How ATSC 3.0 Aims to Win Over Cord-Cutters in 2026
The ATSC organization certifies what products support ATSC 3.0. A3SA certifies ATSC 3.0 DRM support. So does a Pearl TV certification program mean that a product is ATSC 3.0 certified. Probably not unless ATSC org agrees and why would they do that.
Ahead of this week’s CES trade show, the broadcaster consortium Pearl TV announced a certification program for no-frills converter boxes that will plug into the HDMI port on any TV.
ATSC is a standards group and doesn’t certify anything.
A3SA does not certify anything either. They develop security protocols.
You want to use the ATSC 3.0 logo
Eurofins Digital Testing: An accredited lab offering comprehensive testing for ATSC 3.0/NEXTGEN TV conformance, including security and logo certification.
ATSC 3.0 product certification involves independent labs like Eurofins Digital Testing for conformance and NEXTGEN TV logo testing, and component providers offering certified solutions, ensuring devices meet standards for security, interoperability, and features like emergency alerts and interactivity. Manufacturers license technology (like from Avanci Broadcast) and get tested to ensure their receivers (TVs, dongles) function correctly and securely.
Yup. Independent accredited labs are doing the certification.
Those labs certify that the device conforms to the standard…
for A3SA independent Labs also.
Who does the accreditation?
So let’s go back and see what that means. If Pearl TV develops a certification program that doesn’t include mandatory parts of the ATSC 3.0 standard are their certified products able to claim they are ATSC 3.0 certified.
So now you are saying that nextgentv is ATSC.
So if pearltv removes some features from the device is it still compliant
Pearl TV aims to bring prices down with a new class of converter boxes that shave away features such as DVR and possibly some interactive features.
Are these features required
No. That is not what I’m saying because it’s incorrect.
Nextgen TV is separate. Trade group.
Pearl TV is separate. Trade group.
NAB is separate. Trade group.
CTA is separate. Trade group.
ATSC is separate. Standards group.
A3SA is separate. Security protocols group.
Trade groups don’t make or manufacture anything resembling a device. They make press releases and lobby government officials.
It’s as if creating an industry standard is nothing. Especially those that include technologies from others. For those that have participated, it’s worse then herding feral cats.
What was old is new again… Interactive Television
That pertains to Cable TV. Nobody has ever tried that on
OTA TV and hopefully it will never happen.
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You’ve never heard of Nextgen TV? Interactive Television using your Internet connection?
Over 7 years too late. Just some light reading.
It’s about as interactive as Tablo. Tablo requires internet also but it’s not interactive.
Well I’m glad that we all agree.
BTW I spend hours daily futzing with my Tablo Gen4. That is interactive…
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I been using the ZapperBox ATSC 3 DVR over 2 years now and works fine with DRM. Now you can even stream and watch shows from other ZB’s in the same house. So 2 Dual tuners is more like a Quad now as you can do and watch things from both on any of them.
Only problem is the COST. 
About $800 to set up a 3 TV house with them and storage plus the guide costs.
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I saw the same thing when I started checking in to that product and approach ($$$). Those costs don’t even include the real hit that is coming … putting encrypted content behind paywalls. This has always been the long game with the “new and improved” OTA TV.
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True, although ZapperBox does have a roadmap stating that they intend to add support for ZapperBox Apps running on devices such as the Walmart Onn 4K Plus. So if they are able to deliver this support, then the cost would come way down for multi-TV households.
https://zapperbox.com/blogs/blog/roadmap-to-a-real-gateway