Posted Wed Oct 22, 2014 at 05:30 PM PDT by Steven Cohen
The new next-gen broadcast system supports 4K content and mobile streams.
LG has begun testing its new terrestrial TV broadcasting system dubbed Futurecast. The demonstration is being held in Madison, Wisconsin through Quincy Group's WKOW-TV.
"It's exciting to play a role in the establishment of next-gen standards that will usher in the future of television," said Brady Dreasler, chief engineer for Quincy Group, parent company of WKOW-TV in Madison. "Based on what I’ve seen in these FUTURECAST tests, the new standard will enable exciting new business models for broadcasters and exciting new services for viewers."
Futurecast complies with the new ATSC 3.0 standard for digital television transmissions. Initial tests have allowed for the delivery of 4K content and two mobile TV streams simultaneously through a single 6-Megahertz channel. In addition, the new system offers a 30 percent data throughput increase, improved multipath performance, energy-saving features and enhanced indoor TV signal penetration for mobile reception, advanced modes for very high data rates and robust transmission capabilities, state-of-the-art error correction coding and signal constellations, future extension frames to support changes in new broadcast systems, and improved single frequency network service.
"Initial testing results show the promise of the ATSC 3.0 standard to redefine television broadcasting. The FUTURECAST system is designed to fully meet broadcasters’ requirements for the ATSC 3.0 physical layer and advances the goal of moving rapidly to next-gen broadcasting," said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and Chief Technology Officer, LG Electronics, co-developer of the FUTURECAST system.
Sinclair Broadcast Group and Technicolor also recently conducted a similar ATSC 3.0 4K test signal. There's no word yet on when customers can expect to receive actual 4K broadcasts, but tests like this continue to help pave the way toward regular Ultra HD TV transmissions.
Source: LG
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