ATSC

ATSC stands for the Advanced Television Systems Committee, the organization that developed a family of standards for digital television transmission used primarily in the United States, Canada, and several other countries. The ATSC standards define the methods for encoding video and audio, multiplexing signals, transmitting over terrestrial broadcast channels, and delivering program information to receivers. They cover the entire pipeline from content creation to reception, including channel guides and metadata.

The first generation, commonly called ATSC 1.0, was designed for digital terrestrial television and uses MPEG-2 video with either Dolby Digital AC-3 or MPEG audio. It employs 8VSB modulation for transmission and PSIP data to provide program guides and channel information. ATSC 1.0 enables multiple subchannels within a single broadcast channel and supports high-definition formats such as 720p and 1080i. The transition from analog NTSC culminated in the late 2000s, with full implementation in the United States around 2009.

ATSC 3.0, known as Next Gen TV, represents a separate upgrade path that is not backward compatible with ATSC 1.0. It uses IP-based delivery, OFDM modulation, and advanced codecs such as HEVC for video and AAC or Dolby AC-4 for audio. ATSC 3.0 supports 4K resolution, High Dynamic Range, wide color gamut, mobile reception, enhanced robustness, interactive features, and potential targeted advertising. Broadcasters that adopt 3.0 often simulcast with 1.0 during the transition to help viewers upgrade their equipment.

Adoption of ATSC standards is market- and regulator-dependent, with ongoing deployments and coexistence of 1.0 and 3.0 in many regions. The standards are maintained by the Advanced Television Systems Committee, a consortium of broadcasters, manufacturers, and regulators.