More than 60 local television stations across the U.S. could soon abandon their free over-the-air (OTA) broadcasts in favor of a cutting-edge 5G digital signal, pending a groundbreaking proposal from HC2 Broadcasting Holdings Inc. Submitted to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Friday in a filing spotted by Policyband, just over a week before the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) trade show in Las Vegas, the petition from HC2—the nation’s largest owner of Low Power TV (LPTV) stations—could redefine the future of local broadcasting. The plan, which suggests a voluntary shift to datacasting via the global 5G Broadcast standard, might see over 60 LPTV stations under HC2’s umbrella ditch traditional TV signals entirely, a move that’s already stirring debate as the industry gears up for its annual gathering. These stations include popular networks like MeTV, Cozi, QVC, and more.
HC2, a subsidiary of Innovate Corp. chaired by Avram Glazer—son of Malcolm Glazer, famed owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Manchester United—owns approximately 250 stations, including over 60 in major markets like Dallas, Houston, and Phoenix. In its filing, crafted by attorneys David A. O’Connor and Jeffrey J. Gee of Wilkinson Barker Knauer, HC2 argues that the time has come to rethink LPTV’s role. While full-power stations transition to ATSC 3.0, HC2 proposes LPTVs leap to 5G Broadcasting, using their full 6 MHz spectrum for datacasting—delivering data-heavy content like video streams directly to 5G-enabled smartphones, tablets, and IoT devices. “The 5G Broadcast standard permits an LPTV station to transmit a single 5G signal to its entire service area… receivable by any 5G mobile device,” HC2 stated, bypassing reliance on carriers like AT&T or Verizon.
The proposal initially requires LPTVs to maintain one free-to-air standard definition signal, reserving the rest for ancillary services. But HC2 urges the FCC to consider scrapping that obligation entirely, citing the “ubiquitous nature of 5G-capable devices” as a viable substitute for traditional TV sets. With mobile phones and tablets already equipped—or soon to be—with 5G Band 108 modems, HC2 contends the hardware shift is minimal, unlike past broadcast transitions. “Shutting down traditional TV service in favor of datacasting makes sense,” the petition asserts.
If approved, this could impact millions of viewers who rely on free OTA TV from HC2’s broadcasts that offer over 60 local television stations, especially in rural areas where streaming isn’t always an option. HC2 sees a voluntary 5G TV pivot as a lifeline for LPTVs, potentially unlocking new revenue via datacasting.
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