ATSCs

ATSCs refers to the family of digital television standards developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) for terrestrial broadcast in North America and compatible regions. The ATSC standards are designed to replace analog NTSC with digital transmission and to support modern video, audio, and data services.

The first widely deployed generation, ATSC 1.0, emerged in the 1990s and became the standard for digital television in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. ATSC 1.0 uses 8VSB modulation, MPEG-2 video, and Dolby Digital or similar audio formats, with PSIP metadata to convey program guides and information. It supports resolutions up to 1080i or 720p, as well as multiple subchannels within a single broadcast stream.

ATSC 3.0, the next-generation standard, was developed to expand capabilities beyond ATSC 1.0. ATSC 3.0 uses orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM), IP-based transport, and flexible codecs, including HEVC (H.265). It enables 4K Ultra HD, high dynamic range (HDR), wide color gamut, and object-based or immersive audio, along with improved reception on mobile devices and in challenging environments. ATSC 3.0 also supports enhanced data services and potential targeted advertising.

Because ATSC 3.0 is not backward compatible with ATSC 1.0, many broadcasters have approached deployment through simulcasting or phased transitions, often running both standards in parallel during a transition period. Implementations have progressed at varying paces across markets, with consumer adoption depending on available tuners and receivers.