Brazil has taken a significant step toward modernising its broadcasting landscape with the official implementation of the ‘DTV+’ system, marking a pivotal moment in the Americas’ shift toward next-generation broadcasting. The ATSC supports this advancement through the Broadcast Standards Association, responsible for developing the ATSC 3.0 suite of standards.
On August 27th, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva enacted a crucial Presidential Decree that designates the ATSC 3.0-based DTV+ system as Brazil’s future television standard. The system is already being tested with experimental broadcasts in major cities, such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, with a launch anticipated for a station in Brasilia by 2025. The rollout of commercial services is expected to coincide with the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The DTV+ format relies on ATSC 3.0 technology for its foundational Physical and Transport layers, as well as its Video, Audio, Captioning, and Emergency Warning systems. This announcement follows closely on the heels of the SET Expo, Latin America’s largest broadcasting and media conference.
ATSC President Madeleine Noland emphasised the significance of Brazil’s adoption of ATSC 3.0 technologies, particularly given that terrestrial TV remains the primary viewing platform for approximately 80% of the Brazilian population. “Brazil’s decision further validates the international ATSC 3.0 standards as a cutting-edge solution, showcasing its adaptability to meet the demands of a large and diverse nation with a strong reliance on terrestrial television,” she stated.
Additionally, ATSC Vice President of Standards Development Luiz Fausto, who played a key role in testing the new Brazilian standard, remarked: “Broadcasters in Brazil are committed to finding the best ways to engage nearly 200 million viewers. This decree represents the culmination of an extensive evaluation of various next-gen broadcast technologies to choose the ‘best of the best’ for broadcasters and audiences in the years ahead.”
The Brazilian DTV+ system, previously known as ‘TV 3.0’, incorporates many components of ATSC 3.0, the set of broadcast standards that powers NEXTGEN TV in the United States and UHD Broadcast in South Korea. ATSC 3.0 has also been adopted in countries such as Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago, and it is currently undergoing consideration and testing in several other nations, including Canada, India, and Mexico.
