NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) arrived in Omaha on April 19, with the market’s first NextGen signal carrying the HD streams of the local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC affiliates.
Mitts Telecasting’s KXVO/15.1 (RF channel 29), which is managed by Sinclair Broadcast Group, is serving as the host station. In addition to its own channel carrying the TBD network, KXVO relays the existing signals of Scripps CBS affiliate KMTV/3.1, Gray NBC affiliate WOWT/6.1, Hearst ABC affiliate KETV/7.1, and Sinclair FOX affiliate KPTM/42.1.
Three of the stations are now originating KXVO’s existing programming in ATSC 1.0 format, which is the standard that can be received by all existing digital TV’s. KPTM (RF 26) carries 15.1 TBD network, KMTV (RF 31) carries 15.2 Stadium Network, and KETV (RF 20) carries 15.3 Charge! Network.
(KXVO is a former CW affiliate. Sinclair moved the CW affiliation to KPTM/42.3 last year.)
KXVO can also be easily received in Lincoln due to is transmitter location between Omaha and the capital city.
Though 4K broadcasts are expected in the future on ATSC 3.0 signals, they are not yet on the air in the U.S. The rollout will require networks to provide 4K feeds to their affiliates and more stations to convert to ATSC 3.0, since 4K requires more bandwidth.
Omaha is the second Upper Midwest market to get a NextGen TV station carrying major network programming. Green Bay launched earlier this year in a rollout that also involved Sinclair, which has converted a number of its stations to ATSC 3.0.
This article was originally published on March 30 and was updated on April 19.
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