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Category: News

FCC Authorizes Next Generation TV Broadcast Transmission Standard

(Via FCC News)  The Federal Communications Commission today adopted new rules to let television broadcasters use the Next Generation broadcast television transmission standard, also called ATSC 3.0, on a voluntary, market-driven basis. The Next Generation TV standard will let broadcasters provide consumers with more vivid pictures and sound, including Ultra High Definition television and superior reception, mobile viewing capabilities, advanced emergency alerts, better accessibility...

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OTA Broadcasting Donates Zombie to WNET

(Via TVNewsCheck) Spectrum speculator OTA Broadcasting has donated the license and other assets of low-power WEBR-CD New York to noncommercial WNET New York, according to the transfer application filed with the FCC. OTA has also agreed to donate $12,500 to WNET. OTA may need the tax deduction. Earlier this year, it sold the WEBR’s UHF spectrum in the FCC incentive auction for $72.8 million,...

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Public TV Station Coalition Formed to Plan for Conversion to ATSC 3.0

(From TVTechnology.com) A group of public TV stations have formed the Public Media Venture Group, which aims to explore operating models and revenue opportunities around the conversion to ATSC 3.0 next-generation broadcast protocol. The coalition says it will coordinate plans for an effective shift to ATSC 3.0, as well as focus on a variety of efforts including emergency communications, increased program streams, and revenue-generating...

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Public Media Company Announces Public Media Venture Group

Public Media Company announces the launch of the Public Media Venture Group, a coalition of public media television stations serving over 150 million Americans. Public Media Venture Group member stations are committed to working together and investing collaboratively in “Next Generation TV” for the benefit of the American people. Public Media Company will help Public Media Venture Group members plan an effective conversion to...

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Public Media Company’s Public Television Financing Program

Worried about paying for auction-related equipment costs, ATSC 3.0 upgrades or general equipment needs? Public Media Company has secured over $20 million from a combination of non-profit and traditional bank lenders to assist public television stations with equipment financing needs through an affordable loan program. Additionally, there might be other lenders interested in providing financing solutions to public TV stations on a case-by-case basis....

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In Aftermath of Spectrum Auction, Even Stations That Sat Out Could Benefit

By PMC CEO Marc Hand, writing in Current: Despite eye-popping windfalls for some stations, the FCC broadcast spectrum auction was a disappointment for public media. Here’s why: Prior to the start of the auction, the prevailing wisdom was that the forward auction would generate anywhere between $30 billion and $60 billion in gross proceeds. Some experts were even more bullish — predicting numbers of...

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Public Media Company CEO Speaks to PBS TechCon About ATSC 3.0

The new ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard won’t wash your car, fold your laundry or provide tomorrow’s winning lottery numbers. Beyond that, though, broadcasters attending PBS TechCon are being promised a wide array of benefits from the next-generation digital TV system that’s a focus of this year’s convention. “There is really a significant opportunity for increased service,” Public Media Company CEO Marc Hand told a...

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FCC Spectrum Auction and Channel Sharing

As we transition from the FCC spectrum auction and the FCC auction quiet period, public television stations may face unique and interesting post-auction opportunities that could allow them to improve their service, generate additional revenue, or both. To take advantage of these opportunities, however, public television stations will need to move quickly: Broadcasters will have until sometime in mid-July to file their construction permit...

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TV Broadcasters Get Another Shot at Leveraging Channels Into Cash

“The FCC’s incentive auction may not have resulted in the jackpot payday that some television broadcasters hoped for, but public broadcasters could still benefit financially through channel-sharing deals. By working out agreements to share their channels with other noncommercial and commercial broadcasters that did succeed in selling their spectrum, public TV stations have a post-auction opportunity to earn money. The nonprofit consulting firm Public...

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Next Generation Digital Television: New Pathways to Grow Service

As a result of our ATSC 3.0 meetings for station leaders, we have issued a full report on this important, emerging broadcast technology, “Next Generation Digital Television: New Pathways to Grow Service.” In addition, Public Media Company has created a new “ATSC 3.0 Resource Center”, a curated collection of links, articles and related commentary. Topics include an ATSC 3.0 technology overview, timing and transition,...

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