Next-generation broadcasting boasts any number of interactive capabilities. Among its big advantages: It could make TV-based shopping — a.k.a. t-commerce — so simple that even logging onto Amazon would feel like a drag.

It may take some time to perfect this. ATSC 3.0, the internet protocol-based standard that would enable the platforms, is still at least several years from rollout, and it could be five to 10 years before the breadth of TV-based shopping opportunities are up and running.

Yet driven by the allure of audience engagement, as well as money-making opportunities, station groups, industry advocates and advertisers are already exploring ways to make buying stuff with a remote click the next big thing in home shopping.

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