SK Telecom and Sinclair Broadcast Group announced Cast.era, a joint venture focused on cloud infrastructure for broadcasting, ultra-low latency over-the-top (OTT) broadcasting, and targeted advertising.
Kevin Gage, formerly EVP, Strategic Development & Chief Technology Officer of Sinclair's ONE Media subsidiary has been appointed Cast.era's Lead Representative and COO, and Park Kyung-mo from SK Telecom has been appointed Cast.era's CTO.
With the aim to launch next-generation transmission services using both mobile and fixed broadcasting networks for the first time in the U.S., Cast.era plans to provide ATSC 3.0 broadcast solutions to Sinclair stations deploying the new standard beginning in 2020.
ATSC 3.0 is a suite of Next Generation Broadcast TV transmission standards that deliver not only ultra-high definition video and improved audio, but also enable targeted advertising, advanced emergency alerting and other data transmission capabilities.
ATSC 3.0, which works over-the-air, can also be converged with mobile and other IP networks to create a broadcast-broadband hybrid stream. Broadcasters will be able to enhance the customer experience by combining ATSC 3.0 one-way signals with mobile and other IP networks that support two-way data communication.
SK Telecom and Sinclair expect to achieve synergies by combining SK Telecom's telecommunication technologies and Sinclair's broadcasting infrastructure. Projecting that all television stations in the U.S. will ultimately deploy services using the new ATSC 3.0 standard, the two companies will actively pursue opportunities in the U.S. market.
Lee Jong-min, VP and Head of Tech Innovation Group, SK Telecom
We expect to deliver a new experience to U.S. TV viewers through ATSC 3.0-based broadcasting services that combine the strengths of mobile and broadcasting networks.
Del Parks, CTO, Sinclair
The combination of two of the world's leading telecom companies with independent and complementary visions of convergence marks Cast.era as a formidable new player in maximizing the strengths of both, using the remarkable capabilities of the new broadcast standard.
