NEXTGEN TV (ATSC 3.0 Standard)

What Is NEXTGEN TV and How Will It Affect Me?

There is a new broadcast TV standard – ATSC 3.0 – available right now in over 60 markets. This infrastructure upgrade is also referred to as NEXTGEN TV. Over 4,000 licensed broadcast stations transmit over-the-air TV for FREE to millions of people across the U.S., and these broadcast stations are competing with streaming platforms like Amazon, HBO, and social media, where IP (Internet Protocol) video is available on demand. NEXTGEN TV is the future of TV and broadcasters can now integrate new features into IP-based TV to compete with the ever-increasing Internet-driven media landscape. But you don’t need the Internet to watch NEXTGEN TV.

Will broadcast TV still be free?

YES. Over-the-air television is a free public resource. NEXTGEN TV is the next step in the evolution of the technology and infrastructure used to broadcast this resource across America. It is a free service available to TV antenna users, and its availability depends only on your proximity to towers which have implemented the new technology and your TV. All you need is a NEXTGEN TV-capable TV and a TV antenna. In addition, it is broadcasters’ civic duty to continue transmitting the current standard, called ATSC 1.0, free over-the-air, for many years to come.

New features and improvements will enhance your TV-viewing experience.

NEXTGEN TV is the latest version of over-the-air antenna TV and offers higher-quality transmissions, better reception, and other features such as:

• Immersive surround-sound, similar to movie theatres.
• 4K, 8K, Ultra-HD and high dynamic range video.
• More channels, as well as opt-in targeted ad campaigns that correspond with your location and interests.
• Advanced, more informative emergency alerts and major news events with hyperlocal relevance and wake-up device safety features.
• Internet-based services like in-home streaming of broadcast TV to other devices (like smartphones and tablets), mobile capability to watch on the road, and more.
• Future developments may include the capacity to watch content in the language of your choice, pay-per-view content, multiple camera view options for live sports and “à la carte” cable network channels. These additional services would require a hardware device that could be built-in with a newly purchased TV or as a separate device.

Will I need the Internet to get NEXTGEN TV?

NO. You will receive NEXTGEN TV signals if your TV has an ATSC 3.0-capable tuner and you are close enough to towers using the new standard. A TV antenna paired with Internet connection provides access to a full range of capabilities such as interactivity to engage with your favorite shows, news, sports, and live events, including access to bonus content and a viewer’s guide you can personalize. Other features are developing and will continue to be enhanced over time.

It's an exciting time for broadcast TV and for those of us who have cut the cord to watch TV for FREE with an HDTV antenna. We will continue to update our cord-cutting family and our website as we learn more about the new standard. As always, at Antennas Direct, we’ve got your back. Stay tuned!