Sinclair Broadcast Group, one of the largest TV broadcasting companies in the US, has signed a joint venture agreement with Korea’s SK Telecom to develop broadcasting solutions based on the ATSC 3.0 standard.
Finalised at CES 2018, ATSC 3.0 is said to be the world’s first TV broadcast system based on an IP backbone, offering compatibility with Internet-delivered content and services. It is designed to enhance greatly the capabilities of broadcast television to deliver enhanced content — including Ultra HD TV and superior reception for viewers — and personalised services such as user-tailored on-screen guides with recommendations and on-screen search of video-on-demand (VOD), streaming services and over-the-air TV. It can also offer custom home screens based on viewer preferences.The partners believe that the commercialisation of broadcasting solutions based on ATSC 3.0 will give rise to new services such as personalised advertisement and in-vehicle terrestrial TV broadcasting and map updates. It will also support two-way communication between broadcasting companies and user's smartphone/vehicle/TV by recognising users' personal IP addresses.
SK Telecom and Sinclair’s jointly-funded and managed venture company, which is set for creation in the first quarter of 2019, will aim to commercialise the solutions for the first time in the US market in 2019. They anticipate all television broadcasting stations throughout the US. will adopt broadcasting solutions based on ATSC 3.0 within the next decade. Through the joint venture company, the two companies plan to actively provide ATSC 3.0 standards-based solutions to all US broadcasting companies and seek other opportunities globally.
“Sinclair is excited to partner with SK Telecom, a wireless technology leader, to explore and commercialise solutions that optimise the economic value of our spectrum, our broadcast infrastructure, our programming ventures and our emerging OTT platforms,” commented Sinclair president and CEO Chris Ripley (pictured right). “Bringing these assets together in a converged broadcast/broadband platform environment will be a significant value multiplier."
“SK Telecom will work closely with Sinclair Broadcast Group to gain leadership in the next-generation broadcasting solutions market in the US,” added Park Jung-ho, President and CEO of SK Telecom (pictured left).
