NextGen TV

NextGen TV

NEXTGEN TV (ATSC 3.0) is the future of free, over-the-air broadcast television.

New Hampshire PBS is Rolling Out NEXTGEN TV in the Colebrook area in the first week of September 2025 weather permitting.

Already available in many major U.S. cities—including nearby Portland, Maine and Boston, MA—NEXTGEN TV brings cutting-edge technology straight to your living room. All you need is a NEXTGEN TV or converter box and an HD antenna to start watching.

This next-generation broadcast standard enhances efficiency and extends our signal reach, especially in rural and densely populated urban areas. It allows us to deliver our signal  to more screens than ever before.

NEXTGEN TV  will also enable us to target the delivery of emergency alerts by county.

With initial NEXTGEN TV deployment, you’ll enjoy:

  • Stunning video and audio quality
  • Stronger signal reception
  • Improved accessibility for all viewers

In the first week of September 2025, weather permitting,  NHPBS will be upgrading our transmitter in Colebrook, NH to transmit our signal in NEXTGEN TV format. If you currently use an antenna to watch TV, you will need a TV or a converter box that has an ATSC 3.0 tuner in order to receive our over-the-air (OTA) signal after this date.

Cable and satellite viewers are not affected by this change.

If you have any additional questions concerning NEXTGEN TV, please call 603-868-4358 during normal business hours.

Frequently Asked Questions:

NEXTGEN TV is the new TV broadcast standard that brings significant improvements for viewers, including better picture, sound and reception. NEXTGEN TV technology also brings the potential for interactive elements to enhance the viewing experience by merging over-the-air television broadcast with related internet-delivered content. The federal government expects this to become the new standard for over-the-air broadcasts in the future. It is already the standard in Japan, Korea, Brazil and other countries, and the United States wants to remain competitive.

New Hampshire PBS will offer NEXTGEN TV in the Colebrook broadcast area this fall.

Over-the-air viewers who can receive our signal now, should be able to receive NHPBS’ NEXTGEN TV broadcast using a NEXTGEN TV or converter box.

Some viewers may require an indoor or outdoor antenna to receive a quality signal.

We’re working to launch NEXTGEN TV in other areas of the state within the next couple of years, pending FCC approval.

NEXTGEN TV is available in many areas of the country. To find NEXTGEN TV near you, visit watchnextgentv.com/markets.

It depends. If you have purchased a new TV in the last couple of years, check the owner’s manual to see if it is NEXTGEN TV or ATSC 3.0 ready. If not, you will need to purchase a new TV or a NEXTGEN TV converter box. If you have a newer set that supports both ATSC 1.0 and NEXTGEN TV (ATSC 3.0) signals, you will need to re-scan in order to receive our NEXTGEN TV signal.

Explore compatible devices on watchnextgentv.com.

Only where NHPBS’ broadcast is concerned. If you are in the Colebrook broadcast area, and you wish to  continue watching existing ATSC 1.0 channels, you don’t need to do anything, but you will not be able to watch NHPBS.

If you would like to watch NHPBS, you will have to purchase either a NEXTGen capable TV, or a NEXTGen set-top box. Some TV’s and set-top boxes have dual capability, allowing you to view both ATSC 1.0 & NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0).

No, you don't need a special antenna for NEXTGEN TV. Any antenna that is capable of receiving UHF and VHF signals will work, as long as it's within range of the broadcast tower.  Your existing antenna should be sufficient for receiving NEXTGEN TV signals, provided it’s compatible with the frequencies used for TV broadcasts.  The “special“ part of NEXTGEN TV reception is in the tuner, not in the antenna.

Colebrook area over-the-air viewers will need to rescan their TV or converter box in order to receive NHPBS’ NEXTGEN TV signal after September 3, 2025.  Viewers in the rest of our broadcast area don’t need to do anything, as we are not upgrading those broadcast sites to NEXTGEN TV.

For more information on how to rescan your TV, go to How to Rescan your TV.

The FCC hasn’t yet mandated TV stations convert to NextGen TV. Stations are taking up this effort on their own. Once the FCC mandates additional NEXTGEN TV conversions, New Hampshire PBS will alert viewers in those areas.  The FCC is scheduled to review NEXTGEN TV roadmap in 2027.

No, the cable companies do not have NEXTGEN TV capabilities.

No, the satellite companies do not have NEXTGEN TV capabilities.

NEXTGEN TV leverages the internet to handle user requests and deliver additional content like interactive features, personalized content and enhanced services alongside traditional broadcast signals. An internet connection is not required; however, you won't have access to that content without it. NHPBS is not currently delivering any additional content. This will take time to develop.

Our current digital broadcast technology was developed in the 1990s, bringing high-definition video, surround sound audio and wide-screen format viewing to new audiences. This standard relies largely on 1990s technology and is becoming outdated.

NEXTGEN TV is based on Internet Protocol (IP) technology. IP allows for a television viewing environment similar to computers, tablets and smartphones. Using IP technology also leaves room for innovation and future changes. NEXTGEN TV is a very adaptable standard designed to respond to future technological changes.

Viewers who take advantage of free, over-the-air reception of television signals through an antenna will benefit from this new technology. In the future, viewers having a NEXTGEN TV-enabled television that is connected to the Internet, will be able to access a whole new suite of applications to improve their viewing experience.

  • Request FCC approval to extend NEXTGEN TV to all of our transmitter sites.
  • Upgrade our remaining transmitters to NEXTGEN TV.
  • Implement targeted emergency alerts by county throughout NH (which includes areas outside NH which receive our over-the-air broadcast
  • Partner with other agencies to create applications that can insert emergency information into our broadcast signal to be picked up by various first responders and partner agencies.
  • Partner with other businesses to create interactive over-the-top internet-delivered content to enhance NHPBS programs.

 

Troubleshooting:

Troubleshooting  NEXTGEN TV (also known as ATSC 3.0) involves identifying and resolving common issues that may arise with the technology. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can follow:

  1. Check your signal strength: Ensure that your NEXTGEN TV is receiving a strong and stable signal. Weak signals can result in pixelation, freezing or loss of audio. Check the signal strength indicator on your TV or tuner to see if it's sufficient. If the signal is weak, consider repositioning your antenna or contacting your local TV station for assistance.
  2. Verify the antenna connection: If you are using an external antenna, double-check that it is properly connected to your TV or tuner. Make sure the antenna cable is securely plugged into the antenna input and that there are no loose connections.
  3. Run channel scan: Perform a channel scan or auto-tune on your NEXTGEN TV to ensure that it's picking up all available channels in your area. This process will update your channel list and refresh the signal for better reception.
  4. Update firmware/software: Check for any available firmware or software updates for your NEXTGEN TV. Manufacturers often release updates to fix bugs and improve performance. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer to update your device.
  5. Reset your TV: If you encounter persistent issues, try resetting your NEXTGEN TV to its factory settings. Keep in mind that this will erase any customized settings, so be prepared to set up your TV again from scratch.
  6. Check for local outages: If you experience issues with specific channels or services, it might be due to a local broadcast outage or maintenance. Check the website or social media channels of your local TV stations for any announcements.
  7. Check external devices: If you have external devices connected to your NEXTGEN TV (e.g., streaming boxes, game consoles), try disconnecting them one by one to see if the issue is caused by any of the connected devices.
  8. Contact manufacturer support: If you've exhausted all troubleshooting options, and your NEXTGEN TV still isn't functioning correctly, reach out to the manufacturer's customer support for further assistance. They may be able to provide specific guidance or arrange for repairs or replacements if necessary.
  9. Check your internet connection (if applicable): Some NEXTGEN TVs may have internet connectivity features. If you are using internet-based services like streaming apps or interactive features, make sure your internet connection is stable and performing well.

Always refer to the user manual or support documentation provided by the manufacturer for detailed troubleshooting steps specific to your NEXTGEN TV model.

Station Management

Peter A. Frid
President & CEO
pfrid@nhpbs.org
603-868-1100

Dawn DeAngelis
Vice President & Chief Content Officer
ddeangelis@nhpbs.org
603-868-1100