Terrestrial 4K Broadcasting Begins with WRAL-TV

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Terrestrial 4K Broadcasting Begins with WRAL-TV

Post by fatso » Sun Jul 03, 2016 9:45 pm

WRAL Lights Up ATSC 3.0 4K Signal
RALEIGH, N.C.— WRAL-TV, Capitol Broadcasting’s NBC affiliate in Raleigh-Durham, said it launched its new ATSC 3.0 TV station with the first live simulcast of a commercially licensed television station.

The official launch began with WRAL News at Noon newscast and a simultaneous second channel broadcasting “Take Me Out to the Bulls’ Game,” a documentary previously shot, edited and post-produced in 4K/UHD HDR. This launch of what is now being referred to regularly as “Next Generation TV” employs ATSC 3.0, the newly developed broadcasting transmission standard from the Advanced Television Systems Committee.

While receivers remain commercially unavailable and the standard itself is not yet complete, WRAL and other broadcasters consider ATSC 3.0 a necessary advancement for over-the-air television. It is designed to deliver 4K Ultra HD resolution, high dynamic range, and wide color gamut, as well as personalized, object audio and advanced emergency warning features.

The Federal Communications Commission agreed in April to put out a petition for authorizing ATSC 3.0 out for comment. The petition, submitted by the National Association of Broadcasters,America’s Public Television Stations, the Consumer Technology Association (formerly the Consumer Electronics Association), and the Advanced Warning and Response Network Alliance, requested a voluntary adoption scheme. In comments from those entities and several broadcast groups, a request was made for the FCC to make a related rulemaking authorizing this voluntary adoption framework by Oct. 1, 2016. (“Broadcasters Seek ATSC 3.0 Rulemaking by October 1.”

ATSC 3.0 will become the first over-the-air broadcast system based on internet protocol technology.

WRAL-TV plans to use it to provide a deep offering of on-demand content, access to multiple sources of video to enhance linear viewing, and a number of other 24/7 streams of TV and radio programming, representing the marriage of broadcasting and broadband.

WRAL is transmitting its ATSC 3.0 signal on Channel 39 under an experimental FCC license.

“Capitol Broadcasting believes strongly in the future of over-the-air broadcasting, and that ATSC 3.0 represents the technological breakthrough that will enable local stations to remain the primary source of news, information and entertainment on any device. In fact, Next Generation TV will provide the capacity for an extraordinary range of new interactive tools, and become a major part of the digital future,” said Capitol Broadcasting President and CEO Jim Goodmon.

James F. Goodmon, Jr., vice president and general manager of CBC New Media said, “Embracing new technology is part of who we are, and CBC is launching this new technology to see firsthand how it works and to explore its many applications. We intend to share what we learn with the broadcast industry while utilizing ATSC 3.0’s capabilities to become better providers of news and information for our viewers.”

WRAL-TV has assembled a team of leading technology partners to help design, test, and implement this new standard for TV. According to Capitol Broadcasting Director of Engineering and Operations Peter Sockett, “In order for CBC to take this extraordinary leap into the future, it required a team of forward-thinking companies.”

Key participants in this project:
• Electronics Research Inc. (ERI) – Antenna and Filter assembly
• GatesAir – Transmitter and exciter
• Harmonic – UHD real-time broadcast encoder
• Keepixo – Dash Packager
• LG Electronics – ATSC 3.0 receiving equipment
• Meintel, Sgrignoli & Wallace — Consulting engineers
• Monroe Electronics – Emergency Alert System technology
· Triveni Digital – Signaling, transport generator, ATSC 3.0 analyzer, and system integration support

“We will be broadcasting throughout Raleigh and Durham, N.C. and performing test measurements to learn about the characteristics of this new delivery platform. We will share this information with fellow broadcasters and equipment manufacturers to test their new designs in the real world,” Sockett said.

WRAL noted that only a handful of prototype ATSC 3.0 receivers are now available, including the one used by the station.

In its announcement, WRAL said, “It is hoped that for North Carolina early adopters Next Generation TV will be available as soon as late 2017.”

~ WRAL submitted this as a press release. Deborah McAdams contributed to the story.
http://www.tvtechnology.com/atsc3/0031/ ... nal/278927
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Re: Terrestrial 4K Broadcasting Begins with WRAL-TV

Post by Foxcreek » Mon Jul 04, 2016 12:15 pm

All,

Why are we even talking about 4K then?

Because it's awesome. Seriously, the pictures look amazing. You're going to love it.
How does that help if there's nothing to watch?

It's a fair point. There is definitely a chicken and egg problem here. No one wants to spend money putting out 4K content until there's enough significant demand for it, and that means 4K sets showing up in homes. But 4K sets are a tough sell if there's nothing to watch on them except regular HD content. Which means we've been in this weird in-between time, waiting for significant numbers of people to make a relatively illogical decision to buy an extra-expensive TV that will only look marginally better than their old one for the next year or two.

foxcreek :cool2

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Re: Terrestrial 4K Broadcasting Begins with WRAL-TV

Post by fatso » Tue Jul 05, 2016 7:00 pm

Nasa, Fashion TV and a few others are already broadcasting 24/7 in UHD on 103W. I believe some premium 4K services will start soon on 127w (news was posted about it a while back).

Also, don't forget about wild feeds. Toronto Blue Jay baseball games are now being broadcast in 4K in Canada. As more clubs transmit their games in 4K, we should start to see more 4K feeds. :biggrin
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Re: Terrestrial 4K Broadcasting Begins with WRAL-TV

Post by Foxcreek » Wed Jul 06, 2016 12:47 pm

fatso,

In my previous post I was speaking from the perspective of the average
consumer. But as you know we satellite enthusiast's have an even bigger
problem..... 4k satellite receivers are essentially nonexistent ! ( at least one
I would purchase ).

What 4k receiver are you using ?

foxcreek :cool2

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Re: Terrestrial 4K Broadcasting Begins with WRAL-TV

Post by tek2000 » Thu Jul 07, 2016 7:37 pm

The Vu+ people in Europe produce a 4K stb, but it is quite expensive and lacks 16APSK and 4:2:2 support. It is a well built unit with multiple tuner support and is powered by Enigma 2. We are looking at ways to process the 4:2:2 chroma signals and providing after-market 16APSK and ATSC pluggable tuners. This would be the ultimate TVRO 4K receiver, but the retail market for quality FTA receivers is unfortunately quite soft. Most TVRO customers are happy with a $79 Skybox type of receiver, but we think this will change as more 4K content becomes available.
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Re: Terrestrial 4K Broadcasting Begins with WRAL-TV

Post by fatso » Sat Jul 09, 2016 9:01 pm

Foxcreek wrote:fatso,

In my previous post I was speaking from the perspective of the average
consumer. But as you know we satellite enthusiast's have an even bigger
problem..... 4k satellite receivers are essentially nonexistent ! ( at least one
I would purchase ).

What 4k receiver are you using ?

foxcreek :cool2
Most of us are using tuner cards, but some 4K receivers have appeared on the market already. UFC 200 is being broadcast in 4K today! Those of us lucky enough to own 4K ready tvs and receivers are early adopters of this new technology.

4K TVs have come down in price big time this year. You can now purchase a 50" 4K ready TV for under $1k. The 70" 4K TVs are just under $2k if you shop around.
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