Noland Praises Hisense Jumping In With NextGenTV Support

ATSC 3.0 landed support from a fourth TV brand when Hisense announced at CES 2022 Tuesday that it will build integrated 3.0 tuners into all the sets in its top three tiers of 2022 product. “With growing interest in free, live over-the-air broadcast, especially local news, sports and network content, the newly integrated NEXTGEN TV (ATSC 3.0) offers an excellent upgrade, bringing even more content options to viewers with 4K HDR, Dolby audio and the latest broadcast upgrades,” said the manufacturer. Its top-of-the-line offering with 3.0 support is a 75-inch Mini LED set called the U9H, due to launch late summer at $3,199. Three sets in the U8H series include 55-, 65- and 75-inch screen sizes starting at $1,099 when they arrive mid-summer, all with 3.0 tuners built in. A third tier of TVs in the U7H series will have 55-, 65-, 75- and 85-inch models starting at $799, also due mid-summer, and also with integrated 3.0 tuners. LG, Samsung and Sony jumped in with 3.0 support at CES 2020 (see 2001080044) and remained the only NextGenTV brands available until Hisense’s entry Tuesday. Speculation was brewing through most of 2021's second half that one of the Chinese TV makers would soon announce 3.0 backing. The news that "another major manufacturer" in Hisense will offer consumers the option of NextGenTV reception "is encouraging to broadcasters across the U.S. who already have or will soon upgrade to ATSC 3.0," said ATSC President Madeleine Noland in a statement.