Next Gen TV Tradeoffs

 A Next Gen television is needed to receive broadcast using the new standard (ATSC 3.0), also called UHD. The new standard offers higher resolution, enhanced audio, interactivity, and has better reception characteristics. These improvements come with some tradeoffs.

Broadcasters can Content Protect TV channels using the Digital Rights Management (DRM) standard. Programs that can be recorded can only be replayed from the DVR / Tuner that recorded it. Broadcasters can prevent recording, or set an expiration date on a recording. They can also Block using Pause, Rewind, Fast Forward, and Ad-Skip.

Currently the number of ATSC 3.0 broadcast is small, and not growing very fast. Nationwide 81 out of 500 market areas have a few ATSC 3.0 TV channels. None of these channels are in 4k ultra high definition.

One of the first ATSC 3.0 television manufacturers (LG) will stop manufacturing televisions with the new standard in 2024. The decision was due to a licensing cost increase from $3 to $7 per television, and lack of sales.

The ATSC 3.0 standard is not fully developed and will probably require periodic software updates, much like computer and phone software updates. 

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