Sinclair, Inc. and America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) have worked with another public broadcast outlet to facilitate the launch of their signal on ATSC 3.0, the organizations announced on Tuesday.
Reno-based KNPB (Channel 5) is now available as a virtual ATSC 3.0 channel on Channel 5-11. A virtual channel utilizes the capabilities of ATSC 3.0 to integrate the channel’s data into the electronic program guide transmitted over the air while delivering the video feed over the Internet.
KNPB will offer its main signal over Channel 5-11, and its distribution via ATSC 3.0 — also known as “NextGen TV” — allows the PBS member station to take advantage of current and future capabilities afforded by the next-generation broadcast standard, the companies affirmed.
Viewers who want to take advantage of KNPB’s availability on ATSC 3.0 may need to re-scan their television sets or ATSC 3.0 tuners before they can receive the signal. KNPB broadcasts to western Nevada state and the California Sierras.
“We are pleased to partner with our broadcast colleagues at Sinclair to make this innovative technology available in our region. Now, viewers throughout our 75,000 square mile coverage area will be able to utilize this new technology to enhance their viewing experience,” Kurt Mische, the President and CEO of KNPB and PBS Reno, said in a statement. “This is yet another way PBS Reno is expanding our service to our region.”
“We congratulate PBS Reno and Sinclair on this new virtual ATSC 3.0 channel,” Kate Riley, the President of APTS, said on Tuesday. “This partnership will deliver the NextGen Broadcast Service to more public television viewers and enhance the local public television services that the Reno community relies on every day.”
Sinclair announced a partnership with APTS last March that helps assist local PBS member stations in launching on ATSC 3.0 by way of virtual channels, with the broadcaster donating one virtual channel slot in the markets where its stations serve as the designated ATSC 3.0 “lighthouse” broadcaster. The company helped facilitate the launch of Nebraska Public Media’s signal on ATSC 3.0 last October; in Reno, Sinclair operates KRNV (Channel 11), the market’s Fox affiliate.
“We are excited to continue to work with our public broadcasting partners to demonstrate the power of NextGen TV,” Rob Weisbord, the Chief Operating Officer and President of Broadcast at Sinclair, said in a statement. “Public and commercial broadcasters continue to work together to advance the deployment of this technology and better serve viewers.”
