Pearl TV: Tucson Television Stations Launch NEXTGEN TV Service

By DaMarko Webster

Audiences in Tucson, Arizona, can now experience the future of broadcast television as six stations launch NEXTGEN TV. This revolutionary, free digital broadcast technology utilizes the internet and digital applications powered by the ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard, offering viewers more news and entertainment choices, while providing broadcasters with a more interactive way to deliver their content.

Tucson viewers can access six channels over-the-air for free with NEXTGEN TV: NBCUniversal Local’s KHRR-TV / Telemundo 40 (channel 40.1); KVOA-TV / NBC (channel 4.1); KOLD-TV / CBS (channel 13.1); KUAT-TV / PBS (channel 6.1); KGUN-TV / ABC (channel 9.1); and KMSB-TV / FOX (channel 11.1). Local viewers can tune in to each station for information about accessing NEXTGEN TV, rescanning details, and how to purchase the right television set to receive NEXTGEN TV.

With NEXTGEN TV, viewers of these six channels can enjoy enhanced television viewing without affecting the use of other internet-connected devices, as NEXTGEN TV operates as a free over-the-air service and doesn’t compete for household bandwidth.

“In addition to delivering enhanced audio and video, NEXTGEN TV enables personalized, customized, and interactive experiences to be integrated into over-the-air television for the first time,” said Clarence Hau, Senior Vice President, Standards, Policy & Emerging Technology for NBCUniversal. “These innovative features, which include the ability to restart a program when joined in progress, are now available on NBCUniversal Local’s Telemundo stations in Arizona.”

NEXTGEN TV is available on select TV models manufactured by Hisense, Sony, LG Electronics, Samsung, and TCL, with prices starting at a suggested retail price of $479. Consumers can choose from over 100 models of NEXTGEN TV sets and upgrade accessory devices, with a comprehensive list of available products on WatchNextGenTV.com. While features may vary by device and broadcaster, NEXTGEN TV is designed to be “future proof,” allowing a viewer’s television set to advance with technological improvements.

NEXTGEN TV, a free, over-the-air service, marks the first major overhaul to the Advanced Television Systems Committee’s standard for receiving over-the-air signals in 25 years. Now broadcasting in more than 75 markets, NEXTGEN TV currently reaches 75% of U.S. television households.

NEXTGEN TV enables:

• High Dynamic Range (HDR) video
• Consistent volume across channels
• Added voice clarity with the Dolby Audio System
• Movie theater-quality sound
• Enhanced internet content on demand
• Advanced emergency alerts and information
• Expanded and hyperlocal news
• Dual language capabilities

The participating stations have collaborated to ensure that current programming remains available to all viewers, whether their television service is provided over-the-air or by a cable or satellite company. Antenna viewers can simply rescan their TV sets to ensure full service, with instructions available at: fcc.gov/rescan. Cable and satellite subscribers do not need to take any action.