Hisense enables NEXTGEN TV interactivity via ATSC 3.0 watermark detection

Hisense USA Introduces First Mass Market ATSC 3.0 Watermark Detection Enabling NEXTGEN TV Interactive Services For Its Consumers

SUWANEE, GA — Hisense, a global leader in the consumer electronics and home appliance industries, and Verance announced today that Hisense is introducing the first mass market ATSC watermark detection for NextGen TVs across their ATSC 3.0 product lines giving broadcasters the ability to deliver to consumers the benefit of new interactive experiences on select Hisense ULED and Laser TVs via cable, satellite or antenna.

Hisense is expanding the number of television programmers bringing interactive capabilities to the living room with cable networks and regional sports networks now able to join local stations and national networks offering these new features.

The Verance Aspect watermark provides a high-performance, commercial implementation of the ATSC audio A/334 watermark specification. Hisense is the first mass market consumer electronics company to launch watermark detection commercially bringing enhanced ATSC 3.0 capabilities to Hisense NextGen TVs.

Broadcasters are including watermark signals in their services which pass transparently through all distribution paths and set-top boxes and will be reliably detected in Hisense ATSC 3.0 TVs. The watermark signals trigger the launch of NextGen TV broadcast applications to offer a rich set of interactive experiences for opted-in consumers including Sports Betting, Fantasy Sports, Watch Party, Personalized News & Weather, and Advanced Emergency Information. Without Verance watermarking, over 80% of U.S. households (viewers receiving television service via cable, satellite and over-the-top distribution paths) are unable to receive NextGen TV interactive services.

Douglas Kern, Hisense USA Head of Product Marketing, said, “We are excited to expand NextGen TV interactive services to all of the viewers of national networks, local stations and cable networks regardless of how they receive their television signal, all while bringing many new interactive services to Hisense consumers.”

Nil Shah, CEO of Verance, said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Hisense, which is once again proving to be an industry leader in developing innovative NextGen TV solutions. Its embrace of the Verance Aspect watermark will serve as a driving market force for consumers to fully realize NextGen TV functionality.”