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The Pearl Converter Box Program is designed to support a new category of affordable, basic NextGen TV converter boxes that connect to existing televisions and antenna products, allowing consumers to enjoy NextGen TV broadcasts without the need to purchase a new NextGen TV set. Pearl TV says the initiative “aligns with key policy considerations raised in the FCC’s ongoing proceeding, including consumer access, affordability, and continuity of service as NextGen TV broadcasts become more widely available.”
Anne Schelle, Pearl TV managing director, says: “Pearl’s NextGen TV Converter Box Program specification is being developed now and will be informed by consumer research, broadcaster requirements, retail pricing requirements, labeling and certification specifications, and ongoing discussions with device manufacturers. The program establishes a common certification and interoperability framework to support a range of eligible receiving devices across participating manufacturers. The program is open to any qualified converter box manufacturer that aligns with the program’s baseline device profile and affordability goals.”
“We anticipate that the first affordable NextGen TV converters could be available later in 2026. As NextGen TV adoption expands and the FCC considers future policy frameworks, these affordable devices are expected to play an important role to bridge consumers who rely on over-the-air television,” Schelle adds.
At CES 2026 next week in Las Vegas, Pearl TV is showing early converter box examples in collaboration with industry partners. Representative NextGen TV devices will be on display starting Tuesday in the ATSC exhibit booth in the Central Hall Grand Lobby and include an example developed with set-top manufacturer ADTH as well as a second example developed by Skyworth (a high volume global device manufacturer) and iWedia (a certified ATSC 3.0 software stack developer). Pearl TV says it is also engaged in discussions with additional manufacturers, including Zinwell, as part of its broader market engagement.
The NextGen TV Converter Box Program will be shaped by recent qualitative consumer research conducted by Magid indicating that consumers value affordable options that allow them to retain existing televisions while continuing to access free local news, weather, sports, and entertainment.
The post Pearl TV Launching Affordable NextGen TV Converter Box Program appeared first on TV News Check.
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