LG announced that its new TVs to be launched next year will no longer support the ATSC 3.0 tech

Earlier, LG intimated the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of its decision to forgo the ATSC 3.0 design standard in its television products set for release next year. This choice stems from the inherent challenges and uncertainties surrounding this particular design standard.

Introduced in South Korea in 2017 by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), the ATSC 3.0 subsequently gained the FCC’s endorsement as the design standard for Next Gen TV products. It encompasses features like compatibility with 4K 2160p resolution, 120 frames per second refresh rate, support for High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), wide color gamut, high dynamic range, Dolby AC-4 and MPEG-H 3D digital audio, data broadcasting capabilities, and design compatibility with mobile TV products that deliver content through broadcast means.

However, LG’s recent announcement to exclude the ATSC 3.0 standard from its forthcoming television lineup is primarily attributed to a legal dispute with an entity possessing multiple patents related to the ATSC 3.0 design standard. Consequently, LG has ardently appealed to the FCC to investigate specific patent holders of the ATSC standard who have arguably not proffered licenses in a fair and reasonable manner.

Besides LG’s decision to abandon the ATSC 3.0 standard, several budget-friendly television brands, including VIZIO and TCL, have also declined to support this design standard. Meanwhile, select television models from brands like Sony, Hisense, and Samsung have incorporated this standard. Furthermore, LG’s previously launched G2 television series also supported the ATSC 3.0 standard.