News

LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)

With Derby Week kicking off in Louisville, Kentucky, Gray Television, Inc. (NYSE: GTN) (“Gray”) is proud to announce several key initiatives to advance the NEXTGEN TV transition and bring more of the benefits of this new standard to viewers in Gray’s local communities. Among many other consumer benefits, NEXTGEN allows broadcasters to deliver superior picture quality and immersive sound, and Gray is increasing its efforts to roll out these features for viewers.

Earlier this month, Gray’s NBC affiliate WAVE(TV) in Louisville, Kentucky, became the first affiliate of a major network to broadcast all of its programming using High Dynamic Range (HDR) with Dolby Vision and immersive sound using Dolby Atmos. The “always on” feature ensures that all of WAVE(TV)’s local and network content, including more than 30 hours of Gray’s live, local coverage from Churchill Downs starting with WAVE(TV)’s local morning news at 5:00 am on Monday, April 29 through the late evening news at 11:00 pm on Saturday, May 4 and including the key horse races in between, will all be in HDR with immersive sound.

“With HDR and immersive sound, WAVE(TV)’s programming will pop. Viewers will immediately notice the enhanced contrast between the brightest and darkest colors on the screen,” said John O’Brien, WAVE(TV)’s General Manager.

Gray’s advances with NEXTGEN are not limited to Louisville. In Las Vegas, Gray’s FOX affiliate KVVU(TV) was the first commercial television station to launch as a NEXTGEN Virtual Broadband IP Channel in December 2023. Earlier this month, KVVU(TV) became the first FOX affiliate and first NEXTGEN Virtual Channel to broadcast its entire programming schedule in HDR with Dolby Vision, again bringing the rich colors and vivid contrasts of HDR to viewers in Las Vegas.

“For many years, broadcasters have been promising to use NEXTGEN TV to bring superior picture quality and immersive sound to viewers. Gray is proud to be among a handful of leading broadcasters who are now delivering on that promise. Our stations in Louisville and Las Vegas are just the beginning of Gray’s efforts to launch more of its NEXTGEN TV stations with these innovative, consumer-pleasing features throughout the summer and into the fall,” said Pat LaPlatney, Gray’s President & Co-CEO.

In addition to advanced picture and sound quality, Gray also is using NEXTGEN to offer new interactive and streaming services for viewers. In Las Vegas and Kansas City, Gray’s stations are using NEXTGEN TV and the RUN3 Platform as a portal to access Gray’s live 24/7 local news-focused national streaming service, Local News Live. With a simple click of the remote, viewers watching KVVU(TV) in Las Vegas or KCTV(TV) in Kansas City on a NEXTGEN television set can access Local News Live. Gray’s stations in Las Vegas and Kansas City are the first to use NEXTGEN as a portal to access a free, live streaming news service providing a new public service to viewers in Gray’s markets.

“With NEXTGEN TV and the RUN3 Platform, Gray is able to bring Local News Live to the millions of viewers in Gray’s markets who have already purchased or will soon purchase a NEXTGEN TV set,” said Sandy Breland, Gray’s Chief Operating Officer.

“In the coming months Gray anticipates it will use NEXTGEN TV and the RUN3 Platform to offer more innovative and interactive features for its viewers, including start-over, interactive gaming channels, and much more,” offered Rob Folliard, Gray’s Senior Vice President and currently the Chairperson of NEXTGEN TV consortium PearlTV. “With the strong penetration of NEXTGEN TV capable television sets in the country, we expect consumers will increasingly recognize how NEXTGEN TV will improve their experiences even more than our industry’s transition from analog to High Definition fifteen years ago.”

About Gray:

Gray Television, Inc. is a multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Gray is the nation’s largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets. Its television stations serve 114 television markets that collectively reach approximately 36 percent of US television households. This portfolio includes 79 markets with the top-rated television station and 102 markets with the first and/or second highest rated television station. Gray also owns video program companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group, and PowerNation Studios, as well as the studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios.   Gray owns a majority interest in Swirl Films. For more information, please visit www.gray.tv.

Gray Contact:
Kevin P. Latek, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Development Officer, 404-266-8333

Robert J. Folliard, Senior Vice President, Distribution and Government Affairs, 404-266-8333

Local Broadcasters Bring High-Tech Television to Local Viewers

 by Lee Miller, ATBA Executive Director

For the past three days, I attended Grant Cardone's GrowthCon '24.  I've never been a big fan of guys like this, but I was intrigued when he offered a virtual ticket to this conference for free.  So I bit - I got to see the same sessions that the people in the room paid many thousands to be there.  I'm sure they are hoping the free attendees will get a taste of the platform and fork out the money for a coaching system starting at $5k! Probably a great system.  I didn't bite although I've gotten some very pushy sales calls!

So, here is my takeaway from a three-day conference that featured the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Peyton Manning, Mike Tyson, and Tyler Perry, and ideas on applying what I learned to broadcast.

In an industry as dynamic and competitive as broadcasting, finding innovative strategies for growth and scalability is paramount. Grant Cardone, a renowned sales and marketing guru, offers a blueprint for success that can be adapted to the unique challenges and opportunities faced by broadcasters. By applying Cardone's principles, broadcasting businesses can not only survive but thrive in today's fast-paced media landscape.

Embrace the 10X Rule

At the heart of Cardone's philosophy is the 10X Rule, which suggests that to achieve true success, businesses must set targets that are 10 times greater than what they believe they can achieve and then take actions that are 10 times greater than what they think are necessary. For broadcasters, this means reimagining your audience reach, content creation, and revenue goals. Instead of aiming for incremental growth, think about expanding your digital footprint, diversifying content to capture wider demographics, and exploring new revenue streams such as OTT platforms and digital ads.

Obsess Over Your Goals

Cardone emphasizes the importance of being obsessed with your goals. For the broadcasting industry, this could translate to a relentless pursuit of quality content and technological innovation. Keeping abreast of the latest trends in broadcast technology, such as ATSC 3.0 for enhanced transmission and interactive content, and committing to high production values can set your channel apart. Furthermore, investing in training for your sales and marketing teams to better understand and leverage these advancements can drive your growth objectives.

Massive Action Equals Massive Results

Taking massive action is another cornerstone of Cardone's strategy. This principle can be particularly effective in how broadcasters approach sales and audience engagement. Developing aggressive marketing campaigns that cut through the noise, actively seeking out sponsorship and partnership opportunities, and employing data analytics to understand viewer preferences and behaviors can significantly amplify your reach and impact.

Create a Value Proposition

In today's saturated market, differentiating your broadcasting business is crucial. Cardone advises businesses to create an irresistible offer or value proposition. For broadcasters, this could mean curating content that addresses specific viewer interests or community needs, offering exclusive access to certain programming, or providing interactive viewer experiences. Highlighting how your content is unique, timely, and relevant can attract a loyal viewer base and open up additional revenue opportunities.

Never Depend on a Single Revenue Stream

Diversification is key to sustainability and growth, a concept Cardone staunchly supports. Broadcasters should look beyond traditional advertising revenues to diversify their income. This could involve syndicating content across multiple platforms, leveraging subscription models, or offering branded content and sponsorship opportunities. Additionally, exploring ancillary services such as production facilities rentals or technical expertise consulting can provide stable income streams.

Invest in Yourself and Your Team

Finally, Cardone champions the idea of continuous learning and self-improvement. For broadcasting leaders, investing in personal development and team training can catalyze growth. Attend industry conferences, participate in training programs on the latest broadcasting technologies, and encourage your team to develop their skills in content creation, digital marketing, and sales strategies.

By integrating Grant Cardone's proven techniques into your business strategy, your broadcasting enterprise can set ambitious goals, take decisive action, and achieve exponential growth. It's about dreaming big, acting boldly, and relentlessly pursuing excellence in every facet of your business.

Advanced Television Broadcasting Alliance LPTV Day at NAB 2024 -

Saturday - April 13, 2024

• 7:00 pm: ATBA Board of Directors Meeting

Monday - April 15, 2024

Join us for a day packed with insights, innovation, and invaluable networking opportunities tailored for the LPTV and OTT industry professionals. WESTGATE SUITE TBA on Saturday in an Email blast.

Morning Sessions:

• 8:00 am: Start your day with a Continental Breakfast, offering a chance to mingle and chat.
• 8:30 am: "Trends in Broadcast Production and Distribution" - A deep dive with Jeff Cooper and Dr. Kumar Ramaswamy from Igolgi into the evolving broadcast landscape, highlighting key technologies like Efficient Video Compression, All IP Workflows, and Digital Ad Insertion, among others.9:30 am: "Television Guide Services 101" with Morgan Berns - A session dedicated to ensuring accurate and updated onscreen guide data, covering sources, updates, and maintenance tips.

Mid-Morning Session:

• 10:30 am: "Monetizing Your Station in 2024" – An engaging discussion hosted by Dr. Joshua Weiss and Steve Doll, focusing on innovative solutions for broadcasters, content creators, and advertisers to unlock their full potential.

Afternoon Sessions:

• 1:00 pm: "NextGen Broadcast - The Road to ATSC 3.0 Monetization" – An introduction and panel discussion led by Rajesh Gangadhar with Mark Aitken and others, exploring the monetization potential of ATSC 3.0 through various services like DDaaS, GPS fallback, and more.
• 3:00 pm: "FCC Meet and Greet" with Barbara Kreisman, Chief of the Video Division, Media Bureau, FCC – An opportunity to engage with key FCC personnel and discuss industry regulations, trends, and advancements.

Evening Reception:   WESTGATE PAVILION 1 & 2.

• 6:00 pm: The 39th Annual LPTV/OTT Reception – Wind down and network at our annual reception, celebrating the vibrant community of LPTV and OTT industry professionals.

Stay ahead of the curve by participating in these thought-provoking sessions designed to inspire, inform, and connect you with industry leaders and innovators. We will have the full lineup next week!

SOUTHWICK, MA, April 3, 2024 – Hitachi Kokusai Electric Comark LLC (hereinafter “COMARK”), a manufacturer and supplier of DTV transmitters, encoding systems, and associated field services for over 50 years, has announced the release of the LEX-2000 ATSC 3.0 Upgrade Solution.  The LEX encoder has been available for many years and is currently used by broadcasters for LPTV and disaster recovery market segments.

The LEX‐2000 is a powerful yet low-cost ATSC 1.0 encoder/multiplexer, that can be configured with all the necessary functions to get a DTV station on-the-air with up to 8 video programs.  It uses a compact 2RU dedicated hardware platform and includes many built-in source connections to support HD-SDI, SD-SDI, and NTSC Analog, as well as an ASI input for MPEG2 transport streams.  The encoder also supports PSIP ingest, EAS, and top-of-the-hour station ID.  The LEX-2000 platform is an extremely versatile product that now has a simple upgrade path to support ATSC 3.0.

The LEX 3.0 Upgrade pairs the LEX-2000 with the DTV Innovations Medusa product for a simple and cost-effective upgrade path to NextGen TV.  The consolidated solution includes HEVC-DASH encoding, ROUTE, and the Broadcast Gateway functions with a very simple user interface for system configuration.  Additional video programs can also be licensed on an as-needed basis.  The upgrade uses a single, space-efficient 1RU commercial high-availability server incorporating hot-swappable redundant power supplies that has a simple interface to existing LEX-2000 encoder platforms.

The LEX 3.0 Upgrade also accommodates ESG, AEA/AEI, and NRT ROUTE data encapsulation for ATSC 3.0 “Datacasting” of related and unrelated IP Data for broadcast.  The solution provides an ATSC 3.0 A/324 compliant STLTP output that integrates seamlessly with the EXACT-V2 ATSC 3.0 compliant DTV exciter that is used throughout the company’s DTV transmitter product line.

Additional information on this solution will be available at Comark’s NAB booth C4516 later this month.