Five Stations Launch NextGen TV in Fresno-Visalia

Fresno
(Image credit: California Restaurant Association)

FRESNO, Calif.—Five major television stations serving the Fresno-Visalia market have launched NextGen TV broadcasts. 

The June 9 launch included KGPE (the Nexstar-owned CBS affiliate), KMPH-TV (the Sinclair-owned Fox affiliate), KSEE (Nexstar-owned NBC affiliate), KNSO (the NBCUniversal Local-owned Telemundo affiliate) and KFRE-TV (the Sinclair-owned CW affiliate). 

Earlier this month KMCF-LD Channel 6 in Fresno, Calif., launched NextGen TV on VHF Channel 6 and is hoping to offer a full-power FM service at 87.7 on the radio dial.

In the run-up to the June 9 launch, KFRE-TV, which is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, converted to ATSC 3.0 transmissions. KFRE-TV will broadcast its own programming, as well as the programming of the other participating stations, in NextGen TV format. 

All programming of all participating stations will continue to be available in the existing DTV format, which can be received on all modern television sets. 

BitPath, which is developing new data broadcasting services, led the planning process and coordinated efforts across the five television stations. 

TV Tech has been following all the launches of NextGen TV broadcasts (a.k.a. ATSC 3.0) around the country. That list of markets is available here

George Winslow

George Winslow is the senior content producer for TV Tech. He has written about the television, media and technology industries for nearly 30 years for such publications as Broadcasting & Cable, Multichannel News and TV Tech. Over the years, he has edited a number of magazines, including Multichannel News International and World Screen, and moderated panels at such major industry events as NAB and MIP TV. He has published two books and dozens of encyclopedia articles on such subjects as the media, New York City history and economics.