Home Theater Geeks 513: ATSC 3.0

Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Scott Wilkinson
Guest: Michael Heiss (Industry Consultant, Journalist, CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient)

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the "Next Gen TV" standard—ATSC 3.0, the latest evolution in over-the-air television broadcasting. Host Scott Wilkinson and expert guest Michael Heiss unpack the technical innovations, practical benefits, privacy considerations, rollout progress, and what viewers can expect from this new digital TV platform.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Introduction and Guest Credentials

• Scott Wilkinson welcomes back Michael Heiss, emphasizing his credentials and industry experience (02:12).
• They note Michael’s CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award and his deep involvement with both technology journalism and practical home theater.

The Evolution of Over-the-Air TV Standards

• ATSC 1.0 vs 3.0: The Leap Forward

  • ATSC 1.0: 19.4 Mbps bandwidth, allows for various splits (multiple 480p, 720p, or 1080i streams).
  • ATSC 3.0: Supports better and more flexible use of bandwidth; enables higher resolutions (up to 4K, though not widely deployed in the US), advanced audio formats, and enhanced services (05:33-06:34, 13:55-14:18).

• What Happened to ATSC 2.0?

  • Michael humorously explains it was skipped, paralleling it to the non-existent “MPEG3.” Work on 2.0 was shelved to move directly to 3.0 (03:49-03:55).

• Core Technical Difference: It's IP-Based

  • “ATSC 3.0 is an IP-based system… a method of transmission that uses internet protocol, not just standard broadcast.” — Michael Heiss (06:34-06:38)

Features and Benefits of ATSC 3.0 ("Next Gen TV")

• Improved Audio/Visual Capabilities

  • Upgrades to resolutions like 1080p (from 720p or 1080i), with many stations now offering HDR10 and Dolby Atmos for free (13:54-14:17).
  • Future-proofed for 4K, but few US broadcasters offer it yet due to cost constraints (14:18-14:47).
  • “The change to higher progressive resolution… that’s significant.” — Michael Heiss (14:47)

• Innovative Emergency Alerting (AWARN)

  • Enhanced, hyperlocal alerts (e.g., wildfires, evacuations) using the set's known location, avoiding mass “false alarms” (08:37-11:29).
  • “If there is an evacuation notice in the northeast side of town, ATSC 3.0 sends the alert only to the impacted area in the northeast… not to everyone.” — Michael Heiss (10:16-10:51)

• Multiple Language and SAP Tracks

  • Can deliver 3-4 secondary languages or even specialty channels (e.g., “English comedians explaining soccer rules”) — illustrated with entertaining anecdotes (15:45-17:44).
  • “It wouldn’t be outside the realm… to have English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Armenian, Tagalog, Japanese—pick a language, any language.” — Michael Heiss (17:03-17:44)

• Interactive Apps and Features

  • “Back to Beginning” option lets viewers restart broadcasts like a DVR, without recording (31:03-32:28).
  • Optional on-screen apps for weather, news, local interest, etc. (31:03-32:28).

• Efficient Channel Sharing

  • Explains virtual vs. physical channels: multiple networks can “share a stick” (transmitter), so stations traditionally seen as competitors run on the same hardware (19:40-22:19).
  • Simplifies transition for viewers; TVs handle tuning automatically (21:49-22:14).

• Copy Protection and Privacy

  • DRM (Digital Rights Management) is required on some channels; all major new ATSC 3.0 boxes and TVs handle this, but setup may require a broadband connection and direct HDMI connection (34:12-38:01).

ATSC 3.0 Rollout—Where and When?

• Current Coverage:

  • About 75% of the US television market; map discussed (22:32-24:09). Gaps in rural/smaller markets due to rollout costs.
  • “It may look like there’s a lot of gray space… but coverage is about 75% of the US TV market.” — Michael Heiss (23:20)

• No Hard Cutoff Yet:

  • Unlike the analog-to-digital transition, there’s currently no mandated transition deadline for ATSC 3.0. Maybe 2028, but policy remains in flux (25:00-26:58).

• How to Access

  • Some new TVs include ATSC 3.0 tuners (Sony, Samsung, Hisense, TCL, Panasonic); add-on boxes are available (e.g., ADTH for $79) (26:58-27:16, 24:09-26:58).

Compression, Signal Quality & Technical Details

• Codec Improvements:

  • ATSC 3.0 uses HEVC (MPEG4) rather than older MPEG2, making signals more efficient and robust, especially for high-res and audio (29:45-30:56).
  • “HEVC… is a heck of a damn lot better than whatever the streaming services are using.” — Michael Heiss (30:06)

• Professional Upscaling

  • TVs may upscale lower resolution signals, but broadcasters’ pro-grade hardware often does a better job (28:57-29:01).

Memorable Quotes and Moments

• “Duck and Cover? I think Duck and Cover are actually my accountants.” — Michael Heiss, on emergency alerts (08:42-08:46)
• “It ain’t a good time to be in a linear TV business.” — Michael Heiss, on rollout delays (24:34)
• “Once you get the box, it’s free… for some people, it’s an important thing.” — Michael Heiss (37:22-38:01)
• “To paraphrase James Carville, it’s all about the spectrum, stupid. And spectrum be valuable.” — Michael Heiss (35:51)

Notable Timestamps

• 03:49 – What happened to ATSC 2.0 and core ATSC 1.0/3.0 differences
• 05:33–06:38 – Explanation of ATSC 3.0 as IP-based
• 07:20–11:29 – Advanced, localized emergency alerts and privacy
• 13:55–15:10 – Audio/visual improvements (HDR, Atmos, 1080p/4K)
• 15:45–17:44 – Multiple language/SAP, live demonstrations
• 19:40–22:19 – Channel sharing and virtual/physical channel mapping
• 23:20–24:09 – ATSC 3.0 market coverage
• 25:00–26:58 – Transition timeline and set/box availability
• 28:57–30:06 – Professional upscaling, HEVC compression benefits
• 31:03–32:28 – Demonstration of app features and “Back to Beginning”
• 34:04–38:01 – Copy protection, home networking, TiVo style DVRs
• 40:52–41:55 – Localized weather/emergency alerts visual demo
• 42:43–43:54 – Regional availability, personal anecdotes

Conclusion & Looking Ahead

• ATSC 3.0 brings broadcast TV into the streaming era with robust video/audio, interactive and emergency features, and future-ready tech.
• Coverage is expanding, more affordable devices are coming, and content options will grow as adoption increases.
• Next episode: Michael Heiss promises to report from CES with new ATSC/TV updates.
• For more on Michael Heiss: michaelheiss.com, Residential Technology Today, HiddenWires.co.uk (44:09).

Final Thoughts

Scott Wilkinson closes by encouraging home theater fans to share setups and questions for future coverage.
“Until next time, geek out.” — Scott Wilkinson (44:47)

Did you miss the episode? This summary gives you all the technical insights, key moments, and expert perspectives on where TV broadcasting is headed—minus the commercials and fluff.