Section B, story 44 min read
Walk through the TV aisle of any Chicago electronics store and you will see some boxes with a NEXTGEN TV logo. It refers to ATSC 3.0, a newer standard for over-the-air broadcasting that stations are adding alongside the digital standard almost every TV uses today. The industry’s consumer website lists Chicago, Illinois among the markets where NextGen TV is already on the air. If you watch with an antenna, here is what that means, and what it does not.
The short answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is NextGen TV on the air in Chicago? | Yes, the NEXTGEN TV site lists Chicago as on air |
| Will my current TV stop working? | No, under the FCC’s simulcasting rule |
| Do I need a new antenna? | No, the same antenna receives it |
| Is it free? | Yes, it is over-the-air broadcasting |
| Do I need to buy anything now? | No, unless you want the new features |
What ATSC 3.0 is
ATSC, the Broadcast Standards Association, describes ATSC 3.0 as an Internet Protocol-based next-generation standard, defined in a suite of more than 20 standards and companion recommended practices. The consumer side is marketed as NEXTGEN TV. Its website says NextGen TV delivers HDR and 1080p video, with 4K upgrades when available, theater-quality audio, an advanced program guide and features such as program restart. All of it, the site says, is a free over-the-air service available to viewers with an antenna in most major markets.
In other words, it is the same local stations you already receive, potentially with a sharper picture, better sound and some interactive extras, depending on what each station chooses to offer.
Why your current TV keeps working
The reason no one is forced to upgrade is a federal rule. Under 47 CFR 73.3801, a full-power station that airs an ATSC 3.0 signal must also simulcast the primary video programming stream of that signal in the current ATSC 1.0 format. Stations meet the requirement by partnering: a station can work with one or more other full-power stations, or with Class A, low-power or translator stations, so that one partner’s transmitter carries the older signal and another carries the new one. The rule adds that noncommercial educational stations may join such arrangements with commercial stations.
For a viewer the effect is simple. When a Chicago station switches its own transmitter to ATSC 3.0, its main channel moves to a partner’s transmitter in the old format, and your TV finds it again after a rescan. The channel number you know stays the same, because the virtual channel follows the station.
Tip: If a familiar channel disappears, run a full channel scan before anything else. Changes in simulcasting partners are one of the most common reasons channels move.
The fine print about subchannels
The simulcasting duty covers the primary programming stream. The FCC rule does not extend it to every extra stream a station broadcasts, so some subchannels, the numbers after the dot, may appear only in one format or move around as stations reorganize. If a subchannel you liked vanishes, it may have moved to a different station’s transmitter, or to ATSC 3.0 only.
Before you buy a NextGen TV or receiver
- Look for the NEXTGEN TV certification logo on the box or product page.
- Make sure it receives both ATSC 3.0 and today’s ATSC 1.0 signals, so you keep every channel.
- Check that it is suitable for an antenna; NextGen TV is broadcast, not a streaming service.
- Use the address lookup on the NEXTGEN TV site to see what you can receive where you live.
- If you already own a good TV, consider a certified upgrade receiver instead of a new set.
The NEXTGEN TV site says several major brands, including Hisense, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and TCL, offer certified TV models, and that certified upgrade accessory receivers are also available for existing TVs.
Protected signals
One development worth knowing about: the same site notes that local stations are beginning to use ATSC 3.0’s ability to secure signals, which it describes as preventing theft of content or harm to receiving equipment. It encourages buyers to look for the certification mark, because certified products are designed to receive and display NextGen TV content properly. If you are tempted by a cheap tuner from an unfamiliar brand, check for the logo first; an uncertified device may not play every NextGen channel.
Antennas and NextGen
ATSC 3.0 is still broadcast over the air, so the same antenna advice applies. Height and a clear path to the signal matter more than any special NextGen antenna. If you are in a tower in the city, see TV Antennas in Chicago High-Rises: What Works When You Live Above the Street; if you live further out, TV Reception in the Chicago Suburbs: Antennas for Houses, Distance and HOA Rules. Remember that CBS Chicago transmits on a VHF channel, so the antenna should handle VHF as well as UHF.
Is it worth it?
If your TV and antenna work well today, there is no deadline and no need to rush. The FCC’s simulcasting rule exists precisely so that viewers can keep watching with what they have. If you are buying a new TV anyway, choosing a NextGen-capable model gives you the option to enjoy the new features as Chicago stations add them. Either way, the free stations listed in Chicago TV Channels: The Local Stations You Can Watch With an Antenna stay free.
One last practical habit: whether you have a NextGen TV or not, rescan every few months. Stations in a market that is changing standards rearrange their partnerships from time to time, and your TV only learns about new or moved channels after a scan.