DENVER -- We've come along away since our T.V. antenna days. With the rise of new technology, analog went dead, giving rise to digital high-definition and eventually, Smart TVs. But if broadcasters get their way, Next Generation TV technology will be the way in which we interact with our T.V. sets — and the new tech is already raising privacy concerns.
Denver7's TV engineer Dan Crandell said the technology is promising to enhance the picture and sound of television as well as give viewers the opportunity to personalize what they watch.
“Next Gen. TV is a concept that broadcasters have come up with and they've petitioned the FCC to approve the technology that would allow broadcasters to provide content for their viewing audience,” Crandell said.
Here's how Next Generation TV works: Right now, broadcast stations just send you programing — all the channels you watch and enjoy — but next generation TV sets will add internet into the mix. That means that your TV will now be plugged to the internet, and will send information from your TV set back to broadcasters.
This system is known as ATSC 3.0 and will track your viewing data and send it back to broadcasters. This is similar to targeted ads you receive when you browse the internet.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to vote on this system Thursday. A spokesperson sent Denver7 the following statement regarding the new technology and how it stands with current FCC rules:
"At this point, the FCC is only approving a technical standard for one-way transmissions from broadcasters to viewers. To the extent that technology evolved in the future and broadcasters were able to partner with a return path provider, any such transmissions would be subject to the FTC's existing privacy framework."
The vote is tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. MST. You can watch it live at www.fcc.gov/live