• by Wayne Friedman , June 17, 2015

In an effort to push for new 4K TV standards worldwide, Samsung Electronics has struck a deal with local TV station digital initiative Pearl TV, a partnership of local TV station companies and Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Samsung as signed “memorandum of understanding” with Pearl and Sinclair to work on supporting the development of the new Advanced Television Systems Committee 3.0 standard -- specifically for development for 4K Ultra High Definition TV standard which has four times the digital information as HDTV sets.

Samsung has dramatically increased TV set production and sales in this category, although there are few TV platforms and distributors actively pursuing 4KTV apart from DirecTV and Netflix, which have made investments.

Pearl consists of 170 network-affiliated TV stations, 111 million TV homes representing 63% of the U.S. population -- 43 of the top 50 U.S. markets. It looks to promote the next TV standard in the U.S.

A year ago, Pearl started a TV trial delivering interactive TV content to LG-branded smart TVs in Atlanta, Cleveland and Orlando.

TV station companies in Pearl TV include: Cox Media Group, E.W. Scripps Company, Gannett, Graham Media Group, Hearst Television, Media General, Meredith Local Media Group, Schurz Communications and Raycom Media.

Sinclair is the largest television station company with 162 television stations in 79 markets. It has been working with its joint venture technology partner ONE Media, a contributor for the new TV standard.