John Taylor Appointed as Chair of ATSC Board of Directors Boardroom Position Secured by John Taylor
In the ever-evolving world of television technology, a significant development has emerged. LG, one of the companies instrumental in developing the ATSC 3.0 standards, has been impacted by a patent dispute, affecting the sales of its NextGen TVs in the United States.
John I. Taylor, the most senior U.S. government affairs, corporate communications, and industry relations executive for LG Electronics USA, has been at the heart of this industry for decades. Taylor's extensive experience spans back to the 1990s, where he served as Public Affairs Chairman of the Digital HDTV Grand Alliance. Today, he continues to shape the next generation of television technology, playing a pivotal role in ATSC standards.
In October 2023, a U.S. District Court in Eastern Texas ruled that LG violated patents owned by Constellation Design, Inc. related to ATSC 3.0 technology for non-uniform constellation (NUC) techniques. LG was ordered to pay $1.68 million in damages. Following this ruling, LG announced it would no longer include ATSC 3.0 tuners in its U.S. TVs beginning with the 2024 models, effectively stopping its native NextGen TV support in the U.S. market.
The appeal status of this case is unclear, but LG’s action suggests that either the appeal has not reversed the ruling or that LG chose to sidestep further litigation risks by withdrawing the technology from U.S. products. As a result, LG’s NextGen TV offerings in the U.S. are impacted since they lack built-in ATSC 3.0 tuners, requiring consumers to rely on external devices to receive NextGen broadcasts.
This legal outcome limits LG's ability to sell TVs fully compatible with the ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard in the U.S., potentially reducing the appeal of their TVs for cord-cutters relying on over-the-air 4K broadcasts. Industry stakeholders, including ATSC, have stated this is likely a limited impact overall, but consumer access to NextGen TV via LG’s native tuners is curtailed for now.
Amidst this challenge, John I. Taylor continues to be a driving force in the industry. He serves as the founding member and current Chairman of the AWARN Alliance and is a member of the CTA Board of Industry Leaders, the longest-serving member and former two-time Chairman of the CTA Video Division board. Taylor looks forward to working closely with ATSC President Noland to advance the development and deployment of ATSC 3.0 standards.
ATSC, under Noland's leadership, is pushing for more NextGen TV/ATSC 3.0 capable sets to hit the market. With Taylor's guidance, it is expected that the industry will continue to innovate and overcome the challenges posed by patent disputes, ensuring the future of next-generation television technology in the U.S.
References: [1] TechRadar [2] The Verge
- The evolving television technology landscape has seen a significant development with LG, a key player in ATSC 3.0 standards, experiencing a patent dispute.
- John I. Taylor, a veteran in government affairs, corporate communications, and industry relations for LG Electronics USA, has been at the forefront of this industry, playing a crucial role in ATSC standards.
- The US District Court in Eastern Texas ruled that LG violated patents owned by Constellation Design, Inc. related to ATSC 3.0 technology, requiring LG to pay $1.68 million in damages.
- LG's decision to stop including ATSC 3.0 tuners in its U.S. TVs beginning with the 2024 models has curtailed consumer access to NextGen TV via LG’s native tuners.
- This legal outcome could potentially reduce the appeal of LG's TVs for cord-cutters relying on over-the-air 4K broadcasts, especially as more NextGen TV/ATSC 3.0 capable sets hit the market.
- Amidst this challenge, John I. Taylor remains a driving force in the industry, serving as the founding member and current Chairman of the AWARN Alliance and a member of the CTA Board of Industry Leaders.
- ATSC, under its President Noland's leadership, is working towards more NextGen TV/ATSC 3.0 capable sets in the market, with Taylor's guidance expected to contribute to the industry's innovative approach to overcoming patent disputes.
- As finance, business, and technology industries track this development, publications such as TechRadar and The Verge are referenced for updates on the future of next-generation television technology in the United States.
