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4K UHD ATSC 3.0 TVs from LG
G Electronics
(LG) is introducing the first
ATSC 3.0-enabled 4K Ultra HD TVs
to support the US-wide deployment of
the next-gen TV broadcast standard. Starting
spring 2017 – in advance of the 2018 Winter
Olympics – new 2017 models of LG 4K Ultra
HD TVs and large-screen LG smart TVs sold in
Korea will have both ATSC 3.0 and ATSC 1.0
tuners.
One of these new models – a 65-inch
class LG LED TV with an embedded second-
generation ATSC 3.0 tuner –displayed 4K
UHD high-dynamic range (HDR) broadcast
programming at CES 2017 in Las Vegas. LG
also is demonstrating ATSC 3.0’s advanced
electronic service guide capabilities. They
include broadcast video-on-demand
and a programme guide delivered by the
ROUTE (Real-Time Object Delivery over
Unidirectional Transport) protocol specified in
the nearly-finalised ATSC 3.0 standard.
LG Electronics is launching the first ATSC
3.0-equipped 4K Ultra HD TVs in Korea as
SBS and other Korean broadcasters begin
next-gen TV broadcasting this spring in
advance of the 2018 Winter Olympics.
LG’s early introduction of ATSC 3.0-enabled
TVs builds on the company’s key role in
the development of the ATSC 3.0 suite of
standards, especially the approved A/322
Physical Layer Standard at the heart of the
new broadcast system that will merge the
capabilities of broadcast and broadband for
the first time.
Core technologies developed by LG and
its U.S. R&D lab Zenith are included in the
majority of the ATSC 3.0 Physical Layer
Standard. LG contributions to the A/322
transmission system include the scrambler,
forward error correction, bit interleaver,
mapper, time interleaver, OFDM framer,
frequency interleaver, pilots, reserved tones,
and guard interval functions.
Anticipated by its proponents to redefine TV
broadcasting for decades to come, the Internet
Protocol-based ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard
will deliver 4K UHD services, robust reception
on mobile devices and improved spectrum
efficiency. The increased payload capacity
of the physical layer combined with HEVC
encoding will allow broadcasters more options
when planning their broadcast services. A
majority of the ATSC 3.0 suite of standards
has been approved or is in the final stages of
approval, expected to be completed this spring.
Development of ATSC 3.0 technologies
represents the latest LG/Zenith innovation
in digital television, which also includes key
technologies in the A/153 Mobile Digital TV
Standard adopted by the industry in 2009.
Zenith also invented the core transmission
system at the heart of the ATSC A/53 Digital
Television Standard, approved by the US
Federal Communications Commission in 1996.
“In parallel with our extensive standards
development work with the ATSC, LG has been
collaborating with Korean broadcasters and
the Korean government to support the next-
gen TV launch this year,” said Brian Kwon,
president of the LG Home Entertainment
Company. “The combination of the latest
ATSC 3.0 chipset with our industry-leading
LG 4K OLED and LG SUPER UHD displays
will deliver the promise of next-gen TV for
consumers in Korea. Early availability of ATSC
3.0 products in Korea also sets the stage to
support US broadcasters’ next-gen TV rollout
plans in 2018 and beyond.”
UHD Alliance: ‘HDR a
key driver’ content producers on what a clearly perceptible advanced UHD HDR experience is and experience that UHD with created with the consumer in
Members of trade body the should be.” He emphasised HDR delivers for audiences. mind. It provides information
UHD Alliance have noted that that ensuring a consistent “Interoperability and open on premium UHD devices
HDR (High Dynamic Range) experience across devices and standards are crucial for Public and content to deliver best-
has emerged as one of the ecosystems will be central to Service Media organisations,” in-class home entertainment.
key drivers for sales of UHD the success of noted Kouadio. It is also focused on helping
devices. HDR. “The UHD “And while the consumers identify the in-
Alliance will EBU is focused home and mobile products
organisation, with all of the take a leading heavily on and content that deliver a
key players and influencers of role in setting these issues, of truly-differentiated UHD HDR
the end-to-end media chain the benchmark,” he confirmed.
“Ours is a unique
represented,” commented
Adi Kouadio, who
The UHD Alliance was
equal importance is ensuring experience to consumers. The
that the whole viewing ‘ULTRA HD Premium’ logo
UHD Alliance chairman Hanno coordinates the EBU’s experience is demonstrably enables manufacturers and
Basse. “As a global industry strategic programme on better. The UHD Alliance’s work content creators to clearly mark
association, our role is to help UHDTV (BeyondHD), stressed is critical in achieving this latter products so consumers can
educate both consumers and the importance of the goal,” he stated. easily identify them in-store.
ADVANCED TELEVISION 3