Graham Media’s KSAT Launches a Second Stick,
Bringing Enhanced Video and Audio, Interactive Applications and
Upgradable Technology to its Free, Over-the-Air Services
SAN ANTONIO, Texas—May 7, 2024—San Antonio television viewers can continue to experience the future of broadcast television as five more stations have come together to offer more NEXTGEN TV service. Otherwise known as ATSC 3.0, NEXTGEN TV is a revolutionary, free digital broadcast technology that utilizes the internet and digital applications, presenting viewers with more news and entertainment choices while providing broadcasters with a more compelling and interactive way to deliver their content. The five additional stations add new services to the San Antonio market. This development delivers total of nine NEXTGEN TV services for San Antonio’s more than one million television households, 48% of which are Hispanic.
Viewers can now access five more channels over-the-air (OTA) for free with NEXTGEN TV: ABC’s KSAT-TV (channel 12.1); PBS’ KLRN-TV (channel 9.1); NBC’s Telemundo KVDA-TV (channel 60.1); CBS’ KENS-TV (channel 5.1); and Univision’s KWEX-TV (channel 41.1). Local viewers can easily tune to each station for information about accessing NEXTGEN TV locally, rescanning information and how to purchase the right television set to receive NEXTGEN TV.
Viewers watching these channels can look forward to enhanced television viewing provided by NEXTGEN TV as a complement to streaming platforms, as NEXTGEN TV doesn’t compete for household bandwidth with over-the-top content but is provided as a free OTA service to elevate viewers’ experiences.
“NEXTGEN TV is in high demand in San Antonio, a top media market where several major networks—ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC, PBS, Telemundo, and Univision—are offering this new service to their viewers,” said Ashley Parker, General Manager of KSAT. “Local broadcasters are dedicated to growing this free service in the San Antonio area and providing valuable local news, sports and entertainment. NEXTGEN TV’s emergency alert and dual language capabilities are essential to residents and we’re proud that we can give them even more options now.”
NEXTGEN TV, a free OTA service, is the first major overhaul to the Advanced Television Systems Committee’s standard for receiving over-the-air signals in 25 years. Now broadcasting in more than 75 markets, NEXTGEN TV currently reaches 75% of U.S. television households.
A feature built into select TV models manufactured by Hisense, Sony, LG Electronics and Samsung—and later this month from TCL—NEXTGEN TV is widely available to consumers at retail starting at a suggested retail price of $479. More than 100 NEXTGEN TV products will be available to consumers this year, with a comprehensive list now available on https://www.watchnextgentv.com/. While features may vary by device and broadcaster as commercial service expands in local markets, NEXTGEN TV is designed to be “future proof,” enabling a viewer’s television set to advance with technological improvements.
NEXTGEN TV makes possible:
- Stunning 4K and High Dynamic Range (HDR) video
- Consistent volume across channels
- Added voice clarity with the Dolby Audio System
- Movie theater-quality sound
- Enhanced internet content on demand
- Advanced emergency alerts and information
- Expanded and hyperlocal news
- Dual language capabilities
KSAT, KLRN, KVDA, KENS, and KWEX join four other stations that launched NEXTGEN TV earlier in June 2022 NBC’s WOAI (channel 4.1); FOX’s KABB (channel 29.1); Dabl’s KMYS (channel 35.1); and MyNetwork’s KCWX (channel 2.1).
The participating stations have worked together to ensure that current programming remains available to all viewers, regardless of whether their television service is provided over-the-air or by a cable or satellite company. Antenna viewers can simply rescan their TV sets to ensure full service. Rescan instructions are available at: fcc.gov/rescan. Cable and satellite subscribers do not need to take any action.
San Antonio viewers can learn more about NEXTGEN TV by visiting www.WatchNextGenTV.com, which offers a guide to cities carrying the service, as well as links to available NEXTGEN TV models.
# # #
About KSAT12:
KSAT12 is San Antonio’s #1 rated news station, owned and operated by Graham Media Group. KSAT12 is one of the top ABC affiliates in the country and delivers breaking local news and information 24 hours a day. By delivering more news and information than any other station in town, KSAT12 is set apart from the competition. The KSAT team is known for an aggressive reporting style in our top-rated newscasts and for a daily, fast-paced lifestyle program, “SA Live”, that is number one in the market.
About Graham Media Group:
Graham Media Group is comprised of seven local media powerhouses, plus Graham Digital, Omne and Social News Desk – all delivering local news, programming, advertising solutions and digital media tools for television, online, mobile, streaming, podcasts and audio devices. We are dynamic, local brands that extend well beyond traditional broadcast television. Our work helps inform, celebrate and knit together the communities we serve. Headquartered in Detroit, GMG operates in four states: KPRC–Houston, WDIV–Detroit and WSLS–Roanoke (NBC); KSAT–San Antonio (ABC); WKMG–Orlando (CBS); WJXT–Jacksonville (fully local), and WCWJ–Jacksonville (CW). Graham Digital is a digital media and technology development group widely recognized as a top industry innovator. Omne is a leader in results-driven marketing solutions. Social News Desk provides its 2500+ worldwide newsroom-customers with a single dashboard to publish, measure, curate and monetize local news content on social platforms. Graham Media Group is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC).
For more information: Nate Mills, Director of Marketing, KSAT12/ABC, MeTV.
Phone: 210-351-1245
Email: nmills@ksat.com
About Pearl TV:
Pearl TV is a business organization of U.S. broadcast companies with a shared interest in exploring forward-looking broadcasting opportunities, including innovative ways of promoting local broadcast TV content and developing digital media and wireless platforms for the broadcast industry. Pearl’s membership, comprising more than 820 TV stations, includes eight of the largest broadcast companies in America: Cox Media Group, Graham Media Group, Gray Television, Hearst Television Inc., Nexstar Media Group, Sinclair Broadcast Group, the E.W. Scripps Company, and TEGNA Inc.
Media Contact:
Dave Arland
dave@arlandcom.com
(317) 701-0084