CTIA and Los Angeles Television Stations KLCS and KJLA Issue Spectrum Channel Sharing Pilot Project Report Showing Successful Results

TIA–The Wireless Association and Los Angeles television stations KLCS and KJLA released their channel sharing pilot project report, which clearly proved channel sharing is feasible, and is a technically viable option for broadcasters with minimal impact for viewers. For stations interested in sharing a single six MHz radiofrequency channel, the results show how to successfully navigate numerous technical situations that may arise as well as real-world implications for successful channel sharing. The report reflects the findings of the two participating stations and to the extent that similar combinations of stations arise elsewhere, this testing may serve as a baseline assessment of channel sharing.

Findings include:

• Physical and virtual level channel sharing is feasible.
• It is technically possible to combine two high definition (HD) television streams onto a single channel.
• Two HD streams may be combined with additional standard definition (SD) program streams. Up to two additional SD streams are possible without major impact to the quality of experience of the overall material. Additional SD streams may be possible with additional testing and analysis.
• It may be feasible for three HD streams to be combined onto a single channel. Testing found that this combination may be technically feasible and of value for broadcasters, but each entity needs to examine the digital complexity of its material and decide if this combination is acceptable for its viewers.
• One HD stream may be combined with a variety of SD programs. The parties tested one HD and up to seven SD streams in a single Advanced Television System Committee (ATSC) channel with good results.
• In order to ensure a positive viewer experience, the FCC and broadcasters must carefully plan a transition to a repacked television band that includes consumer guidance on rescanning.