| The first satellite TV broadcast set out to | | | | sales to people. They tried scrambling the |
| capture something more ambitious than the latest | | | | information. That meant people had to buy the |
| sports channels: try outer space. | | | | descrambler to view the signals. But, it still worked |
| In 1957, the Sputnik, the Soviet Union's first | | | | out for the coach potato: hundreds of channels |
| artificial satellite, sent back the first images of | | | | available, and no risk of being stuck at home with |
| outer space, beating the United States by one | | | | nothing but reruns. (Unless you're into reruns, in |
| year (they later sent out a small scientific satellite | | | | which case there are entire channels dedicated to |
| called Explorer I). | | | | them). |
| Though the broadcasts were pretty much long | | | | By the 1990's companies began launching their |
| hours of very large and funky looking rocks | | | | own satellites and getting into the satellite TV |
| (adding a whole new dimension to the media | | | | market. For example you had Primestar, then |
| industry phrase, "dead air") the competition | | | | Direct TV and finally Dish Network. It was a more |
| between the Soviet Union and the United States | | | | competitive market. Also good for the consumer: |
| pretty much ushered in the beginning of satellite | | | | competition meant the race to provide better |
| communication. By 1973, Canada's satellite Anik I | | | | shows, and more channels. |
| became the world's first satellite television | | | | Today, the technology of Satellite TV has gotten |
| network--which showed far more entertaining | | | | very, very cool: clear signals, more reliable |
| images of "stars" instead of, well, stars. | | | | transmission, and several providers that guarantee |
| Thus, the coach potatoes of this world began | | | | that there's always something good to watch. |
| their wonderful love affair with TV satellite | | | | With TiVo you can even record shows and watch |
| networks. HBO began broadcasting their signals to | | | | them when you're ready--or, if that doesn't work |
| cable companies, who "sold" you access to the | | | | for you, you can plug in the VCR or the |
| channel. The problem of this, of course, was that | | | | rewritable DVD, and tape it for another time. |
| for every channel you asked for, you had to pay | | | | So maybe we haven't conquered outer space |
| a little extra. Not good news for the rabid channel | | | | yet. The Space Race has slowed down, and |
| surfers who want to have their 100+ channels | | | | dreams of colonizing Mars have become largely |
| available. And it got pretty frustrating for those | | | | limited to cheesy movies and science fiction |
| who heard about a new movie or sports event | | | | shows. But the technology has now made it |
| being shown, only to discover that the signal was | | | | possible to rule the world with your remote |
| blocked and available only to "premium | | | | control. Now sit back. Open those potato chips. |
| subscribers". | | | | Put your feet up, and enjoy. It may be several |
| Later on, companies started selling actual satellite | | | | decades before we understand the secrets of |
| dishes. Essentially, you paid for the equipment but | | | | the universe, but you can always watch a movie |
| got free satellite TV. That wasn't good news for | | | | while you wait. |
| the cable company, who were losing subscription | | | | |