NextGen TV is poised to launch on Tuesday, Jan. 25, in Green Bay, which will be the first Upper Midwest market to have major network affiliates available on an ATSC 3.0 signal.
Sinclair Broadcast Group’s WCWF (Suring-Green Bay, RF channel 15) will be the host station for ATSC 3.0 broadcasts in the market. It is running an announcement telling viewers to rescan after 10 a.m. Tuesday.
The launch was originally scheduled for last fall but was delayed three months for reasons not disclosed in FCC filings.
WCWF’s ATSC 3.0 signal will carry simulcasts of the HD signals of the local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC affiliates along with WCWF’s CW channel.
In exchange, WCWF’s five channels will be carried in the original digital format, ATSC 1.0, on the other transmitters in the market: WCWF’s main CW channel (14.1) will be simulcast on sister station WLUK (RF 12). 14.2 Comet will be on Nexstar’s WFRV (RF 22), 14.3 Charge! will be on Gray’s WBAY (RF 23), and both 14.4 Stadium and 14.5 DABL will be on Scripps’ WACY (RF 36).
The channel sharing is similar to arrangements used in other markets that have launched NextGen TV broadcasts.
ATSC 3.0 transmissions can only be received with newer TV’s or adapters. The new digital standard offers more bandwidth, giving broadcasters the potential for 4K, additional channels, datacasting, and other services — but those new offerings won’t happen until more transmitters are converted to ATSC 3.0.
An industry website says NextGen TV launches are also expected by summer in Milwaukee, Chicago, Minneapolis, Des Moines, and Omaha, among other cities.
No date is set for a full national transition to ATSC 3.0.
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