Pearl TV Aims at Creating Cheaper ATSC 3.0 Converters
Broadcaster consortium Pearl TV has launched a new effort to create “affordable, basic” converter boxes to allow ATSC 3.0 signals to be received on existing non-3.0-capable TVs, it said in a news release Friday. Although 3.0 converter boxes are already commercially available, the Pearl TV program is aimed at creating lower-cost models, in line with the low-cost converters sold during the digital TV transition, a spokesperson told us.
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“The initiative aligns with key policy considerations raised in the FCC’s ongoing proceeding, including consumer access, affordability, and continuity of service as NEXTGEN TV broadcasts become more widely available,” the release said. The program “establishes a common certification and interoperability framework to support a range of eligible receiving devices across participating manufacturers, added Pearl TV Managing Director Anne Schelle in the release. It's “open to any qualified converter box manufacturer that aligns with the program's baseline device profile and affordability goals.”
The first converter boxes from the initiative could be available in 2026, and early examples will be displayed at CES this week, the release said. “The Pearl Converter Box Program is focused on essential viewing functionality, prioritizing simplicity, familiarity, and cost-effectiveness.”