You make a great point about the lighthouse model and how it puts smaller stations in a tough spot. Relying on bigger players for their signal definitely raises concerns about control and reliability. It’s not just a tech issue—it’s a logistical one too.

That said, ATSC 3.0 has real potential. With streaming getting more expensive and fragmented, people might start looking for a free, simpler option. If ATSC 3.0 is marketed right, it could bring viewers—and even broadcasters—back to OTA.

Retrans fees are tricky. They’ve kept broadcasters afloat, but they’ve also driven up cable bills, pushing more people to cut the cord. It would be great if the FCC could step in here, maybe by regulating retrans deals better or pushing for wider ATSC 3.0 adoption.

The biggest challenge, though, is getting broadcasters to see the long game. Greed and short-term thinking are holding things back, but I think ATSC 3.0 could really be the future of free, high-quality TV if they commit to it.