- SKT trials ATSC 3.0 and 5G broadcast
- Partnership will see SKT tech deployed in 32 Sinclair stations
- US market a key target for Korean telco
Korean telecoms company SK Telecom has partnered with Sinclair Broadcast Group and Harman International Industries to trial next generation TV broadcasting over a 5G network.
The demonstration combined ATSC 3.0 broadcast network with the Korean telco’s 5G network to broadcast a friendly match between US soccer teams into a sport utility vehicle driving around Korea’s Jeju Island.
ATSC 3.0 is a suite of new over the air broadcast TV transmission standards that deliver not only UHD video and improved audio, but also enables targeted advertising and advanced emergency alerting. It can be linked up to mobile networks to become a broadcast-broadband hybrid, allowing for two-way communications.
The solution used the hybrid stream to connect to Harmam’s in-car infotainment system, showing different kinds of advertisements playing on each of the three in-car screens as the vehicle drove around. This means US broadcasters would be able to offer different adverts to viewers, as well as local promotions based on geography as the vehicle enters new areas.
SK Telecom also showcased its multi-view service, which enables users to watch terrestrial sports broadcasting from many different angles simultaneously. Here, the ATSC 3.0 network transmits video taken by the main camera, while the 5G network streams live feeds from other cameras for multi-view display.
“In the era of autonomous driving, we will witness a fierce competition in the in-car media service market,” said Park Jin-hyo, CTO and head of ICT R&D Center of SK Telecom. “Armed with 5G media technologies, SK Telecom will secure a competitive edge in the next-generation broadcasting market in the U.S. and gradually expand its business in the global markets.”
SK Telecom said it believes the partnership with Sinclair will allow it to create more opportunities in the ATSC 3.0 market in the US. Initially it will provide the solution to 32 of Sinclair’s 191 broadcasting stations by 2020, with a longer-term aim of deploying the technology in all of them.
“With this announcement, Sinclair is continuing to partner with market leaders to further develop next-gen broadcasting solutions,” said Chris Ripley, president and CEO of Sinclair Broadcast Group.
“We are excited to be working with Harman and SK Telecom, two prominent international technology leaders, to progress 5G connected ATSC 3.0 automotive solutions and experience. This collaboration focuses on developing key mobility enhancements of ATSC 3.0 and 5G as a potential value creator for Sinclair and other U.S. broadcasters.”
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