The U.S. is in the middle of a major broadcast shift, moving from ATSC 1.0—first rolled out in 2009—to ATSC 3.0, better known as NEXTGEN TV. This isn’t just a technical upgrade; it’s a whole new standard for free, over-the-air broadcasting. Many TV manufacturers have already started including NEXTGEN TV tuners in their latest models, giving viewers access to features like HDR, improved audio, interactive content, and even gaming support without paying for cable or streaming subscriptions.
Should it matter to you? We think so—especially if you’re relying on antenna TV and want the best picture and sound available.
NEXTGEN TV brings a serious upgrade to free, over-the-air broadcasting. It supports 4K UHD resolution while still allowing broadcasters to simulcast HD and SD sub-channels within the same bandwidth.
On the picture side, it’s ready for a full suite of HDR formats—including HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG, and Technicolor’s Advanced HDR (SL-HDR)—along with wide color gamut support up to BT.2020, depending on the content. Frame rates can go as high as 120 fps, which future-proofs it for sports and fast-moving content.
Audio gets a major lift as well, with support for immersive formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, plus multiple language tracks and other advanced options. There’s even 3D video support, capped at 1080p.
Beyond the core picture and sound upgrades, NEXTGEN TV combines over-the-air and broadband delivery for added programming and interactive content across TVs, mobile devices, and internet-enabled gear.
It also strengthens the Emergency Alert System with more detailed and location-specific alerts for severe weather, natural disasters, and other critical events. For content owners, secure copy protection is built in through watermarking, similar to HDCP over HDMI.
NEXTGEN TV Brings Free Over-the-Air HDR Support to Viewers
As part of the NEXTGEN TV standard, HDR is now widely available to viewers. More than 250 channels across the U.S. are already broadcasting in High Dynamic Range, with virtually every major NEXTGEN TV station delivering the improved brightness, contrast, and color that HDR brings to the picture.
With the 2025 NFL season underway, NEXTGEN TV viewers are already seeing the benefits of HDR broadcasts. The season kicked off with a preseason game in New Orleans on August 23, where Gray’s Tupelo Media Group and local Fox affiliate WVUE delivered the first end-to-end native HDR broadcast over the air in the U.S. From the cameras to the production truck to the station and finally to viewers’ NEXTGEN TV sets, the game showcased what true HDR looks like for live sports.
Sinclair TV Group is also delivering upconverted High Dynamic Range broadcasts through its NEXTGEN TV stations. In addition, the company is offering the T2 Tennis Channel and Pickleball TV Channel in 45 markets via broadcast-enabled streaming virtual channels for connected NEXTGEN TV viewers.
The technical strides and programming initiatives from Gray and Sinclair set the stage for upcoming international soccer and other major global sporting events.
From Anne Schelle of Pearl TV: “With NEXTGEN TV reaching more than three-quarters of viewing households, it’s exciting to see broadcasters enable High Dynamic Range on almost every channel to greatly enhance picture quality. Additionally, more than half of U.S. households also have access to broadcast Dolby Atmos audio, which adds a new dimension to entertainment and sports,” Pearl TV has coordinated many of the market launches of the new broadcast technology.
The fall season is building toward Pearl TV’s holiday marketing push, highlighting the benefits of NEXTGEN TV across stations nationwide. Currently, more than 620 services are available through NEXTGEN TV, combining traditional broadcast and internet-connected streams in 78 Designated Market Areas. That coverage reaches 76% of U.S. households, putting more than 250 million potential viewers within reach of the new broadcast standard.
NEXTGEN TV Expands Beyond HDR with Music Streaming and Gaming Features
In addition to HDR, select NEXTGEN TV broadcasters are rolling out new services like free music and gaming content.
ROXi: FastStream Interactive and Sinclair recently partnered to bring ROXi—the world’s first fully interactive music TV channel—to NEXTGEN TV households in over 31 U.S. markets. The channel offers free, on-demand access to more than 100 million music videos from Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and MERLIN.
ROXi users can enjoy interactive features that traditional broadcast TV hasn’t offered before. Viewers can skip through videos TikTok-style, search on-demand for any artist, song, or mood, or simply sit back and enjoy curated playlists across genres including Pop, Rock, Country, 80s, 90s, Gospel, Urban, and more. The ROXi channel is set to expand to additional U.S. NEXTGEN TV markets throughout the rest of 2025 and into 2026.
GameLoop: GameLoop is a streaming TV channel that brings gaming directly to smart TVs, letting viewers watch and play popular titles like PAC-MAN, TETRIS, Planet Crossword, and Tomb Runner, along with many other free games. The service transforms traditional TV viewing into a fully interactive, dynamic two-screen experience. Hosts introduce new games and bring viewers together for gameplay, discovery, and community—all on the best screen in the house. GameLoop is currently available through Gray Media and Sinclair in 49 NEXTGEN TV markets across the U.S.
NEXTGEN TV: Implementation and Compatible Devices
So far, NEXTGEN TV adoption has been gradual. Because participation is voluntary, many broadcast stations have been slow to invest in the new equipment required for the standard. Likewise, TV manufacturers have taken their time incorporating NEXTGEN TV tuners into new sets, and set-top box makers have not yet released enough add-on tuner options for current TV owners. As a result, many viewers are still waiting to take full advantage of what NEXTGEN TV has to offer.
NEXTGEN TV compatible TVs and External Tuners: TV Brands that include NEXTGEN TV tuners in select models include: TCL, Hisense, Sony, Samsung, and Panasonic.
TVs With NextGenTV Tuners
- TCL TV X11K Premium QD-MiniLED TV (2025)
- Sony BRAVIA 8 II Class QD-OLED 4K HDR Google TV (2025)
- Hisense Class U7 Series MiniLED ULED 4K Google TV (2025)
- Panasonic OLED TV – Z95B Series (2025)
Add-on Tuners are available from ADTH and Zinwell
Pro Tip: As of 2024, LG is no longer incorporating built-in NEXTGEN TV Tuners into its TVs due to cost and patent controversy.
As of September 20205, NEXTGEN TV broadcasts are available in 80+ markets covering about 80% of TV Viewers. Find out if NEXTGEN TV is available in your area.
More from Anne Schelle: “The best resource for consumers who are considering an upgrade to their viewing experience is the fast facts available on WatchNextGenTV.com, which offers details on available channels by zip code as well as a comprehensive listing of nearly 100 models of NEXTGEN TV sets available from five different manufacturers. Convenient and low-cost upgrade accessory receivers are also available for those looking to upgrade existing screens.”
The Bottom Line
NEXTGEN TV offers significant upgrades for over-the-air viewers, including HDR, immersive audio, and interactive content, but adoption in the U.S. has been slow and largely voluntary. While South Korea has fully embraced the system with regular 4K broadcasts, U.S. viewers are still waiting for widespread implementation.
Industry talk points to a possible hard switchover in major markets by 2028 and nationwide by 2030, echoing the 2009 analog-to-digital transition. For NEXTGEN TV to deliver on its full promise, regular 4K UHD broadcasting—not just additional lower-resolution channels—will be essential for viewers to see real value in the upgrade.