Gray Television Launches Its First NextGen TV Station
On December 2, 2020, Gray Television (NYSE: GTN) launched its first NextGen TV station, WNXG, in Tallahassee, Florida. This low-power station simulcasts five programming services, providing significant technical improvements over the previous ATSC 1.0 standard, including four HD streams and one SD stream. The launch allows Gray to gain insights into NextGen TV technology through extensive testing. Looking ahead, Gray plans to transition more stations to this standard in 2021, enhancing service capabilities for local viewers and advertisers.
- Launch of WNXG as the first NextGen TV station
- Ability to broadcast four HD program streams with a robust signal
- Preparation for transitioning more stations to NextGen TV in 2021
- None.
Atlanta, Dec. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On December 2, 2020, Gray Television, Inc. (“Gray,” “we,” or “our”) (NYSE: GTN) launched our first NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) station when we lit up WNXG, our low power television station in Tallahassee, Florida, using the new transmission standard.
The new NextGen TV station simulcasts five programming services that Gray broadcasts in the market on its ATSC 1.0 full-power television stations WCTV and WFXU: CBS (HD), Me/My (HD), Circle (HD), ION (HD), and Justice (SD).
WNXG’s ability to broadcast four HD program streams and one standard definition stream with a very robust signal, and with ample spectrum remaining for additional program streams or other data services, significantly exceeds the current technical capabilities of the ATSC 1.0 transmission standard.
“We constructed this low power station with the NextGen TV transmission standard using off-the-shelf components and our own internal engineering and IT professionals in order to gain valuable first-hand knowledge about this exciting new technology,” explained Gray’s Chief Technology Officer David Burke. “Over the coming months, we will be putting WNXG through numerous experiments to test the capabilities and versatility of the NextGen TV standard to further understand how we might implement better services for our local viewers and advertisers.”
Gray’s launch of WNXG also helps us prepare better for 2021 when we begin to transition some of our other television stations to the NextGen TV standard in close cooperation with our fellow broadcasters in large markets.
“Although many people contributed to the success of this project, Gray must recognize the indispensable efforts of corporate engineers Michael Watson and Peter Gogas, WCTV engineers Chris Cantrell and Austin Pelnar, and corporate IT specialist John Jacob,” said Gray Co-CEO and President Pat LaPlatney.
“We also appreciate the resources and leadership provided by WCTV/WFXU General Manager Heather Peeples, our CTO David Burke, and our SVP Rob Folliard. What this team created with WNXG is remarkable in its own right and also creates a significant Gray Television milestone!” said Mr. LaPlatney.
About Gray:
Gray currently owns and/or operates television stations and leading digital properties in 94 television markets, including the number-one rated television station in 68 markets and the first or second highest rated television station in 86 markets. Gray’s television stations cover approximately 24 percent of US television households and broadcast approximately 400 separate programming streams, including nearly 150 affiliates of the CBS/NBC/ABC/FOX networks. Gray also owns video program production, marketing, and digital businesses including Raycom Sports, Tupelo-Raycom, and RTM Studios, the producer of PowerNation programs and content. For further information, please visit www.gray.tv.
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