ATSC 3.0 Internet Streams

[danieljlevine]

So, I guess I should ask this: Is this in the process of being implemented? Do we really have to poll users to see if they want to get free Nextgen TV channels? I haven’t seen a lot of development going on from a user’s perspective with the HDHR 4K. No new features or enhancements in recent memory. DRM is stalled because of external forces.

This seems like a good thing to work on to me and I don’t really like watching tennis. But my guess is new channels will come and I want to be ready.

Can these internet channels deliver 4K, HDR, and/or Dolby Atmos with height according to some spec? My guess is the streaming capabilities are likely Nextgen OTA or better, but probably the same.

Maybe someone who knows can chime in.

[plex4life]

Supporting ATSC 3.0 internet channels is quite possible... open to feedback as to how useful/important this feature would be.

Very interested with the T2 broadcast in my area!

[DennisFL]

Supporting ATSC 3.0 internet channels is quite possible... open to feedback as to how useful/important this feature would be.

With the over-the-air 3.0 encryption saga stuck in the mud, I would be very interested in the internet version especially if it is high quality and 4K. I have been loosely following the forum on Channels DVR where they can include just about any M3U on their guide. Not just TV Anywhere but the individual app based channels like NFL, NBC, etc

It would be nice to avoid the hoops needed to jump through to get there.

[zaytar]

Wanted to add that my area ( Charleston, SC ) has also added that T2 channel. What was interesting is that my now dead kickstarter 4K tuner didn’t pick it up at all, but the Flex 4K I replaced it with picked it up ( I realize neither can play it ).

Tennis isn’t something I’d watch but I hope this capability will be added in a future update - even if it’s implemented in a way that requires the client to be updated as well.

[jtespi]

I would like to add that I am interested in this feature too!

I am in the El Paso,TX - Las Cruces, NM TV Market and right now there's only 1 ATSC 3.0 broadcaster (KFOX). In all of New Mexico, there's only 2 ATSC 3.0 broadcasters -- both are in Albuquerque (KNME - PBS and KRQE for the rest of the big 4 networks).

If/when the ATSC 3.0 stations near me offer this extra feature, I would like to be able to receive it. Especially since it seems the HDHR Flex 4K has hardware support for ATSC 3 Internet Streams. It sounds like it would be a (hopefully) simple software upgrade from SiliconDust.

[danieljlevine]

Can SD say if they pursuing implementing this capability? Or are you still looking for users requesting you to implement it before starting?

[iTurbo6]

I'm interested too.

[NedS]

Can SD say if they pursuing implementing this capability? Or are you still looking for users requesting you to implement it before starting?

It's more of a question of when, rather than if.

[danieljlevine]

Are you able to provide an approximate timeframe for this capability?

Or is the issue that the broadcast details for establishing the ATSC 3.0 internet streams is DRM protected? I would have expected to see the existence of the T2 channels in this case, even if I couldn’t get them established (like my music TV stations).

[nickk]

Like broadcast ATSC 3.0 some OTT ATSC 3.0 channels are DRM encrypted and some are not.

[eHarrison]

I know DRM is annoying, but could you go ahead and update the firmware to allow the streams that aren't protected? e.g. Sinclair's T2.

SD is falling behind ****. The last update for the Flex4K is coming up to a year old.

[NedS]

I know DRM is annoying, but could you go ahead and update the firmware to allow the streams that aren't protected? e.g. Sinclair's T2.

SD is falling behind ****. The last update for the Flex4K is coming up to a year old.

As hinted at before, we are planning on supporting ATSC 3 internet streams in the HDHomeRun app. We actually host many of the existing ATSC 3.0 streams in our CDN service. (side note: working with broadcasters on streams/CDN may allow us to make our feelings about certain things *cough drm cough* more well known, so this is good on multiple levels.)

Note that firmware updates are for the HDHomeRun hardware, and most new features that are added don't require updating the firmware itself, because they happen in the HDHomeRun app. I don't know if this is the case for internet streams or not, but I just want to point out that the firmware age is not an indicator of product stagnation or anything like that.

[bandit5731]

I know DRM is annoying, but could you go ahead and update the firmware to allow the streams that aren't protected? e.g. Sinclair's T2.

SD is falling behind ****. The last update for the Flex4K is coming up to a year old.

As hinted at before, we are planning on supporting ATSC 3 internet streams in the HDHomeRun app. We actually host many of the existing ATSC 3.0 streams in our CDN service. (side note: working with broadcasters on streams/CDN may allow us to make our feelings about certain things *cough drm cough* more well known, so this is good on multiple levels.)

Note that firmware updates are for the HDHomeRun hardware, and most new features that are added don't require updating the firmware itself, because they happen in the HDHomeRun app. I don't know if this is the case for internet streams or not, but I just want to point out that the firmware age is not an indicator of product stagnation or anything like that.

who actually uses the app? the interface is so very clunky. im actually shocked you have not changed or touched it in years. i tried to use the other day for troubleshooting and its just not user friendly. theres not even an exit box top right like a normal windows app. Reason for using plex or emby for live tv. so if you dont support on the device how will we use our preferred players?

[NedS]

who actually uses the app?

The majority of our customers, especially those who want to watch ATSC 3.0 channels.

the interface is so very clunky. im actually shocked you have not changed or touched it in years. i tried to use the other day for troubleshooting and its just not user friendly.

We've had several major GUI updates just in the last year alone, and have more updates and improvements in the pipeline. Feel free to make a post about where you think we can improve upon.

theres not even an exit box top right like a normal windows app.

It does have that. Are you in full screen mode?

Reason for using plex or emby for live tv.

Plex and Emby do not yet support ATSC 3.0 audio codecs.

so if you dont support on the device how will we use our preferred players?

Third party software does not require us to do anything else to implement ATSC 3.0 internet streams. They are free to do that right now. The ATSC 3.0 broadcast data contains the necessary URLs and such.

[hancox]

I know DRM is annoying, but could you go ahead and update the firmware to allow the streams that aren't protected? e.g. Sinclair's T2.

SD is falling behind ****. The last update for the Flex4K is coming up to a year old.

As hinted at before, we are planning on supporting ATSC 3 internet streams in the HDHomeRun app. We actually host many of the existing ATSC 3.0 streams in our CDN service. (side note: working with broadcasters on streams/CDN may allow us to make our feelings about certain things *cough drm cough* more well known, so this is good on multiple levels.)

Note that firmware updates are for the HDHomeRun hardware, and most new features that are added don't require updating the firmware itself, because they happen in the HDHomeRun app. I don't know if this is the case for internet streams or not, but I just want to point out that the firmware age is not an indicator of product stagnation or anything like that.

...but most of your client updates are months old, too, and are mostly bugfixes. Combine that with firmware age and lack of movement (and worse, communication) on DRM, and "stagnation" sure seems to fit.

I'm a fan and big user, but need to call it like it is.