NextGen TV arrives in Chicago
CBS 2, others turned on signal Monday
The future of television has finally arrived in Chicago.
After a long wait, CBS-owned WBBM-TV (CBS 2) turned on the new ATSC 3.0 signal Monday at 1 p.m. local time, as NextGen TV, made its debut.
“America’s third-largest TV market is riding the NextGen TV wave, with the addition of new capabilities for broadcasters and viewers”, said Pearl TV managing director Anne Schelle, a collation of broadcasters and set manufacturers who coordinated the Chicago launch. “We’re especially appreciative of our partners, Heartland Video Systems and LTN and their commitment to getting broadcasters on-the-air. The momentum for NextGen TV is building with TCL about to join the roster of TV manufacturers with consumer models, High Dynamic Range coming for key sports contests, and new upgrade accessory receivers for consumers in the wings.”
As reported here last November, Chicago stations were lagging behind other markets who already launched ATSC 3.0, including Los Angeles and the downstate Champign-Decatur-Springfield area. Chicago-area over-the-air viewers need to re-scan their sets to get the improved signals.
CBS 2 is the lead station in this collaboration, as viewers should experience a sharper picture and better sound, even without a NextGen-enabled TV set. In addition to carrying CBS 2 and its digital subchannels, the NextGen signal is also carrying NBC-owned WMAQ; Fox-owned WFLD; Nexstar’s WGN-TV; and Univision’s WGBO. CBS 2’s ATSC 1.0 signal is being split up among other broadcasters in the market, and similar to what happened in June 2009 when analog TV was shut down in the conversion to digital, the ATSC 1 signal would eventually sunset when NextGen reaches a threshold of more homes. A date for when this happens has yet to be set.
“Chicago will get the most out of live news and sports programming,” Schelle continued in her statement. “Live linear television has never been stronger in sports than it is now, and Chicago is home to a bold sports market with six professional teams spanning NBA, WNBA, NFL, MLB and NHL organizations. NextGen TV will transform the fan experience with immersive features such as brilliant color and personalized, interactive bonus content (let’s hope Chicago’s sports teams improve their fortunes on the field to go with the improved picture and sound from our TVs.)
The brilliant color she’s referring to is High Dynamic Range – known as HDR, it transmits deeper and more realistic color as the feature is already featured on 4k-ready TVs and through numerous devices including the PlayStation 5, Roku, and Amazon Fire sticks. The technology can also transmit 4K signals (at 2160p – double the resolution of 1080p) in Dolby Atmos sound and deliver interactive content, finally fulfilling the mission of “interactive TV”, whose promise in the 1990s was anything but.