Nexstar Media Group Launches NEXTGEN TV in Denver, Marking the Company’s 12th Market and 22nd Station to Rollout ATSC 3.0 in 2020

Rhea-AI Summary

Nexstar Media Group (NASDAQ: NXST) has announced the launch of NEXTGEN TV, powered by ATSC 3.0, at its Denver local TV stations, KDVR-TV and KWGN-TV. This rollout marks Denver as the second top-20 market and the twelfth market overall to adopt this advanced digital broadcast technology in 2021. NEXTGEN TV promises enhanced viewing features, including better video quality, immersive audio, and mobile broadcasting. Nexstar plans to expand this technology to 32 more stations across 20 additional markets, ultimately reaching approximately 33% of U.S. households served by Nexstar.

Positive

• Launch of NEXTGEN TV in Denver enhances viewer experience with advanced technology.
• Nexstar plans aggressive rollout to 32 more stations in 20 markets, expanding reach significantly.
• Approximately 33% of U.S. households served by Nexstar will receive NEXTGEN TV signal post-deployment.

Negative

• None.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXST) today announced that KDVR-TV and KWGN-TV, Nexstar Inc.’s local television stations serving the Denver, Colorado, area (DMA #16) have begun broadcasting with NEXTGEN TV, the revolutionary new digital broadcast technology powered by ATSC 3.0. Denver is Nexstar’s twelfth market to begin broadcasting with ATSC 3.0 this year, and the second top-20 market to do so.

Based on the same fundamental technology as the Internet, digital applications, and other web services, NEXTGEN TV can support a wide range of features currently in development, such as higher quality video and immersive audio, broadcasting to mobile devices, personalized viewing tools, and advanced emergency alerts. BitPath, the all-new broadcast data network launching in 2021, provides support for Nexstar’s ATSC 3.0 rollouts, and all of Nexstar’s ATSC 3.0 television stations will participate in the BitPath broadcast data network.

“With brilliant video and audio, NEXTGEN TV brings a whole new dimension to the television viewing experience and we are excited to rollout this advanced technology at Nexstar’s Denver stations,” said Brett Jenkins, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. “Not only does NEXTGEN TV deliver important upgrades for our viewers and advertisers, it also enables us to begin exploring new opportunities to use this very efficient and effective content and data distribution technology to meet the challenges of today’s evolving digital world. We plan to roll-out NEXTGEN TV to 32 more stations in 20 additional Nexstar markets in 2021, as we aggressively move forward implementing this highly sophisticated technology across the 115 markets we serve nationwide. When we finish our 2021 deployments, approximately 33% of all television households reached by a Nexstar television station will receive a NEXTGEN TV signal. I am incredibly proud of the leadership of our stations in making continued, tangible progress towards bringing NEXTGEN TV to a significant portion of the United States.”

Following today’s launch, the full list of Nexstar owned or operated stations/markets that have converted to NEXTGEN TV this year includes:

STATION	MARKET	DMA
WFLA	Tampa, FL	13
KDVR / KWGN	Denver, CO	16
KOIN / KRCW	Portland, OR	21
WNCN	Raleigh, NC	24
WKRN	Nashville, TN	29
KTVX / KUCW	Salt Lake City, UT	30
KXAN / KNVA / KBVO-CD	Austin, TX	38
KLAS	Las Vegas, NV	40
KFOR / KAUT	Oklahoma City, OK	44
WAVY / WVBT / WNLO-CD	Norfolk, VA	46
WKRG / WFNA	Mobile, AL	57
WWLP / WFXQ-CD	Springfield, MA	116

Today’s launch in Denver follows a decade of development of the new technology and months of planning and preparation by Nexstar Inc. Current programming remains available to all of Nexstar’s viewers in all of its markets, regardless of whether their television service is provided over-the-air or by a cable or satellite company. Antenna viewers can simply rescan their TV sets to ensure full service. Rescan instructions are available at: fcc.gov/rescan. Cable and satellite subscribers do not need to take any action.

About Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

Nexstar Media Group (NASDAQ: NXST) is a leading diversified media company that leverages localism to bring new services and value to consumers and advertisers through its traditional media, digital and mobile media platforms. Its wholly owned operating subsidiary, Nexstar Inc., consists of three divisions: Broadcasting, Digital, and Networks. The Broadcasting Division operates, programs, or provides sales and other services to 197 television stations and related digital multicast signals reaching 115 markets or approximately 39% of all U.S. television households (reflecting the FCC’s UHF discount). The division’s portfolio includes primary affiliates of NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, MyNetworkTV and The CW. The Digital Division operates 122 local websites and 316 mobile apps offering hyper-local content and verticals for consumers and advertisers, allowing audiences to choose where, when and how they access content and creating new revenue opportunities for the company. The Networks Division operates WGN America, a growing national general entertainment cable network and the home of NewsNation, multicast network Antenna TV, and WGN Radio in Chicago. Nexstar also owns a 31.3% ownership stake in TV Food Network, a top tier cable asset. For more information please visit www.nexstar.tv.

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FAQ

What is NEXTGEN TV launched by Nexstar (NXST)?

NEXTGEN TV is a digital broadcast technology powered by ATSC 3.0 that offers enhanced video quality, immersive audio, and mobile broadcasting capabilities.

Which markets has Nexstar (NXST) launched NEXTGEN TV in 2021?

As of now, NEXTGEN TV has been launched in twelve markets, including Denver, which is the second top-20 market to adopt this technology.

How many more stations will Nexstar (NXST) rollout NEXTGEN TV to?

Nexstar plans to expand NEXTGEN TV to 32 more stations across 20 additional markets.

What audience reach does Nexstar aim for with NEXTGEN TV?

Nexstar aims to reach approximately 33% of all television households in the U.S. with NEXTGEN TV after completing the rollout.