STOCK TITAN

Nexstar Media Launches NEXTGEN TV at WHTM-TV in Harrisburg, PA, Marking the Company’s 17th Market to Launch ATSC 3.0 in 2021

Rhea-AI Impact
(Neutral)
Rhea-AI Sentiment
(Neutral)
Tags
Rhea-AI Summary

Nexstar Media Group (NASDAQ: NXST) has commenced broadcasting with NEXTGEN TV in Harrisburg, PA, marking its 17th market in 2021. The company plans to convert an additional 20 markets, aiming to reach 50% coverage of U.S. TV households by the end of 2022. NEXTGEN TV, utilizing ATSC 3.0 technology, offers superior audio and video quality. A BIA study suggests that datacasting services derived from this technology could generate up to $15 billion in broadcast revenue by 2030. Nexstar operates 199 TV stations, reaching approximately 39% of U.S. households.

Positive
  • Launch of NEXTGEN TV in Harrisburg increases market reach.
  • Nexstar aims for 50% U.S. TV household coverage by end of 2022.
  • Potential to generate up to $15 billion in revenue by 2030 through datacasting services.
Negative
  • None.

Company Plans to Convert Another 20 Markets in 2022, Bringing its Coverage of U.S. TV Households with NEXTGEN TV to 50%

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXST) today announced that WHTM-TV, the Nexstar television station serving Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has begun broadcasting with NEXTGEN TV, a revolutionary new digital broadcast technology, powered by ATSC 3.0. Harrisburg is Nexstar’s 17th market to begin broadcasting with ATSC 3.0 in 2021. Over the course of the year, Nexstar deployed ATSC 3.0 at 25 of its local television stations; close to 30% of all U.S. television households now receive a NEXTGEN TV signal from a Nexstar-owned or -operated station.

NEXTGEN TV brings a whole new dimension to the television viewing experience, with brilliant video and enhanced audio. Based on the same fundamental technology as the Internet, digital applications, and other web services, NEXTGEN TV can support a wide range of features such as immersive audio and video (up to 4K), datacasting, broadcasting to mobile devices, personalized viewing tools, and advanced emergency alerts. Nexstar is a participant in BitPath, a broadcaster-supported consortium creating a network for datacasting, with services launching in 2022. Nexstar’s ATSC 3.0 television stations plan to participate in the BitPath broadcast data network.

“When it comes to the deployment of ATSC 3.0, we think scale is critically important to fostering consumer demand for NEXTGEN TV sets and developing new businesses and services,” said Brett Jenkins, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. “Nexstar reaches more television households with a NEXTGEN TV signal than any other local broadcast company. With even more Nexstar television stations deploying ATSC 3.0 in 2022, we are well-positioned to launch broad-based datacasting services to support new businesses in such areas as agriculture, automotive, digital signage, education, location services and public safety. A recent BIA study suggested that these services could generate up to $15 billion in additional broadcast revenue by 2030, and Nexstar will be very aggressive in pursuing the new opportunities presented by NEXTGEN TV.”

Following today’s launch, the list of Nexstar owned or operated stations/markets converted to NEXTGEN TV in 2021 includes:

MARKET

DMA

STATION

Los Angeles, CA

2

KTLA

Houston, TX

8

KIAH

Sacramento, CA

20

KTXL

Charlotte, NC

22

WJZY

St. Louis, MO

23

KPLR/KTVI

Indianapolis, IN

25

WXIN/WTTV

Hartford, CT

32

WTNH

Columbus, OH

33

WCMH

Kansas City, MO

34

WDAF

Grand Rapids, MI

41

WOOD/WOTV/WXSP-CD/WOLP-CD

Harrisburg, PA

42

WHTM

Greensboro, NC

47

WGHP

Buffalo, NY

53

WIVB

Little Rock, AK

59

KARK/KARZ

Springfield, MO

74

KOZL/KRBK

Charleston, WV

75

WOWK

Syracuse, NY

87

WSYR

Nexstar is planning to convert another 20 of its local television markets to NEXTGEN TV next year, and its station group has set a goal of reaching 50% of U.S. TV households with NEXTGEN TV, powered by ATSC 3.0, by the end of 2022.

The recent launch in Harrisburg follows a decade of development of the new technology and months of planning and preparation by Nexstar. 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, Inc. (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 Media Inc., consists of three divisions: Broadcasting, Digital, and Networks. The Broadcasting Division operates, programs, or provides sales and other services to 199 television stations and related digital multicast signals reaching 116 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 120 local websites and 284 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 NewsNation, formerly WGN America, a national news and entertainment cable network reaching 75 million television homes, multicast networks Antenna TV and Rewind 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.

Media Contact

Gary Weitman

EVP/Chief Communications Officer

Nexstar Media Group Inc.

972/373-8800 or gweitman@nexstar.tv



Investor Contact

Joe Jaffoni or Jennifer Neuman

JCIR

212/835-8500

Source: Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

FAQ

What is Nexstar Media Group's plan for NEXTGEN TV in 2022?

Nexstar Media Group plans to convert another 20 markets to NEXTGEN TV in 2022, aiming for 50% coverage of U.S. TV households.

Which market recently launched NEXTGEN TV?

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is the latest market to launch NEXTGEN TV.

What technology does NEXTGEN TV use?

NEXTGEN TV uses ATSC 3.0 technology, which provides enhanced audio and video quality.

How many markets has Nexstar converted to NEXTGEN TV in 2021?

As of now, Nexstar has converted 17 markets to NEXTGEN TV in 2021.

What revenue potential does Nexstar see with NEXTGEN TV by 2030?

Nexstar envisions generating up to $15 billion in additional broadcast revenue by 2030 through datacasting services associated with NEXTGEN TV.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

NASDAQ:NXST

NXST Rankings

NXST Latest News

NXST Stock Data

5.47B
32.83M
6.23%
99.99%
6.85%
Broadcasting
Television Broadcasting Stations
Link
United States of America
IRVING