History of Satellite TV

Arthur C. Clarke's VisionTelevision Satellite Serivce and as satellite
Sir Arthur C. Clarke is generally credited withtechnologyimproved it was used more and more
coming up with the concept ofusing satellites inby broadcasters.
geosynchronous orbits to relay communicationsDirect Broadcast Satellite (DBS)
signals aroundthe world. In his honor, these areIn 1980, the FCC established the Direct Broadcast
sometimes referred to as Clarke orbits.Satellite (DBS), a new servicethat consisted of a
Ageosynchronous orbit simply means that thebroadcast satellite in geostationary orbit, facilities
satellite is placed at an altitude offortransmitting signals to the satellite, and
22,300 miles above the earth's equator andreceiving equipment (black box) needed for people
travels at the same speed as the earth'sto access the signals. In turn, broadcasters
rotationalspeed. This keeps the satellite in thedeveloped methods of scrambling their
same spot above the earth at all times.signals,forcing consumers to purchase a decoder,
Clarke wrote an article titled "Extraterrestrialor a direct to home (DTH) satellite receiver,from
Relays", which was publishedin Wireless Worlda satellite program provider. Before this signals
Magazine back in 1945. In his article Clarke,could be receive by anyonewith a dish at no
envisionedthree 'space platforms' placed at 22,300charge. Both DISH Network and DIRECTV are
miles above the earth and thatDirect Broadcast Satelliteproviders. Soon after
worldwidecommunications could thus be achieved.from 1981 to the early 1990's the 'big dish'
Father of Satellite TVmarket soared.
But it is H. Taylor Howard a Stanford UniversityYou could see these big ugly dishes a mile away.
Professor and former NASA scientistBut they were cumbersome and veryhard to
Emeritus, who is generally acknowledged as theinstall.
'Fatherof Satellite TV'. Howard designed and builtAs this stage of satellite TV development; it was
the first satellite antenna and receiverin his Sanmuch easier tojust have cable TV. Also the
Andreas, California garage in 1976. Howard died inaverage cost of pruchasing a satellite dish and
a plane crash in 2002at the age of 70. Now 32systemback in 1980 was a staggering $10,000. By
years after Howards invention, it is doubtful that1985 that cost had dropped to around
hecould have envisioned the quantum leap that$3,000., but still a hefty price to pay. In 1984 the
satellite TV technology has made.U.S. Congress passed the 1984
First Satellite - SputnikCable Act. This Act allowed for cable providers to
The very first satellite ever placed into earth orbitscramble their transmission signalsthus bringing an
was Sputnik, which was launchedby the Sovietend to the days of free satellite TV. In short, the
Union on October 4, 1957. The launch of Sputnik1984 Cable Act madeit illegal to steal satellite
began what is commonlyreferred to as thesignals without paying for the programming.
"space race". The United States answered withSatellite TV - Enter DIRECTV and DISH Network
the successfullaunch of Explorer I on January 1,In the early 1990's four large cable companies
1958. Later that same year, NASA was createdjoined together to launch a Direct
on Oct. 1, 1958, to perform civilian researchBroadcast Satellite company named Primestar. In
related to space flight and aeronautics.June of 1994 the Hughes DIRECTV
First Communications Satellite - Syncom IISatellite System was launched. DIRECTV later
The first communication satellite named Syncompurchased Primestar.
II was developed by a group of businesses andDIRECTV pioneered the development of the
government entities in 1963. Syncom II orbited atmini-dish, a small 18" diameter dish.
22,300 miles over the Atlantic; the firstactualToday, DIRECTV boasts over 16 million
satellite communication was on July 26, 1963,households that have DIRECTV service. In 1996
between a U.S. Navy ship in Lagos,the DISH Network Company a division of
Nigeria and the U.S. Army naval station inEchoStar Communications Corporation was
Lakehurst, New Jersey. However it wasn'tuntilformed and DISH now boasts over 13 million U.S.
1978 that the television industry began usinghouseholds with DISH Network Satellite Service.
satellite communication for thetelevision industry.Both companies nowoffer hundreds of
In 1975 a BBC engineer by the name of Stephenprogramming channels to watch and each offers
Birkillbuilt an experimental system for receivingover 70 national channelsin High-Definition (HD).
Satellite Instructional Television.Both DIRECTV and DISH Network also offer
Over the next three years Birkill continued todozens of satelliteradio channels and both have
work on his system and in 1978 hemet Bobnow gotten into providing High Speed Internet
Cooper, a cable TV technical journalist andservice.
amateur radio enthusiast in the U.Sand CooperWhere satellite dishes alone once costs $10,.000.,
invited Birkill to a cable TV operator's conferencetoday both the satellite giantsoffer complete
and trade show CC)S-78.satellite systems, including the satellite dish for
It was at the trade show that several satellite TVfree.
enthusiasts decided to help Birkillwith hisToday satellite TV is broadcast all over the world;
experiments. Also, on March 1, 1978 the Publicmaking Arthur C. Clarke's dream a reality.
Broadcasting Service (PBS)introduced the Public