Sinclair and Nebraska Public Media Announce Launch of First Station Offering Free Virtual Channel Hosting in ATSC 3.0

October 16, 2024 at 11:00 AM EDT

Primes the Pump for NEXTGEN Broadcasting

Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC, a subsidiary of Sinclair, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBGI), and Nebraska Public Media announced the launch of the first free Broadcast-Enabled Streaming TV (“BEST”) Channel in Omaha, Nebraska. Nebraska Public Media’s PBS and local programming is now hosted on KPTM FOX 42, Sinclair’s station in Omaha, as a free, virtual channel in addition to its other programming offerings.

BEST channels are transmissions that provide programming directly over-the-air to smart TVs using the NEXTGEN broadcast data channel capacity of a host broadcaster. Viewers with NEXTGEN TVs can view and select the channel in their programming guide and access the channel seamlessly over the internet.

Sinclair and America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) previously announced that Sinclair would provide carriage of APTS member stations for free in markets where Sinclair has deployed NEXTGEN Broadcast Service (ATSC 3.0) and a public television station has not. The launch in Omaha is the first under this unique, forward-looking arrangement. Nebraska Public Media’s virtual channel delivers programming in high dynamic range (SL-HDR1), significantly enhancing video quality for viewers.

Peter Clowney, Chief Operating Officer for Nebraska Public Media, said, “We are proud to be the vanguard in offering this unique service to our Omaha viewers. Our partnership with KPTM will help ‘prime the pump’ for full NEXTGEN Broadcast Service as the national rollout of this technology continues.”

Kate Riley, President and CEO of APTS, said, “This is an excellent example of commercial and public broadcasters cooperating to bring the remarkable NEXTGEN Broadcast Service to more public television viewers and to enhance public television stations services to their local communities.”

“We are thrilled to announce the successful launch of this service in conjunction with our public broadcasting friends at Nebraska Public Media,” said Rob Weisbord, Sinclair’s Chief Operating Officer and President of Broadcast. “For public television stations that have not yet launched NEXTGEN service, we hope that this partnership will demonstrate the tremendous upside to using this new transmission technology.”

NEXTGEN Broadcasting is a revolutionary over-the-air digital broadcast technology that uses the internet and digital applications powered by the ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard to present viewers with more news and entertainment choices while providing broadcasters with a more compelling and interactive way to deliver their content.

About Sinclair Broadcast Group:

Sinclair Broadcast Group is a subsidiary of Sinclair Inc., (Nasdaq: SBGI) a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 185 television stations in 86 markets affiliated with all the major broadcast networks; owns Tennis Channel and multicast networks Comet, CHARGE!, TBD., and The Nest. Sinclair’s content is delivered via multiple platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and the nation’s largest streaming aggregator of local news content, NewsON. The Company regularly uses its website as a key source of Company information which can be accessed at www.sbgi.net.

About America’s Public Television Stations:

America's Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization ensuring a strong and financially sound public television system and helping member stations provide essential public services in education, public safety and civic leadership to their local communities and the American people. For more information, visit www.apts.org.

About Nebraska Public Media:

Nebraska Public Media has connected citizens with news, sports, education and entertainment since 1954. Providing global and compelling stories from PBS and NPR, the statewide public media network also produces award-winning local content. Its programs and services reach Nebraskans on television, radio, online, social media and mobile apps. Visit NebraskaPublicMedia.org for more information.

Category: General