system past their house. Remember at this time, we were still using dial-up phone lines to access the internet and 24.4 kpbs was a relatively common connection.

Now we are seeing this rediscovery of over-the-air reception and thanks to the digital conversion, where there once were fewer than 10 program streams available over the air in all but the largest markets, there are now 30 or 40 depending on what stations are doing with their ATSC 1.0 services available at no cost. Couple that with the OTT and on-demand services available via broadband and suddenly both packaged cable service and satellite service seem unreasonably expensive and restrictive. This new generation of consumers will begin looking for ways to put up antennas. Guess what? Those homeowner, condo and local associations mentioned above probably still have those same restrictions against television antennae. Does the renaissance end here?

SEEKING ANTENNA WAIVERS

I spent a good portion of the 1990’s reviewing waiver requests and became intimately familiar with 47 CFR 1.4000, the Over-the-Air Reception Device Rule or “OTARD.” The rule has been in place since 1996 and while it has been through several amendments, it is still in place. The rule prohibits most of the restrictions that local associations place on members in regards to the installation of not only traditional television antennas but also direct-to-home satellite and MMDS antennas. It encompasses rental property as well as homeowner-owned properties.

The key with rental properties is that the renter must have an “exclusive use area” such as a patio or balcony where the antenna can be installed. While the rule isn’t perfect for every instance, I spent my last five years in commercial broadcasting working for the CBS affiliates in New Mexico where we had a network of a few full power stations and a plethora of translators throughout the state and the vast majority of time I was able to secure an agreement from the association that the viewer had the right to install the antenna. I would point out that this included military bases that had strict rules regarding antennas of any sort on base.

Now again, this work was done during the “dark days” where people were looking to get waivers to not watch the local stations, so they were not always happy when the waiver denial included a letter from their association stating that they could put up an antenna as further evidence of why their waiver was denied. However if the audience wants to put up an antenna to receive the free local stations so that they can cut, shave or forego the cord, they will be happy to have additional information that they can take to their association. And let’s also recognize that there are now options for over-the-air television antennas that are a lot less unappealing then the old multiband Yagi’s of the 1950’s and 60’s. Couple the new design with the increased robustness of the ATSC 3.0 service and suddenly broadcasting is cool again.

The FCC also maintains a webpage on the Over-the-Air Reception Devices Rule with an FAQ that provides some talking points. I would encourage anyone working in television broadcasting to consider using this information to put together an educational presentation to do to local community groups to promote the renaissance of over-the-air television and whet the appetites of the local audience for what is freely available to them now and the incredible potential of what is to come as ATSC 3.0 comes into its own.

Bill Hayes is the director of engineering for Iowa Public Television.

ENGLEWOOD, COLO.—It’s NFL season and people want to watch football, so Sling TV is helping its subscribers get access to NFL games on major broadcast networks with a new promo that offers free over-the-air antennas or discounted AirTV Player/antenna combos to qualified customers. Customers must also prepay for two or three months of Sling TV.

For more information, read the full story of TVT’s sister publication Multichannel News.

BETHESDA, MD.—“AirTV,” an anticipated Echostar Sling Media service that will deliver live local TV programs plus streamed video, is expected to debut imminently, again. An Echostar spokeswoman declined to provide details or a timetable regarding the hybrid product, which apparently treads where Aereo legally stumbled in carriage of local broadcast TV channels. But she did not disavow independently published reports about AirTV, which apparently combines the IP-based “slinging” capacity of DISH’s SlingTV (an Echostar subsidiary) and Echostar’s own Sling Media unit.

Stories about AirTV have been bruited around since “coming soon” offers for the $149 receiver device began appearing on Amazon and B&H PhotoVideo websites several months ago. Those listings are no longer visible on the ecommerce sites or at Echostar’s own site. A company website that presumably explains the antenna service—www.airtv.net/antennas— was behind a customer firewall at deadline time.

Melodie VirtueSTRANGE BEDFELLOWS?
Analysts expect that the AirTV receiver, which would connect to an OTA antenna and home network, will handle broadcast tuning and also streaming content to be directed to smart TVs and wireless devices in the home.

Increasing chatter about AirTV coincided with a DISH announcement in August that it will support efforts by Sinclair Broadcast Group, the National Association of Broadcasters, Antennas Direct and TVfreedom.org to give away free OTA antennas. Although Echostar subsidiary DISH operates separately from the Echostar AirTV venture, there is believed to be extensive coordination between the two companies for this convergent venture.

“Complementing the pay-TV experience, which includes the increasing adoption of streaming services like Sling TV... is good business and may drive a solution to the otherwise compounding problem of ever-rising retransmission consent fees for local TV,” said Warren Schlichting, DISH executive vice president of marketing/programming/media sales.

SlingTV monthly pricing is about $20 for single-stream service, with additional fees for larger tiers. Again, Echostar declined to indicate what a bundled product would cost consumers.

A spokesman for the National Association of Broadcasters, which reveled at the defeat of the Aereo venture two years ago, declined to comment about the AirTV proposal.

Several telecom and electronics blogs posted sketchy reports about AirTV in late summer, suggesting that the device works with an antenna and SlingTV’s app to carry over-the-air local channels plus Sling TV’s over-the-top streaming video. The stories speculated that the service would include a program guide and possibly other add-ons, but not a digital video recorder. Dave Zatz, who covers cord-cutting at his ZatzNotFunny site (http://zatznotfunny.com) observed that a Spring debut may have been postponed because of limited retailer interest in selling the $150 device. Later speculation focused on a September launch. The Echostar spokeswoman repeatedly told TV Technology in late September that “We don’t have anything to share at this time.”

AVOID AEREO PITFALLS
Kevin Goldberg, an attorney specializing in first amendment and intellectual property issues at Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, a Washington, D.C. law firm, observed that the AirTV proposal seems to “work into the gray area of the Aereo case.” In June 2014, the Supreme Court ruled that Aereo, a television streaming service, violated copyright laws by capturing broadcast signals on miniature antennas at a central location and then delivering them via the internet to subscribers for a fee.

“The justices seemed sympathetic if the device had been entirely in the home,” Goldberg told TV Technology. He speculated that Echostar may differentiate itself by “setting it up entirely in the home” rather than at a remote location, which was Aereo’s architecture.

“Transmitting signals into the subscriber’s home” may make the difference, he explained. Goldberg also observed that a “live only” solution would likely placate the Supreme Court’s apparent concern about the DVR record and playback functions. While such programming could be “slung” using Sling’s AirTV set-top box via IP to consumer viewing devices (such as a smart TV, smartphones or tablets), the activity would be entirely run at the consumer’s premises. But he fretted that “there may still be a problem... for out-of-home transmissions.”

“The biggest impediment is that the Copyright Office has been clear that it will not treat internet systems as cable TV,” he said, adding that live sports events would be a primary usage for this function.

Separately, in mid-September, SlingTV (which is run by DISH) added two more ESPN-owned sports networks to its line-up: ESPN3, a multi-platform online channel that carries games not usually transmitted on the primary ESPN networks; and ESPN’s SEC Network, the Southeastern Conference college sports channel. Earlier in the month, SlingTV picked up the streaming signals of six regional feeds from the Pac-12 Networks, which collectively offer live coverage of more than 800 sporting events.

Although this collection of college sports programming is large but limited, the streamed channels provide a base of popular sports content.

LINING UP CONTENT
Sling has begun carrying about two dozen Fox Network Group channels earlier this year, including local broadcast stations in 17 markets plus Fox regional sports networks. At the time, a SlingTV official said he expected to add more Fox affiliates later this year.

Analysts have pointed out that the deals with broadcasters may assuage DISH’s frequent uneasy relationship with group owners during transmission consent negotiations.

Marrying SlingTV to OTA signals already exists on an ad hoc basis. Antenna maker Channel Master, which calls itself a “DVR for cord cutters,” integrated SlingTV into its hardware earlier this year, using Echostar technology.

Melodie Virtue, a broadcast and internet attorney at the Garvey Schubert Barer law firm in Washington, also agreed that compared to Aereo, AirTV “will have a better argument if it’s confined to the home” and OTA signals are picked up directly at the consumer premises. But she warned that, “It’s hard to know without knowing how it’s configured.” She expects that, “whatever they’re doing will get pushback from the networks.” But Virtue cautioned that networks and local stations “have their own copyright fees to worry about.” She speculated that AirTV might “need to get additional clearances” for its plan, but warned that it is inappropriate to speculate about the structure until details are presented.

NEW YORK—More and more folks are embracing over-the-air television. Recent findings from market researcher GfK indicate that 17 percent U.S. TV households rely on “broadcast-only” television reception, up from 15 percent in 2015. Concurrently 25 percent now have no cable and satellite reception.

“The fact that a statistically significant increase in broadcast-only reception occurred over just one year may be further proof that the cord-cutting/cord-never phenomenon is accelerating,” said David Tice, senior vice president in GfK’s Media & Entertainment practice. “If you include homes that have no TVs at all—about 3 percent of all households—then less than three quarters, or 73 percent, of U.S. homes continue to have pay TV service, with the attendant implications for all stakeholders—not just the pay TV services themselves, but also networks, content providers, and advertisers.”

The research, from GfK’s 2016 “Ownership and Trend Report” from The Home Technology Monitor, shows that 17 percent of U.S. TV households now rely on broadcast-only or over-the-air reception, up from 15 percent in 2015. Another 6 percent say they only use Internet services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, or YouTube and do not have traditional broadcast or pay TV reception at all; this compares with 4 percent a year ago.

Further, TV households with a resident between 18 and 34 years old are much more likely to be opting for alternatives to cable and satellite; 22 percent of these homes are using broadcast-only reception, versus 17 percent of all U.S. households, and 13 percent are only watching an Internet service on their TV sets, versus 6 percent of all TV homes. Overall, 38 percent of 18-to-34 households rely on some kind of alternative TV reception or video source, versus 25 percent of all homes.

On the other hand, households with at least one resident age 50 or above have higher rates of subscribing to cable or satellite services. More than eight in 10, or 82 percent, have some sort of pay TV subscription, versus 75 percent of all U.S. TV households. The difference comes almost exclusively in levels of cable subscription, with 46 percent of 50+ homes paying for cable reception, compared with a U.S. average of 41 percent.

Broadcast-only reception is more common in TV households earning under $30,000 per year—26 percent, versus 17 percent among all TV homes—and those with Hispanic residents—24 percent. Households with incomes of $50,000 a year or more post higher levels of satellite subscription—27 percent, compared to an average of 21 percent.

The study was conducted among 3,009 U.S. households, including representative levels of non-TV, non-internet, cell-phone-only, and Spanish dominant homes. 

CHANTILLY, VA.—Local television stations’ over-the-air ad revenue is expected to get a boost in 2016 as BIA/Kelsey forecasts it reaching $20.8 billion. This would mark a 12.1 percent increase over 2015, which was a down year—falling 7.2 percent from 2014—according to BIA/Kelsey’s report.

All regions of the U.S. are expected to rebound from 2015, with the Midwest expecting the largest increase of 14.6 percent; an 8.4 percent increase is expected in the Southwest, 11.1 percent in the East, 11.9 percent in the West, and 12.6 percent in the South. BIA/Kelsey cites the election and general rebound of the economy as reasoning for the increase.

“The election and economy, driven by stronger employment figures and continuing low interest rates, are helping push local TV ad revenues above expectations this year,” according to Mark Fratrik, senior vice president and chief economist for BIA/Kelsey.

Click on the link to see the full “2016 Investing In Television Ownership Report.”

BIA/Kelsey is an advisor to local media companies.

Fig. 1

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NEW YORK—Americans like TV on TV. They also prefer live TV, and more are relying exclusively on over-the-air TV. Those are some of the takeaways from Nielsen’s “Total Audience Report” for 2Q 2015.

In terms of watching TV on a TV, that would be versus using a TV-connected device like a game console, a tablet, smartphone or PC, or listening to the radio. During weekdays in May, among people 18 and over, and between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., TV accounted for “half of all media use,” the report said. Viewership rose above 60 percent during prime time to a peak of 68 percent at 2 a.m. (Fig. 1)
Fig. 2
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Only radio challenged television for audience share at any point during the broadcast day, when it peaked at 40 percent during the 7 a.m drive-time hour. By comparison, smartphone audiece usage peaked at 14 percent at 2 p.m. PCs peaked at 10 a.m. with 12 percent; tablets, 5 percent at 4 a.m.; and connected TVs peaked at 8 percent at 1 a.m.

These usage patterns were reflected across demographic groups, though TV viewing increased with age. (Fig. 2)

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Live TV dominated consumption with more than four hours daily over the last three years, but down from the previous two years to four hours, 11 minutes. (Fig. 3) For 2Q 2015, time-shifted viewing comprised 29 minutes of the viewing day; DVD/Blu-Ray, seven minutes; game consoles, 12 minutes; “multimedia devices,” nine minutes; Internet on a PC, 43 minutes; smartphone (app or Web), 1 hour, six minutes. People listened to the radio on average one hour, 49 minutes during the same peiod.

In the report, Nielsen found there are now 12.674 million broadcast-only homes, an increase of 651,000 homes from the same quarter last year. (Fig. 4) The report also found the number of broadcast-only homes with no Internet service increased by 561,000 homes compared to a year ago.

Fig. 4
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OTA-only homes compared to the number that rely on telcoTV, up from last year’s 12.969 million to 13.449 million. Wired cable—including wired cable, telcoTV and satellite—eased down from 101.6 million homes last year to 100.4 million this year. Satellite accounted for 34.4 million last year versus 34.9 million this year. Broadband-only houseolds went from 2.2 million last year to 3.3 million this year.