WPIX, WABC-TV, WXTV-DT launch NextGen TV in New York City metro area

WPIX, WABC-TV, and WXTV-DT Launch NextGen TV in the Nation’s #1 Television Market

NEW YORK — Three leading television stations serving the New York City metropolitan area have begun broadcasting with NextGen TV, a revolutionary new digital broadcast technology delivering stunning video with brilliant color, sharper images and deeper contrast to create a more life-like viewing experience. The launch includes WPIX (CW), WABC-TV (ABC), and WXTV-DT (Univision). NextGen TV is now available in more than 70 markets nationwide.

Based on ATSC 3.0, the world’s most advanced television broadcasting technology, NextGen TV can be enhanced with Internet content to enable viewers to get the most out of live sports, live news, and live events in real time, without looking away from TV screens. ATSC 3.0 gives broadcasters the power to serve their markets with a range of high value data services in addition to improved television broadcasting.

In addition, NextGen TV adds a new dimension to TV viewing, with vibrant video and new Voice+ dialogue enhancement that brings voices to the foreground. Movie theater-quality sound lets viewers hear every voice clearly and keeps the volume consistent across channels. NextGen TV also improves the way broadcasters reach viewers with emergency alerts and can support a wide range of features currently in development.

NextGen TV is the most significant broadcast technology upgrade in history. Features available will vary by device and station as broadcasters roll out service across the country. NextGen TV can continue to evolve as new technologies are introduced because it is built on the same basic technologies that power the Internet and mobile broadband. New sets compatible with ATSC 3.0 are marked with the distinctive NEXTGEN TV logo.

The launch of NextGen TV follows a decade of development and months of planning and preparation by the local stations. Owned by Mission Broadcasting, WPIX has converted to ATSC 3.0 transmissions and will broadcast its own programming, as well as the programming of the other participating stations, in the NextGen TV format. All programming of the participating stations will continue to be available in the existing DTV format, which can be received on all modern television sets. BitPath, which is developing new data broadcasting services, led the planning process and coordinated transition efforts across the three television stations.