In a move that marks a turning point in American broadcast history, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has officially approved a rule allowing major television networks — including ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC — to shut down their ATSC 1.0 signals. This decision advances the rollout of Next Gen TV, or ATSC 3.0, the new broadcast standard promising upgraded visuals, audio, and interactive capabilities.
For millions of viewers who rely on free, over-the-air television, this shift carries immediate implications. Traditional antennas and older TV models tuned to ATSC 1.0 will no longer receive signals from local affiliates of these major networks once the transition completes. Without updated equipment or alternative access methods, many could lose access to broadcast content previously available without cost.
As the industry phases out the legacy standard, expectations pivot toward enhanced services — 4K resolution, immersive sound, personalized content, and improved mobile TV compatibility. But this progress comes with critical questions: Will Next Gen TV maintain the accessibility that defined free broadcast television for decades? And how quickly will infrastructure and consumer adoption catch up with the technology’s promise?
ATSC 1.0 refers to the original digital television broadcast standard adopted in the United States in 1996. Developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee, it replaced the analog NTSC system and enabled broadcasters to transmit high-definition (HD) video and multichannel audio over the air. This transition marked a turning point for free broadcast TV, allowing for clearer picture quality, better sound, and more efficient spectrum usage.
With its deployment, ATSC 1.0 became the backbone of free over-the-air television across networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. It allowed stations to broadcast content directly to antennas, maintaining accessibility without requiring cable or satellite services. For nearly three decades, this standard has defined how most Americans with antennas receive local television.
The core limitation of ATSC 1.0 lies in its inability to support modern broadcasting demands. It lacks built-in support for mobile devices, internet connectivity, and 4K resolution. As viewership trends have shifted and expectations for video quality and interactivity have increased, the industry has found ATSC 1.0 increasingly outdated.
ATSC 3.0, known as NextGen TV, offers answers to these limitations. With IP-based delivery, mobile reception, and higher audio-video quality, it opens doors to broadcast innovation. As a result, broadcasters are phasing out ATSC 1.0 to prioritize infrastructure investment in modern standards. This transition isn't driven by cost-saving alone—it aligns with consumer behavior and the evolving media landscape where interactivity, flexibility, and fidelity are not optional but expected.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) serves as the top regulatory body overseeing television, radio, wire, satellite, and cable communications in the United States. Established by the Communications Act of 1934, the FCC holds sweeping authority to manage spectrum allocation, licensing, and broadcast standards nationwide.
When the digital transition removed analog broadcasts from the airwaves in 2009, the FCC supervised that migration and carefully managed the spectrum reallocation process. The agency now plays the same central role in phasing out ATSC 1.0 in favor of the more advanced and flexible ATSC 3.0 standard, also known as NextGen TV.
In June 2024, the FCC voted to allow full-power television stations—including affiliates of ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC—the option to shut down their legacy ATSC 1.0 signals, provided certain conditions are met. This decision came as part of a broader strategy to expedite the adoption of ATSC 3.0. Unlike the 2009 analog sunset, this transition does not require a hard nationwide cutoff date. Instead, it enables broadcasters to discontinue ATSC 1.0 on a market-by-market basis, once minimum simulcasting arrangements and viewer access provisions have been addressed.
Specifically, the updated ruling relaxes earlier simulcasting requirements that previously mandated all stations to continue ATSC 1.0 transmissions alongside 3.0 feeds. Local stations now gain flexibility to manage their spectrum more efficiently, reduce redundancy, and reinvest in new broadcast capabilities designed for higher resolution, personalization, and interactivity.
The FCC has not issued a single mandatory deadline for shutting down ATSC 1.0. Instead, the transition proceeds under a gradual, market-by-market rollout. Broadcasters must file specific applications to cease ATSC 1.0 transmission and demonstrate how they plan to maintain service coverage and access. The FCC reviews these cases and approves requests based on criteria including market readiness, consumer impact, and public interest considerations.
While no fixed end date for ATSC 1.0 currently exists, the flexibility embedded in this new ruling accelerates the shift toward complete adoption of ATSC 3.0. Major station groups have already begun filing applications to vacate legacy spectrum, targeting a full migration by late 2025 or early 2026 in top-tier media markets.
With regulatory clearance now in place, the momentum shifts toward implementation—driven jointly by network stations, affiliate groups, and regional broadcasters assessing their technical and market readiness to complete the ATSC 1.0 phase-out.
ATSC 3.0, branded as NextGen TV, replaces the 25-year-old ATSC 1.0 standard with a digital broadcasting system built for today's viewing expectations. While ATSC 1.0 relied on MPEG-2 compression and limited data delivery, ATSC 3.0 uses IP-based technology (Internet Protocol), enabling advanced picture, sound, and data services over traditional broadcast channels.
This isn't a revision but a complete overhaul. The transition mirrors the leap from analog to digital made in 2009—only this time, the focus shifts to ultra-high-definition visuals, immersive audio, targeted content delivery, and interactive features.
As broadcasters shift from ATSC 1.0 to ATSC 3.0, they unlock the infrastructure for advanced television services historically reserved for cable, satellite, or OTT platforms. Much more than a resolution upgrade—this standard transforms TV into a multimedia platform designed for the next decade.
The FCC's decision to permit full power stations to shut down their legacy ATSC 1.0 signals marks a significant shift for America’s major broadcast networks. ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC have crafted distinct transition strategies, though common themes emerge: a heavy investment in ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) infrastructure, expanded digital distribution, and a calculated reduction in legacy over-the-air capacity.
NextGen TV introduces native 4K resolution, Dolby AC-4 audio, targeted emergency alerts, and IP-based hybrid functionality. For the Big Four, this presents a mix of technical potential and logistical hurdles. Legacy compatibility with older TV sets remains a challenge. To bridge this gap, networks are promoting grant programs and partnerships with manufacturers to increase the availability of affordable ATSC 3.0 tuners and TVs.
Operationally, the phaseout of ATSC 1.0 also allows reallocation of spectrum for advanced content delivery. NBC and FOX, in particular, are exploring revenue models tied to datacasting—delivery of software updates, educational content, and even telemetry via broadcast spectrum, now possible under ATSC 3.0's IP architecture.
Linear television remains at the core of each network's identity, but digital transformation is accelerating. Expect continued investment in multiplatform distribution. CBS News is already available 24/7 from OTT apps and smart TVs; ABC streams its national feed in select markets; FOX offers high-definition live feeds via Tubi. NBC provides integrated content hubs within Peacock, including localized weather, breaking news, and election coverage.
This digital-first distribution ensures that, regardless of the technical format change, audiences will retain access to core programming—primetime entertainment, national and local news, live sports, and event coverage—whether through airwaves, broadband, or apps.
When ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC stations power down their ATSC 1.0 transmitters, millions of televisions currently relying on that standard will lose their over-the-air signal unless updated. ATSC 1.0 has been the backbone of broadcast TV since 1996, so the termination of those transmissions eliminates the signal recognized by older TVs and digital converter boxes.
Yes, antennas themselves don’t become obsolete with the switch. An antenna simply captures available radio frequency signals, regardless of format. However, the tuner inside your TV or converter box must support ATSC 3.0 to decode the new broadcast signal. Without that compatibility, even the best antenna delivers nothing useful to your screen.
In most cases, yes. TVs built before 2020 generally do not have built-in ATSC 3.0 tuners. To continue using these sets for free over-the-air channels, consumers will need an external ATSC 3.0 tuner—sometimes referred to as a NextGen TV receiver. As of 2024, standalone ATSC 3.0 tuners typically range from $90 to $250 based on features.
Yes, if no action is taken. Households relying on ATSC 1.0-only devices will find channels like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC unavailable over the air once the transition completes. Unless they upgrade to ATSC 3.0-compatible gear, those viewers lose access to free, local programming. For lower-income households, this digital divide deepens, echoing earlier transitions like the 2009 analog switch-off.
The FCC authorized the shutdown, but it did not mandate how broadcasters handle consumer outreach. Without widespread awareness campaigns, many viewers risk losing access without knowing why. Broadcasters, local governments, and retail suppliers must coordinate to inform residents about what’s changing, what needs to be purchased, and when to act. Clear labeling of ATSC 3.0-compatible products at the point of sale also plays a key role in helping buyers make informed choices.
Think your TV is ready? Check the specs—or better yet, try scanning for NextGen TV signals. You'll know what’s next in broadcast only when your screen shows it.
Free over-the-air (OTA) television and paid streaming platforms serve different viewer expectations and business models. Traditional broadcasters—ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC—deliver unencrypted content via public airwaves. Anyone with a TV tuner and antenna can receive the signal without monthly fees. In contrast, platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Max operate on a subscription-based framework, offering curated libraries but charging access.
The gap between these two delivery models has widened further as streaming gains momentum, yet close to 15% of U.S. households still rely exclusively on OTA broadcasts, according to Nielsen’s 2023 Local Watch Report. The persistence of this demographic continues to keep free access relevant in the media landscape.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandates that full-power television stations maintain a public interest obligation, which includes offering free access to key programming—local news, emergency alerts, and educational content. These requirements are tied directly to the use of licensed broadcast spectrum, which is publicly owned.
Stations that switch to ATSC 3.0 must simulcast in ATSC 1.0 on another available channel in the same market, preserving access under current rules. The FCC has extended the requirement for broadcasters to maintain this dual-cast setup through at least mid-2027, according to its latest decision in June 2023.
Unlike its analog and ATSC 1.0 predecessors, ATSC 3.0 allows broadcasters to encrypt their signals. This capability introduces a new variable—conditional access—which, while promising advanced features, presents potential hurdles. Without clear FCC restrictions, broadcasters could use encryption to limit access or monetize previously free content.
While major networks have publically affirmed their commitment to free broadcasting, the technology now permits models that mimic pay-TV. Technical barriers like encryption not only raise costs for hardware but potentially exclude viewers who once enjoyed barrier-free access.
Public interest content—live local news, election coverage, weather alerts—has historically driven the relevance of broadcast TV. This function faces uncertain continuity if access becomes gated through encryption or network-authenticated apps. Will breaking news remain as widely available? Will severe weather warnings still reach rural or low-income communities that rely on antennas?
There’s no conclusive answer yet, but industry movement suggests a hybrid landscape where part of OTA content remains free, while premium features—HDR, 4K, personalized ads—get bundled behind encryption-enabled services. Public broadcasters like PBS have declared their intent to keep ATSC 3.0 unencrypted, setting an example, but commercial affiliates haven’t made the same guarantees.
How will your household access live TV a year from now? As ATSC 3.0 rolls out, the answer depends on both policy decisions and how aggressively broadcasters pursue monetization strategies.
Switching from the long-standing ATSC 1.0 standard to ATSC 3.0 (also known as NextGen TV) transforms both the infrastructure and how signals are delivered. ATSC 3.0 uses an IP-based system, enabling broadcasters to deliver higher-resolution content, interactivity, and enhanced emergency alerts. Unlike its predecessor, ATSC 3.0 is not backward compatible, which requires broadcasters to run both systems simultaneously during the transition phase.
This dual-system operation doesn’t just happen invisibly behind the scenes. It demands coordination, strategic partnership, and a shift in how stations manage bandwidth and resources.
To bridge the technological gap, broadcasters employ what are called lighthouse stations. These are stations that carry ATSC 3.0 broadcasts for multiple local network affiliates in a single market. For example, in a market with several broadcasters, one station may serve as the lighthouse for ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX transmissions in ATSC 3.0 format, while the other stations continue to air ATSC 1.0 signals, often housing each other’s content through channel-sharing agreements.
These arrangements are not theoretical—they’ve been implemented in cities like Phoenix, where the first lighthouse model launched in 2018. Since then, the model has scaled with growing market adoption and FCC backing.
Through simulcasting, broadcasters ensure viewers can still receive programming in ATSC 1.0 while they ramp up ATSC 3.0 signal distribution. This means a FOX affiliate could carry its original ATSC 1.0 programming on a partner NBC channel’s spectrum while broadcasting its own channel in ATSC 3.0. It’s a technical juggling act made possible by multiplexing digital signals on shared frequencies.
Stations often rotate responsibilities based on bandwidth availability, content needs, and geographic reach, striking a balance between maintaining service and expanding new capabilities. This method keeps disruptions minimal while preserving local service areas during the transition.
ATSC 3.0 isn’t just a change in backend protocol—it shifts the viewing experience. It supports 4K Ultra HD resolution, HDR (High Dynamic Range), advanced surround sound (Dolby AC-4), and more robust data broadcasting. Signal reach also improves markedly with the use of OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing), which performs better in difficult reception environments like dense urban centers or rural valleys.
The flexible architecture of ATSC 3.0 allows broadcasters to target content and advertising by region or household, opening new business models while optimizing bandwidth efficiency. What used to be a one-way signal now becomes an interactive pipeline—versatile, personalized, and future-ready.
Digital television in the United States advanced substantially with the introduction of ATSC 1.0 in 1996, offering better picture and sound compared to analog. Now, with ATSC 3.0 on the rise, the digital TV landscape is reshaping again. However, behind the technology upgrade lies another issue: how to anchor public access within these evolving standards.
ATSC 3.0 integrates internet protocol (IP)-based delivery, enabling features like 4K resolution, interactive content, and advanced emergency alerts. Yet, unlike ATSC 1.0, it is not backward compatible. Consumers with older TVs will need either a converter or a new device entirely. This technical leap, while necessary for growth, risks sidelining viewers who cannot afford the upgrade.
When broadcast standards shift, universal access must remain intact. Local news, weather updates, school closings, and emergency alerts all depend on free over-the-air signals. Rural communities, where broadband penetration remains uneven, are especially reliant on antenna-based TV. According to a 2023 Pew Research Center report, around 15% of U.S. adults rely primarily on over-the-air signals for television content.
If stations choose to shut down ATSC 1.0 without sufficient simulcast arrangements or consumer assistance programs, an entire segment of the population could lose real-time access to essential information.
The Federal Communications Commission holds legal and regulatory responsibility to ensure that digital transitions don’t exacerbate inequality. Under Section 1 of the Communications Act of 1934, the FCC is charged with making “available, so far as possible, to all the people of the United States a rapid, efficient, Nation-wide” communication service. In modern terms, that means promoting both accessibility and affordability.
The 2020 update to the FCC's Next Gen TV Report and Order reaffirms that broadcasters must continue offering “substantially similar” programming in ATSC 1.0 for a transition period, but offers broad flexibility in how and for how long that's done. This transitional guidance favors market-driven innovation, yet places minimal requirements on maintaining service equity beyond general public interest obligations.
These factors compel policymakers and broadcasters alike to contemplate not just the market feasibility of new standards, but their social impact. Will ATSC 3.0 expand access or thin it? Will public broadcasters and affiliates serve harder-to-reach communities, or cater primarily to urban consumers with better infrastructure?
There’s no universal answer—only deliberate decisions that must account for both spectrum efficiency and human realities.
Broadcast standards will keep advancing, but the challenge lies in aligning technical progress with public inclusion. The FCC will continue navigating that balance as stations shift from ATSC 1.0 to 3.0, and the rest of the nation looks on, antenna in hand or screen in hand, unsure what comes next.
Start by reviewing your television’s specifications. Any TV purchased before 2018 likely lacks a built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner. To find out for sure, review your model’s manual or check the manufacturer’s website. TVs that only support ATSC 1.0 won’t be able to receive NextGen TV signals over the air once broadcasters make the full transition. In that case, an upgrade will be necessary.
There are two practical routes forward. You can purchase a new TV with an embedded ATSC 3.0 tuner—models from LG, Samsung, and Sony have led in availability since 2020. Alternatively, a standalone ATSC 3.0-capable set-top box lets you retain your current screen. Both options maintain access to live, over-the-air broadcasts in areas where NextGen TV is supported, and models are rapidly entering the mainstream market.
During the phase-out of ATSC 1.0, maintaining access to ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC content doesn’t have to depend on over-the-air signals alone. Streaming platforms such as Paramount+, Peacock, Hulu Live, and YouTube TV carry network programming live, and cable or satellite subscriptions still include these channels. Staying digitally connected ensures access even before completing any hardware upgrades.
Not sure whether your city has been upgraded to ATSC 3.0? Check the WatchNextGenTV.com coverage map, which shows active and upcoming deployments down to the ZIP code.
This broadcast transformation won’t happen all at once—many regions are staggering their transitions. Use the time to evaluate what options work best, prepare your setup, and stay informed through official sources and network communication channels.
American television is entering a new phase. With the FCC authorizing ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC stations to shut down free ATSC 1.0 signals, broadcasters and audiences alike step into an era marked by technological reinvention—and inevitable disruption.
For nearly two decades, ATSC 1.0 has served as the backbone of free over-the-air (OTA) digital TV. The shift to ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) marks the most significant change since analog gave way to digital in the early 2000s. This isn’t just a technical upgrade; it’s a fundamental transformation of how broadcast television works, delivers content, and interacts with viewers.
Broadcasters now hold the capacity to provide 4K resolution, advanced emergency alerts, and immersive audio. Interactive features and refined data services also come built into this new standard. Yet, as innovation accelerates, disruption tags along—especially for consumers using legacy equipment reliant on ATSC 1.0 signals. Compatibility challenges, uneven availability, and transitional service continuity remain active pressure points in broadcast strategy.
Legacy viewers will lose access if they don’t upgrade their TV sets or adopt external ATSC 3.0 tuners. Meanwhile, industry leaders—from network executives to hardware manufacturers—must coordinate deployments while preserving public trust in the accessibility of free OTA TV. That demands timing, transparency, and widespread education.
The networks affected—ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX—are repositioning their services for the hybrid broadcast-streaming future. They aim to use NextGen TV not just as a replacement signal standard, but as a platform to reinvent live TV experiences and ad models. The FCC’s greenlight accelerates their pivot but also heightens responsibility.
Consumers, too, hold a role in shaping the transition. Engagement doesn’t require full technical fluency—just curiosity and action. What kind of antenna is required? Is your TV ATSC 3.0-ready? Will your region simulcast content on both standards for a time? Ask the questions. Look up your local station plans. Keep tabs on rollout timelines. This isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it media shift—it’s a participatory evolution of how TV reaches the public.
Are you ready for the shift to NextGen TV? Check whether your TV or antenna is compatible with ATSC 3.0 – and stay ahead of the signal change. Bookmark this blog for updates as the FCC and major networks roll out new developments!
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