Nexstar Announces Completion of ATSC 3.0 Transition in Cleveland, Marking Upgrade in Final Major U.S. Market

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST), today announced the successful launch of ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) in the Cleveland, Ohio, television market, with the next-generation broadcast standard now deployed across all of the top 25 U.S. designated market areas (DMAs).

As the largest remaining market yet to deploy ATSC 3.0, Cleveland had been unable to launch due to structural limitations in available broadcast spectrum and station participation. However, following Nexstar’s 2024 acquisition of WBNX-TV, Nexstar contributed the station’s spectrum to the ATSC 3.0 effort, enabling the entire Cleveland market to align the necessary technical and operational resources necessary to move forward. This is a clear example of how strategic industry consolidation can accelerate innovation and deliver meaningful benefits to consumers.

The transition makes Cleveland the last large U.S. market to complete deployment of ATSC 3.0, a milestone that effectively establishes nationwide availability of the new broadcast standard in all major markets.

ATSC 3.0 technology provides viewers with a significantly enhanced experience, including:

• Interactive content and enhanced data services, including a terrestrial backup to GPS
• Superior picture quality, including 4K UHD and HDR capabilities
• Immersive audio
• Advanced emergency alerting features

“Completing this ATSC 3.0 transition represents a significant milestone in the nationwide transformation of broadcast capabilities and is the first step to bringing a host of benefits to consumers in the Cleveland DMA,” said Brett Jenkins, Nexstar’s Chief Technology & Digital Officer. "NextGen TV service also opens up opportunities for EdgeBeam Wireless, our joint venture, to offer its services to customers looking to take advantage of the benefits of data delivery over a broadcast system for such applications as high-precision positioning, digital signage, and enhancing public safety.”

Viewers in the Cleveland market can access NextGen TV broadcasts with a compatible television set or external receiver. Existing ATSC 1.0 services will continue to be available during the transition period to ensure uninterrupted access.

About Nexstar Media Group:

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST) is a leading diversified media company that produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports and entertainment content across its television and digital platforms. For more information, please visit nexstar.tv.