What Display Daily thinks: On the surface, NextGen TV promises a whole lot of opportunities for display vendors. It provides viewers with enhanced picture and sound quality, more interactive features, and better support for mobile devices which should translate into 4K UHD video, immersive audio experiences, and interactive content like on-demand videos and personalized advertisements. Everything there is a money-making opportunity.
The problem with NextGen TV is that it falls between two stools: it’s great for over the air (OTA) transmissions or the typical cable TV box, but requires special hardware to run, and it could be integrated into streaming apps and devices provided the broadcast signal was already licensed for conversion and use.
That’s a broadcaster’s approach to the issue of meeting the demands of modern devices, but it’s not really a framework around which the software industry could have rallied. If it is, you’ll need to pull out the slews of developers looking at integrated NextGen TV features into their apps or platforms.
Don’t get me wrong, ATSC 3.0 should be an established standard for broadcasters, but it comes with overheads and costs that may never realize a return on investment because, frankly, broadcasting doesn’t have that kind of clout. TV viewing isn’t built on passive networks that just deliver content. They are internet-connected computing devices, just like smartphones, and computers.
So, there you have it. Broadcasters have all the power and very little of it all at the same time. How does that work when you think about the opportunities around NextGen TV? It needs to exist, but no one may ever really need it.
NAB Policy Update
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) hosted a virtual town hall meeting at the end of last month to provide updates on its policy priorities and initiatives. NAB president and CEO Curtis LeGeyt discussed NAB’s advocacy efforts. He mentioned his recent testimony at a House Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing regarding the state of the video marketplace. NAB is urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to revisit its 2014 regulatory framework for virtual multichannel video programming distributors (virtual MVPDs) in light of the changing media landscape.
LeGeyt highlighted the ongoing Depend on AM Radio campaign, which aims to emphasize the importance of AM radio and the need for automakers to include it in vehicles. The campaign has generated significant grassroots support, with over 360,000 emails sent to members of Congress and social media engagement. LeGeyt emphasized the need for the FCC to reform ownership rules that put broadcasters at a disadvantage in a competitive marketplace. He also noted NAB’s efforts to reduce broadcast regulatory fees on local stations and the importance of clarity in the FCC’s merger review process.
The town hall included an overview of NAB Show New York, which would showcase various educational sessions and innovative products. Topics would include Next Gen TV and radio in the automotive dashboard, broadcast business strategies, and the Marconi Radio Awards. LeGeyt also shared his perspective on the deployment of NextGen TV and the work of the Future of TV Initiative, indicating that NAB is actively involved in shaping the future of television.
