Pearl TV has announced progress in its industry-wide initiative to make NEXTGEN TV converter boxes more affordable and accessible to consumers, marking an important step in preparing consumers and the television industry for an easier transition to NEXTGEN TV broadcasting powered by the ATSC 3.0 standard.
The announcement includes new pricing from patent owners, technology licensors, testing, and security providers for affordable NEXTGEN TV converter boxes, enabling technology to support advanced emergency information, and ongoing work with consumer technology manufacturers.
“A successful transition to NEXTGEN TV requires more than advanced broadcast technology. It requires affordable products that enable all consumers to continue enjoying free over-the-air television,” says Anne Schelle, managing director of Pearl TV. “Our work with technology licensors, manufacturers, testing organizations, and the consumer technology industry is focused on reducing costs for consumers and establishing a clear market path for NEXTGEN TV converter boxes to advance the ATSC 1.0 to ATSC 3.0 transition.”
NEXTGEN TV is now on the air in 78 U.S. markets, reaching more than 75 percent of television households. More than 19 million certified and security-verified NEXTGEN TV sets have shipped to retailers since deployment began. Affordable converter boxes will enable all consumers to access this content without buying a new television.
Pearl also highlighted the expansion of NEXTGEN TV viewer features. High Dynamic Range (HDR) services are available now over-the-air to more than 80 million NEXTGEN TV viewers, with native HDR for sports and entertainment programming rolling out later this year. The industry’s first 4K Ultra-HD over-the-air NEXTGEN TV broadcasts are expected in 2027.
The Converter Box Program brings together organizations from across the broadcast ecosystem to support the development of affordable devices. Participating patent owners through the Avanci Broadcast licensing platform, along with Dolby and Advanced HDR by Technicolor, are supporting the initiative through licensing arrangements tailored to qualifying converter boxes. Discussions are also continuing with additional intellectual property licensors and component manufacturers.
Testing provider Resillion and the ATSC 3.0 Security Authority have also established special pricing for the program, lowering the cost of both certifying and securing qualifying products.
While the industry advances its transition preparations, NEXTGEN TV viewers are already benefiting from enhanced picture quality and immersive audio capabilities. HDR-enabled NEXTGEN TV services are available today over-the-air to more than 80 million viewers, with support for HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Advanced HDR by Technicolor. Native HDR for sports and entertainment programming will begin rolling out later this year, followed by 4K Ultra-HD broadcasts in 2027, and stations across the country are now readying their facilities for both.
More than 600 NEXTGEN TV services (or channels) are currently on-the-air from broadcasters throughout the U.S. Broadcasters are sharing transmission facilities to maintain both ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 services during the transition period, ensuring continued access to free over-the-air television.
