How ATSC 3.0 wants to win over cord cutters this year

Cheaper converter boxes and more capable DVRs are coming.

Jared Newman | January 8, 2026

Sample ATSC 3.0 converter boxes at CES 2026.

As the FCC looks to accelerate ATSC 3.0 adoption for over-the-air TV, broadcasters are eager to show off options that don’t involve replacing your TV or giving up DVR.

Ahead of this week’s CES trade show, the broadcaster consortium Pearl TV announced a certification program for no-frills converter boxes that will plug into the HDMI port on any TV. Anne Schelle, Pearl TV’s managing director, said in an interview that the goal is to have converter boxes for under $60 available this fall.

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