Anticipated Developments in the Year 2025

In the rapidly evolving world of media, a new strategy is being considered by some politicians and consultants for the 2026 elections - long-form podcasts. Broadcasters may choose to step back due to equal time rules or set up new ad-hoc digital subchannels to ensure compliance.

Meanwhile, the broadcast industry is making strides with the adoption of the ATSC 3.0 standard. This next-generation TV technology, also known as NextGen TV, is already providing a fuller menu of 3.0 channels to some commercial TV viewers and public broadcast fans. Companies like LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Toshiba, and Philips are among those involved in the development, distribution, or future dissemination of ATSC 3.0 devices.

The ATSC 3.0-based Broadcast Positioning System is gaining attention, offering an affordable and resilient complement to GPS for critical timing and positioning applications. The number of Over-the-Air (OTA) households is expected to increase as the benefits of hybrid OTA and Over-the-Top (OTT) delivery become more apparent.

The court decision in the Constellation Designs-LG Electronics patent case, expected in 2025, could significantly impact the NextGen TV market. In the meantime, Sinclair and OTA Wireless, a joint venture of Nexstar Media Group and E.W. Scripps, are earning revenue from datacasting based on ATSC 3.0, and other broadcasters are looking for ways to cash in.

Cord-cutting continues to be a significant trend, with more than one-third of U.S. TV usage based on streaming as of February 2023. NBCU's Start Over feature provides a TV experience more akin to streaming, allowing viewers to start a show over. Nielsen reported in February 2024 that 18% of U.S. TV households have at least one OTA set in use, with 70% of U.S. TV homes owning smart TVs, including 14 million with ATSC 3.0 tuners.

The Brazilian government has chosen to incorporate major portions of ATSC 3.0 into its TV 3.0 standard for its broadcast future. The ATSC 3.0 standard is expected to see progress in India, Canada, and Mexico as well.

The momentum for cloud-based workflows in broadcast and production infrastructure and workflows continues to grow, with a focus on greater efficiency and savings. Intriguingly, at least one transmitter vendor claims to be able to test ATSC 3.0 and 5G Broadcast concurrently transmitted from the same transmitter.

As we approach the November election, the makeup of the FCC may change, potentially leading to a move forward with a plan to expedite the sunset of ATSC 1.0 and accelerate the adoption of ATSC 3.0. The future of broadcasting indeed seems to be brimming with exciting possibilities.