WASHINGTON—The Federal Communications Commission’s Office of Engineering and Technology and Media Bureau have released updated TVStudy software (v2.3.1).

TVStudy is open-source software developed by the agency to analyze the coverage area, population served, and potential signal interference when evaluating channel changes and station repacking for full-service digital and Class A television stations.

The TVStudy v2.3.1 software installation package, the TVStudy 2.3.1 Installation and Upgrade Guide, and the post-auction template XML file are all available on the TVStudy website.

As with prior updates, a full list of changes from TVStudy v2.3 is included in the “Differences Between 2.3.1 and 2.3.0” section of the change log in the TVStudy 2.3.1 Installation and Upgrade Guide.

The FCC reported that TVStudy 2.3.1 corrects an issue that caused applications for new low-power television stations to be considered incorrectly in TV Interference Check studies. TVStudy 2.3.1 also corrects several minor issues throughout the software and adds a handful of minor features.

For further information on the TVStudy software and to submit bug reports, contact Mark Colombo at 202-418-7611 or Mark.Colombo@fcc.gov.

In the past, I’ve often used my New Year’s column to summarize the state of broadcasting and highlight last year’s developments and I what I expect to happen this year. I don’t have much to add to what I wrote in my 2025 columns covering the NAB Show, ATSC yearly meeting, and, recently, the FCC’s Fifth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on NextGen TV.

In 2026, I’ll be looking to see if the transition to ATSC 3.0 accelerates. Whether it does, and at what rate, will depend on more viewers with antennas buying TV sets that have ATSC 3.0 capability. That will require more low-cost TVs and adapters. Will enough manufacturers make the effort to obtain the licenses and certifications required for sets to work with content-protected programming?

This month, I’ll share some of the free software I use to understand how TV signals make it from the transmitter to the receive antenna, both in numbers and maps. If you want to see how changing an antenna or transmitter location impacts coverage, these tools will help.

The two main tools are TVStudy, which has been significantly updated since I last wrote about it in TV Tech, and QGIS, a program that allows you to drag and drop shapefiles from TVStudy, Census.gov, or other sites for display on a map.

FCC’s TVStudy
In the past, you would have to spend thousands of dollars to get the software and databases needed to calculate a station’s terrain-limited, interference-free coverage. Today, you can download the FCC’s TVStudy for free, along with terrain and population databases and detailed technical data on every TV station in the U.S, for coverage and interference analysis.

TVStudy for MacOS and Linux is available for download here. A complete download is more than 10 GB in size—that’s large but workable with an internet connection of 50 Mbps or better. Download the manuals and follow the installation guide precisely. The documentation is excellent.

Most of the issues I’ve seen are with MySQL—TVStudy requires MySQL 5.7 or 8.0, and many Linux distributions install MariaDB by default. For Debian-based distributions like Ubuntu and Kubuntu, simply replace MariaDB with MySQL 8.0 before trying to install TVStudy. TVStudy requires Java 8. Most operating systems now default to later versions, so it may be necessary to install Java 8. Look for OpenJDK Runtime Environment build 1.8.0. Use it to open the TVStudy program.

TVStudy will download the latest TV and FM License and Management System (LMS) databases. With them, you can search for stations and study coverage and interference. This is important, as most online terrain-sensitive coverage maps do not show the impact of interference.

TVStudy 2.3.0 can create KMZ files that can be opened in Google Earth to see coverage and interference at a specific location. View the TVStudy KMZ file I’ve uploaded here. I’ve also displayed the undesired sources’ location and call signs on the map (Fig. 1).

If you are interested in learning more about TVStudy and how to use it, let me know and I’ll provide more details and tips by email or in future columns.

QGIS
QGIS is another program I currently use. Most Linux distributions have it available in their repositories. Versions are also available for MacOS and Windows. There are many QGIS tutorials online, but some are based on outdated versions or are targeted at people developing their own complicated maps, which isn’t necessary when just dragging and dropping existing shapefiles into the program. If you get frustrated with a tutorial, try another one. A well-worded question often brings a good response on Google search.

Most of the map issues I’ve seen come from using the wrong coordinate system. The spreadsheet output from TVStudy has west longitude as a positive number. If dropped into QGIS unmodified, it will end up on the other side of the Earth. When working with shapefiles, QGIS usually handles the coordinates correctly and makes the necessary conversions. Learning about coordinate systems and mapping on the web and QGIS helps answer questions like, “Why is my nondirectional contour an oval on my map?”

Spend some time getting comfortable with basic maps, then drag and drop the contours.shp and coverpts.shp files from a TVStudy study’s shapefile folder onto the map. You can use colors to display the “DSIGNAL” field strength on the map. Setting up styles can be complicated so to help you get started. I’ve uploaded some files you can use to get familiar with it here.

The map shown here (Fig. 2) was created with QGIS and some of the sample files I posted. TVStudy pulled all the data for the WDMR-LD study from the LMS files downloaded in the program. I’ve shown the areas with interference in red.

If you just want to see the areas with coverage or within a certain field strength range, that’s easy to do in QGIS. You can download my files and experiment with QGIS before doing your own studies with TVStudy. I used a 1-kilometer cell size for the example, but TVStudy allows the use of smaller cells for higher resolution.

Additional shapefiles are available here. For specific map items, search for “tigerline shapefiles” for additional U.S. shapefiles.” I’ve found maps online for Mexican roads and urban areas, as well as world oceans and U.S. water bodies. Note that some areas will be polygons, which QGIS may display with a filled-in color. That can be changed by selecting “Simple Line” in the “Symbology” section in the layer’s properties if needed.

QGIS isn’t limited to displaying geographic and TVStudy data. If data is available as a .csv file with coordinates, it can be displayed. Potential applications include mapping towers, microwave paths, etc., once the data is in .csv format. The “Processing Toolbox” allows counting the population covered in a TVStudy coverpts.shp file by county or ZIP code, for example, and outputting the data into a .csv file for analysis. I’m still finding new things I can do with it!

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The FCC Media Bureau has announced  that effective August 1, 2024 the Commission’s TVStudy software will incorporate the most recent U.S. Census Bureau decennial Census block and population data (2020 Census Data). 

The Commission’s TVStudy software is used to perform coverage and interference analysis of television stations in connection with the preparation and processing of full power rulemaking petitions to allot channels to the Table of TV Allotments and in applications prepared by  television licensees and permittees when they seek to modify their facilities, the agency said. 

The move means that all television broadcast applications filed on or after August 1, 2024, will be required to utilize 2020 Census Data for purposes of conducting interference analyses, the Media Bureau reported. Those who don’t use the 2020 data will be required to amend their applications and may see their applications dismissed “as defective.”   

The Media Bureau also noted that in a separate Public Notice, The Office of Engineering and Technology announced the release of updated TVStudy software (Version 2.3.0).

The TVStudy Version 2.3.0 software, the TVStudy 2.3.0 Installation and Upgrade Guide, and the template XML file are all available on the TVStudy website at http://www.fcc.gov/oet/tvstudy.

The agency also stressed that a full list of changes from TVStudy Version 2.2.5 is included in the “Differences Between 2.3.0 and 2.2.5” section of the Change Log in the TVStudy 2.3.0 Installation and Upgrade Guide.

The agency said that further information regarding this Public Notice can be obtained by contacting Kevin Harding at (202) 418-7077 or Kevin.Harding@fcc.gov; or Mark Colombo at (202) 418-7611 or Mark.Colombo@fcc.gov. 

WASHINGTON—The Office of Engineering and Technology has made a new version of the TVStudy software available to broadcasters, v2.2.3. The update includes a new version of the software installation package, the Installation and Upgrade Guide and the post-auction template XML file.

The key update of v2.2.3 is the improved performance of the TV Interference Check mode. Part of that update includes the oft requested ability to evaluate more than one user record within a given TV Interference Check study. In addition, v2.2.3 enables appropriate consideration of channel sharing applications and handling of the Longley-Rice error flag when studying DTS stations.

The full list of changes from the previous v2.2.2 is included in the Change Log of the TVStudy 2.2.3 Installation and Upgrade Guide.

All of the newly upgraded TVStudy software is available on the TVStudy website at www.fcc.gov/oet/tvstudy.

Differences Between 2.2.2 and 2.2.1

-Changed the interference-check wizard build logic to support pre-transition and transitional studies.
-Added a new option and parameter to the interference-check wizard that controls interferencecheck behavior for protection of LPTV stations when studying a Class A record.
-Changed the data type of the latitude and longitude seconds fields in the LMS baseline table to floating-point so fractional seconds will be supported on new LMS imports.
-Made changes to AM station search in interference-check study.
-The terrain profile resolution in interference-check study output is now reported in kilometer spacing rather than points per kilometer.
-Added a new parameter to set HAAT radial count separately for LPTV.
-Overhauled the automatic XML import logic. -User records can now be deleted.
-Improved station data import code.
-Added a feature to automatically download LMS, CDBS, or CDBS FM station data and import directly from ZIP file. -Added a cancel button to the station data download or import message dialog.
-Included a new command-line utility for database management.
-Corrected an issue in azimuth pattern lookup.
-Corrected an issue in the interference-check baseline search logic, that caused it to include Canadian and Mexican baseline records when the included foreign stations box was not checked.
-Fixed a problem in the record editor when creating a new DTS record.
-Fixed header misalignment and numerical precision issues in parameters.csv output.
-Fixed a bug where an uncaught exception would occur when clicking the run button on an empty study (no scenarios).
-Fixed custom rendering in tables that color-code text so the text stays readable in a selected row regardless of highlight color.
-KML map output of coverage points now sorts the points into folders according to the analysis result code, allowing related points to be manipulated more easily in mapping software.
-Added a "Defaults" button in the image color map editor to restore default colors.
-Added a properties file "lib/config.props", allowing various configuration settings to be changed without a software update.

WASHINGTON—The FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology has announced the release of TVStudy v2.2.2 software. The new version comes on the heels of v2.2.1, which was released two weeks ago, and according to the commission’s official release “addresses the previously announced matter of evaluating LPTV stations.”

Additional reasons for the update, per the FCC, include newly designed features for easier use and access to latest LMS tables containing technical information about Canadian and Mexican stations and domestic coverage baselines in connection with the previously released data sets related to the post-incentive auction transition.

The FCC recommends that stations use this most recent version of TVStudy prospectively and in conjunction with the preparation of construction permit applications in connection with the post-auction transition.

The TVStudy v2.2.2 installation package, TVStudy Installation and Upgrade Guide and post-auction template XML file are available at www.fcc.gov/oet/tvstudy. The differences of v2.2.2 to v2.2.1 are also listed in the sidebar.

WASHINGTON—TVStudy the software designed to repack all but possibly 12 of several thousand TV stations into 28 percent less spectrum, is now in version 2.2.1. The software, based on the digital television interference parameters in OET Bulletin No. 69, got the point-one tweak just two weeks after v2.2 was released, to correct “a number of minor issues” discovered upon its release. These are enumerated in the FCCTVStudy Installation and Upgrade Guide on p. 36, and included here in the sidebar below.
Differences Between 2.2 and 2.2.1
—Viewing a replicated DTS baseline record in the search dialog now shows a note "will replicate to D##" below the channel field.
—In the record editor, when viewing a replicated DTS record, the note indicating original channel now appears on individual transmitter tabs as well as the parent tab.
—The “Add Many...” function in the scenario editor now correctly applies replications for DTS baseline records. —Wireless study mode lower frequency limit changed to 50 MHz.
—Added support for emission mask field on Class A records in the LMS baseline table. Note that LMS dump files from before April 20 will no longer import into TVStudy.
—Fixed random false positives on 1 percent baseline contour test in TV IX Check studies.
—Fixed search dialog option to restrict by service type in baseline table searches.
—Fixed failures of azimuth pattern lookup for DTS baseline records.
—Fixed possible incorrect column typing in table used to index the cache of past interference-check studies run through the servlet API. If the problem occurred in a particular installation, it would cause past run links to show the correct date but the time would always be 12:00:00.
TVStudy v2.2, the one released immediately before today’s update, included interference studies for low-power TV stations, which are not protected in the repack and therefore not guaranteed a channel when it’s all said and done. However, v2.2 did not consider booth pre- and post-auction channels in these studies, which a future version will do—just not this one, the Federal Communications Commission’s Public Notice stated:

“This version of TVStudy does not address the issue with TVStudy 2.2 relating to LPTV stations. An update addressing that issue is still expected in the coming weeks.”

Also see…
April 14, 2017
“Repack TVStudy v2.2 Targets LPTVs”
Vers. 2.2 is said to produce “interference studies for low-power television stations, assuming all post-auction transitions have been completed,” though “it does not accurately account for full-power and Class A television stations’ pre-auction and post-auction channel assignments during the transition period.”

Feb. 6, 2017
“FCC Updates TVStudy Repack Software”

June 18, 2015
“FCC Votes to Keep TVStudy, $1.75 Billion Cap and No Channels for Non-Coms”

Nov. 3, 2014
TV Spectrum Sellers Say TVStudy Shortchanges LPTVs”

Sept. 9, 2013
FCC TVStudy Update No. 4 Tweaks Beam-Tilt

Aug. 22, 2013
FCC Staff Demos TVStudy

Aug. 20, 2013
TVStudy Update No. 3 Does Cross-Border Analysis

April 26, 2013
FCC Releases Updated OET-69 TVStudy Software

WASHINGTON—The TV channel repack software has once again been updated. TV Study, the software that based on OET Bulletin No. 69, is now in version 2.2, which the Federal Communications Commission’s Office of Engineering and Technology released today.

Vers. 2.2 is said to produce “interference studies for low-power television stations assuming all post-auction transitions have been completed,” though “it does not accurately account for full-power and Class A television stations’ pre-auction and post-auction channel assignments during the transition period.” 

The OET said it “expects to release another updated version of TVStudy in the coming weeks that will enable LPTV stations to conduct interference analyses that correctly consider pre-auction channel assignments as well as post-auction assignments.

“LPTV stations should wait for this future release before using TVStudy to conduct interference analyses regarding potential new channel assignments.”

Vers. 2.2 includes an Installation and Upgrade Guide, which enumerates the differences with vers. 2.1; and the post-auction template XML file, which contains the software configuration settings for processing construction permit applications.

OET-69 comprised the metrics used to calculate TV coverage and potential interference for over-the-air digital television 10 years ago. The OET-69 variant dubbed “TVStudy” was first introduced in February of 2013.

The software and related files are on the commission’s TVStudy site.

Also see…
Feb. 6, 2017
“FCC Updates TVStudy Repack Software”

June 18, 2015
“FCC Votes to Keep TVStudy, $1.75 Billion Cap and No Channels for Non-Coms”

Nov. 3, 2014
TV Spectrum Sellers Say TVStudy Shortchanges LPTVs”

Sept. 9, 2013
FCC TVStudy Update No. 4 Tweaks Beam-Tilt

Aug. 22, 2013
FCC Staff Demos TVStudy

Aug. 20, 2013
TVStudy Update No. 3 Does Cross-Border Analysis

April 26, 2013
FCC Releases Updated OET-69 TVStudy Software

WASHINGTON—TVStudy, the Federal Communications Commission’s TV band repack software, has been updated. This version includes an updated interference-check mode, new map output options, support for additional or updated underlying data sources, and several new analysis modes, according to a Public Notice change log from the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology.

TVStudy is based on OET Bulletin No. 69, the metrics used to calculate TV coverage and potential interference for the launch of over-the-air digital television 10 years ago. The OET-69 variant dubbed “TVStudy” was first introduced in February of 2013. The software has gone through several updates and is now in Vers. 2.1.

The interference-check (IX) mode has been “extensively modified” to reflect an older software set called “tv_process” and will accept multiple channel inputs and generate “tvixstudy.dat” files for each. TV IX check mode is said to support the 1 percent coverage contour increase and the 5 percent population decrease thresholds to be used during the first 90 days after the Incentive Auction Closing and Channel Reassignment Public Notice is released in the coming weeks.

“Additionally, to facilitate post-auction filings, TVStudy has the ability... to exclude records filed before a specific date unless there is an associated baseline record on that channel. This will allow applications to be analyzed with respect to post-auction records,” the change log stated.

Vers. 2.1 also eliminates data selection for AM radio station searches and adds a field for a cut-off date, after which newly archived records will be excluded from results. A new TV-FM interference study mode has been added, along with a “Geography Editor” that enables analysis on individual receive points using various receive antenna patterns and the capability to project contours by “various new methods.”

Data sets have been updated to reflect North American Datum of 1983. Consequently, spreadsheet fields denoting latitude and longitude will be suffixed with “83.” A call-sign search field has been modified and a field for identifying an experimental facility has been added, among many other modifications available for review at the commission’s TVStudywebsite.

The commission said the OET will “continue to make improvements and other changes to TVStudy that are necessary and appropriate, and will inform the public via public notice when new versions of TVStudy are released. ”

OET said it also welcomes feedback on vers 2.1, and that the Media Bureau will use the updated and revised software to process construction permit applications during the 39-month repack window.

“In processing applications using TVStudy, the Media Bureau will use the same input values adopted in the Incentive Auction proceeding [See Incentive Auction Report and Order, 29 FCC Rcd at 6636-42, paras. 148-161; Incentive Auction Second Order on Reconsideration, 30 FCC Rcd at 6757-58, paras. 24-26] except that the Media Bureau will continue to afford applicants the flexibility to specify a value for certain inputs, rather than establishing a default value, consistent with the current rules for processing applications.”

“Specifically, while the commission set a default cell size of 2 km per side for the repacking process, the Media Bureau will continue to allow full-power applicants to use a cell size ‘other than the default of 2.0 km per side, but only requests for cell sizes of 1.0 km per side or 0.5 km per side will be considered.’”

For more TV Technology coverage, check ourspectrum auction silo

Also see...Feb.6, 2017
FCC Updates TVStudy Repack Software

Jan. 9, 2017
V-Soft Debuts FCC’s TVStudy for Windows

June 18, 2015
LINK: FCC Votes to Keep TVStudy, $1.75 Billion Cap and No Channels for Non-Coms

Nov. 3 2014
TV Spectrum Sellers Say TVStudy Shortchanges LPTVs

Aug. 21, 2014
NAB Files Petition Challenging FCC's TVStudy Methodology

July 31, 2014
TVStudy Options Show Impact on Coverage

May 27, 2014
FCC Updates ‘TVStudy’

Feb. 3, 2014
FCC’s OET Releases TVStudy 1.30

Oct. 24, 2013
FCC Updates TVStudy Software

Sept. 30, 2013
Surprising Results Using Real Antenna Patterns in TVStudy

Sept. 9, 2013
FCC TVStudy Update No. 4 Tweaks Beam-Tilt

Aug. 22, 2013
FCC Staff Demos TVStudy

Aug. 22, 2013
FCC OET Updates TVStudy

Aug. 20, 2013
TVStudy Update No. 3 Does Cross-Border Analysis

July 25, 2013
FCC Unveils Updated TVStudy Software

June 28, 2013
Improved TVStudy Software Announced at FCC Open Meeting

June 19, 2013
Using TVStudy to Map Coverage, Interference

May 3, 2013
OET Updates TVStudy Software

May 1, 2013
OET Releases New Version of TVStudy Software

April 26, 2013
FCC Releases Updated OET-69 TVStudy Software

April 1, 2013
Installing the FCC’s ‘TVStudy’ in 24 Easy Steps

Feb. 5, 2013
FCC Reveals Crucial Piece of TV Channel Repacking Method

OLATHE, KAN.—Linux and Mac systems have been able to run the FCC’s TVStudy program for a while, but V-Soft Communications has come out with what it believes is the first implementation of the TVStudy software for Windows. Using the FCC’s OET 69 methodology, TVStudy on Windows can calculate interference that may be caused by a TV station to other TV stations, land mobile and cell phone carriers.

To enable the original TVStudy program to run on Windows computers, V-Soft has simplified the download and install process. The company is providing the program and its data on a flash drive and the software needed to install TVStudy on to the user’s computer. Detailed instructions on how to install the MySQL database engine required to run the program are also provided.

The commission is currently using the TVStudy program to work with the TV band, but until now has been previously unavailable for Windows computers. V-Soft reports moving forward the TVStudy program will be only program used by the FCC when new channels have been announced at the end of the current auction process.