Broadcasters Want To Kill ATSC 1.0 – But At What Cost To Viewers?
MAR 6, 2025
Source: TVrev.com | Archive: Ghost Archive
As the television industry evolves, so too does the technology that powers it. However, not all advancements in the media space are equally beneficial for consumers, particularly when they disrupt established and widely adopted systems. One such shift is underway as the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) advocates for a mandatory transition from the current ATSC 1.0 broadcast standard to ATSC 3.0, a newer standard with enhanced features. While these new features—such as 4K HDR video, on-demand content, and targeted advertising—are appealing to many broadcasters, this transition could come at a significant cost to consumers, especially those who rely on over-the-air (OTA) signals to access free local television.
Broadcasters argue that the move to ATSC 3.0 will unlock an array of advanced capabilities that align with modern viewing preferences. From high-definition video to interactive features, ATSC 3.0 promises to improve the quality and versatility of OTA television. Proponents also see it as a necessary step in the evolution of broadcast technology, particularly as digital media consumption shifts increasingly toward streaming platforms. However, this transition comes with a significant hurdle: consumer adoption.
Currently, a small fraction of television sets are compatible with ATSC 3.0. According to industry reports, only about 10% of TVs shipped in the United States last year support the new standard. The reality is that most consumers still rely on older models, and upgrading to a TV that supports ATSC 3.0 can be expensive, particularly for those who have invested in large-screen sets that may not have been designed with this transition in mind. Even for consumers who own newer models, the hardware and software limitations of ATSC 3.0—especially regarding compatibility with older devices—pose serious concerns.
While buying a new TV with ATSC 3.0 support is one option, it’s far from the most practical or affordable solution for many. The alternative is purchasing a converter box, which allows older TVs to receive the ATSC 3.0 signal. However, these converter boxes are currently priced at around $90 or more, which could be a steep cost for consumers who are already contending with rising prices in other areas of their lives. These devices are not only expensive but also often complicated to use and prone to technical issues. The consumer experience in transitioning to ATSC 3.0 could easily become a burden, especially for those who are not particularly tech-savvy.
Further complicating matters is the issue of copy protection and content restrictions imposed by the new standard. ATSC 3.0 has been widely criticized by tech enthusiasts for its restrictive copy protection schemes, which can prevent consumers from recording and archiving content they receive over-the-air. Over-the-air DVR systems, a popular way for consumers to store broadcast content, are significantly hindered by these limitations, leading many to avoid the new standard altogether. For viewers who value the freedom to record shows and movies without the restrictions that come with cable or streaming services, this aspect of ATSC 3.0 could be a major deterrent.
The push to make ATSC 3.0 mandatory by 2028 in the 55 largest U.S. markets, and by 2030 in all markets, seems premature when weighed against these barriers to adoption. While broadcasters may see this as a necessary step to future-proof their business models and capitalize on the lucrative opportunities offered by targeted advertising, the proposal fails to take into account the real-world impact on millions of consumers who are not ready—or able—to make the transition.
In many ways, this push mirrors the early days of digital television, when consumers were forced to upgrade their equipment or lose access to free, over-the-air content. This time around, however, the stakes are higher. The current broadcast landscape is already fragmented, with viewers increasingly turning to streaming platforms for convenience and content variety. Forcing consumers into an expensive upgrade cycle may only accelerate this shift, particularly as more affordable, flexible viewing options continue to emerge.
The challenge of ensuring that all consumers can access local television without undue financial strain should be a priority. While it is important for broadcasters to innovate and enhance their services, it is equally important that these changes do not alienate the very viewers who rely on OTA broadcasts for their daily news, entertainment, and sports programming.
The transition to ATSC 3.0 may be inevitable, but it should not come at the expense of consumer choice and accessibility. Instead of rushing to impose a hard deadline, the industry should focus on building out infrastructure that supports a smoother, more inclusive transition for all viewers. This could include lowering the cost of converter boxes, increasing public awareness, and working with manufacturers to ensure that more affordable ATSC 3.0-compatible sets are available to the public. Until these issues are adequately addressed, any push to kill ATSC 1.0 risks leaving a significant portion of the population behind.
Source: TechHive | Archive: Ghost
It’s been more than five years since I first asked whether ATSC 3.0, aka NextGen TV, would spell doom for over-the-air DVR. The answers are coming in now, and they’re not encouraging.
The latest television broadcasting standard, also called NextGen TV, is supposed to introduce new features such as 4K HDR video and dialog enhancement. But it also gives broadcasters the ultimate say over where and how you watch free local channels. With new encryption measures that many stations are now adopting, ATSC 3.0 can limit recording capabilities, block out-of-home viewing, and restrict the use of certain video player apps. Even basic playback requires seemingly endless certification hoops, potentially driving up the cost of ATSC 3.0 converter boxes.
Broadcasters say they’re trying to protect against media piracy, and that they might address some of these complaints in the future, but encryption still leaves them, rather than audiences, in control of what’s possible. Over-the-air DVR has been one of the last great ways to watch TV on your own terms. NextGen TV could stop that from happening.
Although broadcasters downplayed ATSC 3.0’s DRM (digital rights management) features in the standard’s early years, they’re starting to lock things down with encryption as more stations come online, and the issue has gained wider attention thanks to recent coverage by Tyler “Antenna Man” Kleinle and Lon Seidman.
Users can see which ATSC 3.0 stations are encrypted on the RabbitEars website, which has been tracking the NextGen TV rollout. Out of more than 400 NextGen TV channels in the United States, roughly 16 percent of them are now encrypted.
None of this should be noticeable if you have a smart TV with an ATSC 3.0 tuner, as it should already have the necessary keys to decrypt these locked-down channels. It also doesn’t affect channels that use the current ATSC 1.0 standard, which broadcasters are required to support for at least another four years.
But if you were an early adopter of external ATSC 3.0 tuners such as the HDHomeRun Flex 4K or Bitrouter ZapperBox, you won’t be able to watch any encrypted channels. These devices launched without DRM support before broadcasters started encrypting their channels, and while they plan to support DRM in the near future, the complications of doing so has led to numerous delays.
DRM isn’t just a temporary inconvenience. It will also introduce new restrictions on your ability to access free, over-the-air channels through external tuners. Here are some examples that I’ve confirmed with device makers:
Pearl TV spokesman Dave Arland said future updates to ATSC 3.0’s copy-protection system, called A3SA, could address these issues. (Pearl TV is the broadcaster consortium that’s backing ATSC 3.0, and is a part-owner of A3SA.)
Remote viewing, for instance, is “on the A3SA development roadmap,” Arland said, and Pearl TV has proof-of-concept proposals that would allow external tuners to work without even occasional internet connectivity. While there are considerable technical challenges to letting users transfer recordings across devices, Arland said Pearl TV believes these are surmountable as well.
Arland did not deny that A3SA allows broadcasters to set expiration dates on recordings or block them outright, but said he’s not aware of any broadcasters that are doing so. He also noted that A3SA’s current rules prohibit restrictions on recordings for ATSC 1.0 channels that are simulcast in ATSC 3.0.
“Content protection is designed to prevent piracy, not stop home recording,” Arland said.
Well-intentioned or not, A3SA in its current form still serves to lock down over-the-air DVR and make it more like what you get with live TV streaming services. Instead of being free to watch local broadcasts on any device, using whichever app you prefer, you’ll be at the whims of the broadcasters and TV networks.
If you’re not an over-the-air DVR user and only use an antenna for live TV, you might shrug off issues I’ve raised above. But here’s another reason to be concerned: DRM could make external tuner boxes more expensive.
Most existing TVs can only pick up broadcasts in the older ATSC 1.0 standard, and even some new TVs continue to ship without ATSC 3.0 tuners onboard. For viewers who don’t want to replace their entire televisions, ATSC 3.0 will require an external converter box.
But one device maker, who asked not to be named in this story, said that ATSC 3.0 DRM has both up-front and ongoing costs, both for licensing and certification testing. For the small vendors that are currently building ATSC 3.0 tuner boxes, these costs can be significant, and like other licensing fees they inevitably get passed onto users. (Pearl TV’s Dave Arland said A3SA provides “significant per-model discounts to smaller manufacturers.”)
DRM can also complicate the process of bringing new products to market in the first place. Nuvyyo, makers of the Tablo over-the-air DVR line, specifically pointed to DRM as the reason for delaying its first ATSC 3.0 tuner. The status of that product remains uncertain, as Nuvyyo has since been acquired by The E.W. Scripps Company, a major broadcaster.
So far, we’ve yet to see an external tuner ship for less than $200, and even ADTH’s upcoming tuner box has a price of around $100. While DRM might not be solely to blame, it is a factor in limiting options and keeping prices high.
While the rise of on-demand streaming has made DVR less relevant, in a way it’s more important than ever. As streaming services raise prices for ad-free viewing and trim their catalogs, being able to record TV programming on a device of your choosing is one of the last ways for viewers to exercise some control.
ATSC 3.0 DRM threatens to take that away. Combined with the dismantling of CableCARD, it ensures that users will be funneled into apps in which the content providers call the shots—even for free, over-the-air TV.
What can you do about it? Lon Seidman has encouraged users to complain to the FCC, which is seeking public feedback about the future of over-the-air TV. Broadcasters want the ability to turn off ATSC 1.0 as soon as it’s feasible, but they need the FCC’s permission to do it, and a loud and sustained consumer outcry could force some concessions on the encryption front.
Alternatively, you can just ride out ATSC 1.0 until the bitter end. As of now, that’ll be at least until July 2027, as the FCC is requiring broadcasters to support the old standard until then. If you buy an over-the-air DVR today—even one without ATSC 3.0 support—you’ll get at least four years of life out of it, and in a sense you’ll be voting against the new standard.
Either way, enjoy the unfettered state of over-the-air DVR while it lasts, because its future looks very cloudy.
MAR 6, 2025
Source: TVrev.com | Archive: Ghost Archive
As the television industry evolves, so too does the technology that powers it. However, not all advancements in the media space are equally beneficial for consumers, particularly when they disrupt established and widely adopted systems. One such shift is underway as the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) advocates for a mandatory transition from the current ATSC 1.0 broadcast standard to ATSC 3.0, a newer standard with enhanced features. While these new features—such as 4K HDR video, on-demand content, and targeted advertising—are appealing to many broadcasters, this transition could come at a significant cost to consumers, especially those who rely on over-the-air (OTA) signals to access free local television.
Broadcasters argue that the move to ATSC 3.0 will unlock an array of advanced capabilities that align with modern viewing preferences. From high-definition video to interactive features, ATSC 3.0 promises to improve the quality and versatility of OTA television. Proponents also see it as a necessary step in the evolution of broadcast technology, particularly as digital media consumption shifts increasingly toward streaming platforms. However, this transition comes with a significant hurdle: consumer adoption.
Currently, a small fraction of television sets are compatible with ATSC 3.0. According to industry reports, only about 10% of TVs shipped in the United States last year support the new standard. The reality is that most consumers still rely on older models, and upgrading to a TV that supports ATSC 3.0 can be expensive, particularly for those who have invested in large-screen sets that may not have been designed with this transition in mind. Even for consumers who own newer models, the hardware and software limitations of ATSC 3.0—especially regarding compatibility with older devices—pose serious concerns.
While buying a new TV with ATSC 3.0 support is one option, it’s far from the most practical or affordable solution for many. The alternative is purchasing a converter box, which allows older TVs to receive the ATSC 3.0 signal. However, these converter boxes are currently priced at around $90 or more, which could be a steep cost for consumers who are already contending with rising prices in other areas of their lives. These devices are not only expensive but also often complicated to use and prone to technical issues. The consumer experience in transitioning to ATSC 3.0 could easily become a burden, especially for those who are not particularly tech-savvy.
Further complicating matters is the issue of copy protection and content restrictions imposed by the new standard. ATSC 3.0 has been widely criticized by tech enthusiasts for its restrictive copy protection schemes, which can prevent consumers from recording and archiving content they receive over-the-air. Over-the-air DVR systems, a popular way for consumers to store broadcast content, are significantly hindered by these limitations, leading many to avoid the new standard altogether. For viewers who value the freedom to record shows and movies without the restrictions that come with cable or streaming services, this aspect of ATSC 3.0 could be a major deterrent.
The push to make ATSC 3.0 mandatory by 2028 in the 55 largest U.S. markets, and by 2030 in all markets, seems premature when weighed against these barriers to adoption. While broadcasters may see this as a necessary step to future-proof their business models and capitalize on the lucrative opportunities offered by targeted advertising, the proposal fails to take into account the real-world impact on millions of consumers who are not ready—or able—to make the transition.
In many ways, this push mirrors the early days of digital television, when consumers were forced to upgrade their equipment or lose access to free, over-the-air content. This time around, however, the stakes are higher. The current broadcast landscape is already fragmented, with viewers increasingly turning to streaming platforms for convenience and content variety. Forcing consumers into an expensive upgrade cycle may only accelerate this shift, particularly as more affordable, flexible viewing options continue to emerge.
The challenge of ensuring that all consumers can access local television without undue financial strain should be a priority. While it is important for broadcasters to innovate and enhance their services, it is equally important that these changes do not alienate the very viewers who rely on OTA broadcasts for their daily news, entertainment, and sports programming.
The transition to ATSC 3.0 may be inevitable, but it should not come at the expense of consumer choice and accessibility. Instead of rushing to impose a hard deadline, the industry should focus on building out infrastructure that supports a smoother, more inclusive transition for all viewers. This could include lowering the cost of converter boxes, increasing public awareness, and working with manufacturers to ensure that more affordable ATSC 3.0-compatible sets are available to the public. Until these issues are adequately addressed, any push to kill ATSC 1.0 risks leaving a significant portion of the population behind.
NextGen TV’s DRM puts future of the over-the-air DVR in doubt
(Old 2023 Article since none of the current ones mention exactly what ATSC 3.0 will do)
Source: TechHive | Archive: Ghost
It’s been more than five years since I first asked whether ATSC 3.0, aka NextGen TV, would spell doom for over-the-air DVR. The answers are coming in now, and they’re not encouraging.
The latest television broadcasting standard, also called NextGen TV, is supposed to introduce new features such as 4K HDR video and dialog enhancement. But it also gives broadcasters the ultimate say over where and how you watch free local channels. With new encryption measures that many stations are now adopting, ATSC 3.0 can limit recording capabilities, block out-of-home viewing, and restrict the use of certain video player apps. Even basic playback requires seemingly endless certification hoops, potentially driving up the cost of ATSC 3.0 converter boxes.
Broadcasters say they’re trying to protect against media piracy, and that they might address some of these complaints in the future, but encryption still leaves them, rather than audiences, in control of what’s possible. Over-the-air DVR has been one of the last great ways to watch TV on your own terms. NextGen TV could stop that from happening.
How does ATSC 3.0 encryption work?
Although broadcasters downplayed ATSC 3.0’s DRM (digital rights management) features in the standard’s early years, they’re starting to lock things down with encryption as more stations come online, and the issue has gained wider attention thanks to recent coverage by Tyler “Antenna Man” Kleinle and Lon Seidman.
Users can see which ATSC 3.0 stations are encrypted on the RabbitEars website, which has been tracking the NextGen TV rollout. Out of more than 400 NextGen TV channels in the United States, roughly 16 percent of them are now encrypted.
None of this should be noticeable if you have a smart TV with an ATSC 3.0 tuner, as it should already have the necessary keys to decrypt these locked-down channels. It also doesn’t affect channels that use the current ATSC 1.0 standard, which broadcasters are required to support for at least another four years.
But if you were an early adopter of external ATSC 3.0 tuners such as the HDHomeRun Flex 4K or Bitrouter ZapperBox, you won’t be able to watch any encrypted channels. These devices launched without DRM support before broadcasters started encrypting their channels, and while they plan to support DRM in the near future, the complications of doing so has led to numerous delays.
DRM isn’t just a temporary inconvenience. It will also introduce new restrictions on your ability to access free, over-the-air channels through external tuners. Here are some examples that I’ve confirmed with device makers:
- For DVR, broadcasters can set expiration dates on recordings or even block them outright. It’s unclear if broadcasters will do this, but ATSC 3.0 gives them the capability.
- ATSC 3.0’s DRM has latency restrictions that effectively block out-of-home viewing from networked tuners such as the HDHomeRun Flex 4K.
- Users will need an internet connection to stream local broadcasts around the home, for instance from an HDHomeRun tuner to a Roku player, and an occasional internet connection might be required for external tuner boxes.
- Recordings won’t work without the original tuner that captured the programming, effectively preventing users from transferring programs they’ve recorded on a DVR to other devices, such as a laptop or tablet for away-from-home viewing.
- With an HDHomeRun tuner, third-party apps must get independently certified to play encrypted ATSC 3.0 content. It’s unclear if programs such as Channels and Plex will do so.
The broadcasters’ response
Pearl TV spokesman Dave Arland said future updates to ATSC 3.0’s copy-protection system, called A3SA, could address these issues. (Pearl TV is the broadcaster consortium that’s backing ATSC 3.0, and is a part-owner of A3SA.)
Remote viewing, for instance, is “on the A3SA development roadmap,” Arland said, and Pearl TV has proof-of-concept proposals that would allow external tuners to work without even occasional internet connectivity. While there are considerable technical challenges to letting users transfer recordings across devices, Arland said Pearl TV believes these are surmountable as well.
Arland did not deny that A3SA allows broadcasters to set expiration dates on recordings or block them outright, but said he’s not aware of any broadcasters that are doing so. He also noted that A3SA’s current rules prohibit restrictions on recordings for ATSC 1.0 channels that are simulcast in ATSC 3.0.
“Content protection is designed to prevent piracy, not stop home recording,” Arland said.
Well-intentioned or not, A3SA in its current form still serves to lock down over-the-air DVR and make it more like what you get with live TV streaming services. Instead of being free to watch local broadcasts on any device, using whichever app you prefer, you’ll be at the whims of the broadcasters and TV networks.
ATSC 3.0 DRM could cost you more
If you’re not an over-the-air DVR user and only use an antenna for live TV, you might shrug off issues I’ve raised above. But here’s another reason to be concerned: DRM could make external tuner boxes more expensive.
Most existing TVs can only pick up broadcasts in the older ATSC 1.0 standard, and even some new TVs continue to ship without ATSC 3.0 tuners onboard. For viewers who don’t want to replace their entire televisions, ATSC 3.0 will require an external converter box.
But one device maker, who asked not to be named in this story, said that ATSC 3.0 DRM has both up-front and ongoing costs, both for licensing and certification testing. For the small vendors that are currently building ATSC 3.0 tuner boxes, these costs can be significant, and like other licensing fees they inevitably get passed onto users. (Pearl TV’s Dave Arland said A3SA provides “significant per-model discounts to smaller manufacturers.”)
DRM can also complicate the process of bringing new products to market in the first place. Nuvyyo, makers of the Tablo over-the-air DVR line, specifically pointed to DRM as the reason for delaying its first ATSC 3.0 tuner. The status of that product remains uncertain, as Nuvyyo has since been acquired by The E.W. Scripps Company, a major broadcaster.
So far, we’ve yet to see an external tuner ship for less than $200, and even ADTH’s upcoming tuner box has a price of around $100. While DRM might not be solely to blame, it is a factor in limiting options and keeping prices high.
The DVR’s decline
While the rise of on-demand streaming has made DVR less relevant, in a way it’s more important than ever. As streaming services raise prices for ad-free viewing and trim their catalogs, being able to record TV programming on a device of your choosing is one of the last ways for viewers to exercise some control.
ATSC 3.0 DRM threatens to take that away. Combined with the dismantling of CableCARD, it ensures that users will be funneled into apps in which the content providers call the shots—even for free, over-the-air TV.
What can you do about it? Lon Seidman has encouraged users to complain to the FCC, which is seeking public feedback about the future of over-the-air TV. Broadcasters want the ability to turn off ATSC 1.0 as soon as it’s feasible, but they need the FCC’s permission to do it, and a loud and sustained consumer outcry could force some concessions on the encryption front.
Alternatively, you can just ride out ATSC 1.0 until the bitter end. As of now, that’ll be at least until July 2027, as the FCC is requiring broadcasters to support the old standard until then. If you buy an over-the-air DVR today—even one without ATSC 3.0 support—you’ll get at least four years of life out of it, and in a sense you’ll be voting against the new standard.
Either way, enjoy the unfettered state of over-the-air DVR while it lasts, because its future looks very cloudy.
