Pearl TV moves to accelerate development of Nextgen TV receivers

Pearl TV, the grouping of US broadcasters transitioning to Nextgen TV, the new advanced TV standard for terrestrial distribution also known as ATSC 3.0, has developed a programme to accelerate development and retail availability of low-cost upgrade accessory receivers.

According to Pearl TV, the programme will create a diverse market of accessories that will bring Nextgen TV features to 91% of households that have displays with an HDMI input, but are not equipped with Nextgen TV technology.

There are currently more than 120 television models that support Nextgen TV at retail from Hisense, LG, Samsung and Sony. Nextgen TV currently is available to 55% of U.S. households, and is expected to reach 75% of households by the end of 2023.

The Pearl TV FastTrack program seeks to provide support to manufacturers interested in making devices that support the full Nextgen TV service feature set including enhanced video, audio and the interactive features.

The FastTrack program will help accelerate the availability of devices for consumers by guiding device makers through the logo and other conformance requirements, including security and regulatory compliance, testing, and opportunities for distribution and marketing partnerships.

Pearl TV said that having an affordable alternative to investing in a new Nextgen TV receiver without a built-in display is essential to meet the portion of the potential viewing audience that does not have television sets that support the standard.

“This new programme will make it easier for companies interested in jumping into the Nextgen TV device ecosystem to design, manufacture and sell upgrade accessories. While we’ve seen continued success of the transition, the ATSC 3.0 standard is not backward compatible. This programme helps solve that. With a simplified process, accessory price points will decrease making it more affordable and easier for consumers to enjoy Nextgen TV even without an enabled television,” said Anne Schelle, managing director of Pearl TV.

“Nextgen TV is experiencing hockey stick growth among consumers and broadcasters, yet some viewers with television sets bought prior to 2020 have yet to enjoy the rich features of the standard,” commented Rob Folliard, senior vice president, government relations and distribution at Gray Television.

“Device makers can now address this issue with full support and guidance to manufacture and market compatible products that consumers need and want to enjoy over-the-air television service for free.”