BOSTON and BALTIMORE, Jan. 17,
2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SBGI) ("Sinclair"), Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:
NXST) ("Nexstar"), and Univision Local Media, Inc. ("Univision")
have reached an agreement with the leading wireless and broadcast
infrastructure provider, American Tower Corporation (NYSE: AMT)
("American Tower") to jointly construct and operate Single
Frequency Network (SFN) sites to broadcast Advanced Television
Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0 signals within the Dallas Designated
Market Area (DMA), as a first step toward a national launch.
The SFN will allow for the testing, validation and deployment of
advanced next generation broadcast services, which will provide
many benefits to consumers, including dramatically improved
over-the-air reception, immersive audio, deep-indoor reception,
mobile reception, zoned programming/advertising, automotive
services and advanced emergency alerting, among others.
The agreement between the broadcasters and American Tower will
serve as a test of a developed model for the transition from ATSC
1.0 to ATSC 3.0 and the deployment of SFN sites in preparation for
future national deployment of ATSC 3.0 Next Gen broadcast services.
In addition to over 40,000 U.S. tower sites and expertise in
installing broadcast equipment, American Tower provides
proficiency, through its ecosystem partners, in network
connectivity, SFN synchronization, wireless RAN and radio frequency
propagation. The result of this buildout and the associated
engineering is expected to provide a deployment roadmap that
delivers cost efficiencies for broadcasters and increases speed to
market for new Next Gen TV services.
Chris Ripley, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. commented,
"With the FCC's approval of the ATSC 3.0 standard, broadcasters are
eager and ready to demonstrate its many capabilities, business
opportunities and consumer benefits. This is an exciting time for
television broadcasters as we deploy new technologies that will
allow us to provide advanced nationwide business models that
benefit consumers and allow us to remain competitive."
Steven Marshall, Executive Vice
President and President, U.S. Tower, a division of American Tower,
commented, "As a leader in wireless infrastructure with over 20
years of expertise in the broadcast industry, we are excited about
this opportunity to help broadcasters speed Next Gen TV
deployments. The combination of our broadcast and wireless assets,
industry expertise, coupled with these three television broadcast
leaders will help to make ATSC 3.0 a reality for broadcasters."
As previously announced, Sinclair, Nexstar and Univision are
parties to a memorandum of understanding regarding the
establishment of a consortium that will promote spectrum
aggregation, innovation and monetization and enhance their
abilities to compete in the wireless data transmission sector.
About Sinclair:
Sinclair is one of the largest and most diversified television
broadcasting companies in the country. Pro forma for the
Tribune acquisition (before any related divestitures), the Company
will own, operate and/or provide services to 233 television
stations in 108 markets. The Company has multiple emerging
networks as well as stations affiliated with all the major
networks. Sinclair is a leading local news provider in the
country and a producer of live sports content. Sinclair's
content is delivered via multiple-platforms, including
over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and digital
platforms. The Company regularly uses its website as a key
source of Company information which can be accessed at
http://www.sbgi.net.
About Nexstar:
Nexstar Media Group is a leading diversified media company that
leverages localism to bring new services and value to consumers and
advertisers through its traditional media, digital and mobile media
platforms. Nexstar owns, operates, programs or provides sales and
other services to 170 television stations and related digital
multicast signals reaching 100 markets or approximately 39% of all
U.S. television households. Nexstar's portfolio includes primary
affiliates of NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, MyNetworkTV and The CW. Nexstar's
community portal websites offer additional hyper-local content and
verticals for consumers and advertisers, allowing audiences to
choose where, when and how they access content while creating new
revenue opportunities. For more information please visit
http://www.nexstar.tv.
About Univision:
Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is the leading media company
serving Hispanic America. The Company, a chief content creator in
the U.S., includes Univision Network, one of the top networks in
the U.S. regardless of language and the most-watched
Spanish-language broadcast television network in the country,
available in approximately 90% of U.S. Hispanic television
households; UniMás, a leading Spanish-language broadcast television
network available in approximately 84% of U.S. Hispanic television
households; Univision Cable Networks, including Galavisión, the
most-watched U.S. Spanish-language entertainment cable network, as
well as UDN (Univision Deportes Network), the most-watched U.S.
Spanish-language sports cable network, Univision tlnovelas, a
24-hour Spanish-language cable network dedicated to telenovelas,
ForoTV, a 24-hour Spanish-language cable network dedicated to
international news, and an additional suite of cable offerings - De
Película, De Película Clásico, Bandamax, Ritmoson and Telehit; as
well as an investment in El Rey Network, a general entertainment
English-language cable network; Univision Local Media, which owns
and/or operates 62 television stations and 58 radio stations in
major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto
Rico; Univision Now, a direct-to-consumer, on demand and
live streaming subscription service; Univision.com, the
most-visited Spanish-language website among U.S. Hispanics; and
Uforia, a music application featuring multimedia music content. The
Company also includes the Fusion Media Group (FMG), a division that
serves young, diverse audiences. FMG includes news and lifestyle
English-language cable network FUSION TV, and a collection of
leading digital brands that span a range of categories: technology
(Gizmodo), sports (Deadspin), music (TrackRecord), lifestyle
(Lifehacker), modern women's interests (Jezebel), news and politics
(Splinter), African American news and culture (The Root), gaming
(Kotaku), and car culture (Jalopnik). FMG also includes the
Company's interest in comedy and news satire brands The Onion,
Clickhole and The A.V. Club. Headquartered in New York City, UCI has content creation
facilities and sales offices in major cities throughout
the United States. For more
information, please visit corporate.univision.com.
About American Tower:
American Tower, one of the largest global REITs, is a leading
independent owner, operator and developer of multitenant
communications real estate with a portfolio of approximately
149,000 communications sites. For more information about American
Tower, please visit www.americantower.com.
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SOURCE Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.