Are you ready for repack and ATSC 3.0? - SBE Chapter 11sbe11.org/index_files/Boston_SBE11_RepackATSC3.0_Presentation_26... · Are you ready for repack and ATSC 3.0? ... Dielectric

Are you ready for repack and

ATSC 3.0?

Boston Market – SBE Chapter 11 Meeting

January 26, 2017

Neil Searls Director of Business Development, Broadcast

Jim Stenberg Principal Engineer, Broadcast RF

2

› Introductions

› American Towers Broadcast Business

› TV Incentive Auction/Repack Update

› Steps ATC is Taking to be Ready for Repack

› Potential ATSC 3.0 Impact

› Summary

- ATC Confidential -

Agenda

Our Broadcast Business

› Our roots are in broadcasting… ATC began as a broadcaster and broadcast tower

company

› In the industry over 20 years

› Own the largest portfolio of broadcast towers in the U.S.

› 435+ broadcast towers across 80+ DMAs

› 1,450+ sites in use by broadcasters

› Very experienced broadcast team

› Constantly innovating to meet demands

of evolving media technologies

› NYSE® (AMT), component of S&P 500

®

3 - ATC Confidential -

Status of Incentive Auction

4

The Incentive Auction will end after Stage 4 – 84 MHz cleared

› Stage 4 of the Forward Auction exceeded the FCC net proceeds requirement on January 18

› Reverse Auction spectrum cost $10.1B + auction repack costs $2B = $12B FCC costs

› Forward Auction raised $18.2B but more importantly $1.2570 per POP

› The final stage rule has now been met, with forward auction bidders having bid enough to

both cover the broadcasters’ spectrum and the $1.25 per MHz POP price in the top 40 markets


Post Auction Next Steps

Reverse auction winners PN Channel Reassignment PN

Broadcaster receives compensation

from FCC, relinquish spectrum usage

rights within 90 days

Exit

business

Sharee

CSA

Move to Lo-

V or Hi-V

Pre-Construction

Stage - 90 days

Remove

tower, site

equipment

Remove

tower, site

equipment

Upgrade site

to support

VHF

Construction

Stage 18 - 36 months

FCC $1.75B budget applicable; 39 mos cut-over timeline

Final stage rule is met ~30 days “Confidential Station” letters are issued

No Change – not

repacked

Broadcaster

repacked

No

Change

File FCC

Sharer

- ATC Confidential - 5

90 Day Pre-Construction Stage

› Broadcaster develops Main/Aux design – minimize OTA repack disruption

› Identify project costs per FCC reimbursable catalog

› Broadcaster develops Main and/or Auxiliary antenna system solution and file application

› After reassigned stations have filed their initial application, stations will be able to

request alternate channels or expanded facilities


FCC Repack Reimbursement Overview

› Eligibility: Full power and Class A TV licensees that are involuntarily

reassigned to new channels in the repacking process.

› Process: Following release of channel reassignment public notice:

› 90 days to submit estimated cost form

› Utilize Catalog of Potential Expenses and Estimated Costs

› Allocated cost will be held in the US Treasury ASAP system up to

80% of estimated costs commercial; 90% public broadcasting

› After submittal and approval of incurred estimated cost form(s), TV

broadcasters can draw down funds

› System allows for milestone and partial project payments

› If necessary to recover remaining costs, broadcasters may request

an additional allocation at the final allocation phase

› Timeframe: 39 months starting from new channel assignment public notice


Potential Post Auction Transition Schedule

› 84 MHz clearing target result in 737 repacked stations with FCC outlook of up

to 1,274 stations

› Phase 1 cut-over 12-15 months; Phase 2 cut-over 18-24 months…thru Phase 10

› Only Phase 10 has full 36 month cut-over period


ATC is Ready for Repack

ATC is Committed to Supporting our broadcast customers

› Dedicated ATC repack team

› Increased broadcast construction manager and PM staffing

› Pro-actively exploring all tower-by-tower repack options

› Conducting tower mapping/inspections, engineering structural reviews, civil audits

and implementing customer communication plan

› Preparing for post channel allocation “90 Day” surge

› Offering repack solutions:

› Planning, construction services and project management

› Interim and permanent repack RF options, including new broadband antenna systems

› Pre ordering antenna’s, transmission line and other materials


American Tower Boston TV Market - existing

Needham Heights, Cedar St

1449’ Overall AMSL

Site #282685

Newton, Chestnut St


Site #1028

Needham, Cabot St


Site #5760

WMFP 18

WBPX 32

WLVI 41

WCVB 20

WBZ 30

WSBK 39

WGBX 43

WFXT 31 E-Pol, Cardioid

R/C 1171’ AGL

WFXZ-DC 24

WGBH 19 H-Pol, Omni

R/C 1215’ AGL

WYDN 47

822’ AGL

FM Aux 4

FM Main 3

Aux 8

FM Main 2

Aux 1

1253’ AGL

789’ AGL

XXXX = in core station

XXXX = out of core station - ATC Confidential - 10

Existing ATC BBA H-Pol, Omni

R/C 1270’ AGL

Existing ATC BBA H-Pol; Omni

R/C 1215’ AGL

H-Pol; Directional

R/C 1036’ AGL

H-Pol; Directional

R/C 990’ AGL

H-Pol; Directional

R/C 1005’ AGL

Directional

R/C 862’ AGL WBTS-LD 46 H-Pol, Directional

R/C 777’ AGL

WFXT 31 (A) H-Pol, Cardioid

R/C 1076’ AGL

H-Pol; Directional

R/C 1128’ AGL

WCVB 20 (A) H-Pol; Directional

R/C 617’ AGL

Needham Heights, Cedar St


Site #282685

Needham, Cabot St


Site #5760

NEW MASTER ANTENNA


Main BBA E-Pol; Omni

14 Bay top mount

R/C 1268’ AGL

R/C 1421’ AMSL

ATC Boston Repack Solution - proposed

Aux BBA: E-Pol; Omni

14 Bay top mount

R/C 1174’ AGL

R/C 1325’ AMSL

TX Line: New single run of

8-3/16” Dielectric EHT Digitline

Combiner: Single Chain

combiner with ability to add

second combiner module that will

allow dynamic Pol capability in

the future

NEW MASTER ANTENNA

TX Line: Utilize existing

dual runs of 8-3/16”

Dielectric EHT Digitline

Combiner: Dual Chain

combiner with dynamic Pol ratio

allowing each station to make

independent Pol changes

Power: Utilize existing back-

up power system(s)

Power: Provide new House

back-up generator system

Solution:

Build Aux E-Pol BBA on Needham

site and move applicable

broadcasters to new Needham BBA.

Build new Main broadband antenna

system at Needham Heights site.

Operate Main/Aux system at

Needham Heights and Needham

site.

Reflects new

supporting structure

Clearance

1296’ AGL

1449’ AMSL

Clearance

1201’ AGL

1352’ AMSL

Incentive Auction

Winner - Cash Out;

High-V; CSA

Repacked Eligible for

Funding

E-Pol BBA with

Dynamic Pol

ATSC 3.0 Standard

Single Frequency Network

New TV Revenue Streams

Convergence: Regulatory/Technology/Funding

12

Advanced IP Based

Transmission & Video/Audio

Coding Standard

“Once in a Lifetime” Convergence Opportunity

for TV Broadcasters

Incentive Auction

FCC Repack Funding &

New TV Business Models

ATSC 3.0

EXPAND YOUR AUDIENCE!

TV STATION


“There’s no mistaking the dramatic changes taking place in the

video content realm. Consumers are avidly seeking out content from

a variety of traditional and new content providers...”

Growing Consumer Appetite − Video Content

Source: Nielsen 13 - ATC Confidential -

14

Average Time Spent Per Day on Media

› Total consumption continues to increase among adults with an additional

hour of overall time spent

› Fixed TV remains steady

› Significant YOY growth in mobile consumption

High

Growth

Source: Nielsen


What Does ATSC 3.0 Mean for TV

› Unconstrained consumption with guaranteed service quality

› Deliver gigabits for pennies vs. dollars

› Broader customer base

› New mobile users

› New Revenue Streams

› On demand video and audio content

› Live events – sports, concerts, news, emergency

› Custom broadcast services

› UHD/4K

› Hyper Localism

› Local and nationwide channel bonding

› Target/zone-cast through SFN network

Cross Platform Delivery to All Consumers


Hybrid Broadcast Broadband IP Architecture

Vehicle

Mobility

Tablets, Smartphones

and Laptops

Wireless Tower

3G/4G/5G Uplink/Downlink

Wi-Fi or TVWS

Cloud Hosted Services, Video Content & Internet Services

Wi-Fi via DSL, Cable, Fiber

Connected

Televisions

Desktop

Computers

Tablets, Mobile

or IPTV Devices

Home Gateway Device

ATSC 3.0 UHF Downlink

16

Broadcast Tower

Source: Edge Spectrum


Market Coverage Comparison - Boston

17

WBZ-TV Coverage from Needham

SFN - Worcester

SFN - Portsmouth

SFN – Manchester/Nashua

SFN – Cape Cod/Islands

SFN - Sports/Entertainment

SFN Potential Coverage - Boston


By participating on the Needham BBA, participants are well positioned to deploy SFN systems in the future

› Zoned Advertising

› Mobile Video Download

› Hyper-Local Content

› Advanced Warning System

Where is ATSC 3.0 Today

› Standard launch set for early 2017 in Korea

› US standard almost ready for NPRM and adoption

› September 8 − Physical Layer transmission system for ATSC 3.0 has been approved as a Final Standard

› Trials in certain US markets underway

› US broadcasters requested FCC approval to start a voluntary simulcast fall of 2016

› Chips and other 3.0 TX/RX products developed

› Pearl and Samsung demonstrated targeted advertising

› One Media demonstrated Hybrid Broadcast/Broadband capabilities

Standard is Well On Its Way to Deployment


Summary

American Tower is ready for repack and intends to:

› Continue to invest in the Boston broadcast market

› Deliver “Future Proof” master antenna systems

› Work with Boston Broadcasters to deploy multi-site solutions

› Monitor, Influence and Support industry convergence


Open Discussion


Thank You

Documents

Are you ready for repack and ATSC 3.0? - SBE Chapter 11sbe11.org/index_files/Boston_SBE11_RepackATSC3.0_Presentation_26... · Are you ready for repack and ATSC 3.0? ... Dielectric