| Ab initio, satellite TV services was only within the | | | | cost can only be afforded by high income level |
| reach of privileged rich few in the society. Around | | | | persons. It could be stated that the trend has |
| late 1980s to mid 1990s, only the bourgeoisies | | | | reverted and spending as low as $50 during |
| were seen with very large diameter (about 2m) | | | | promotion periods can be able to afford a satellite |
| dishes pointing to the sky on their roof tops and | | | | TV connection whereas about $12 can be spent |
| at secluded areas around the courts in their | | | | on monthly subscription. This development has |
| compounds. Some of the dishes were fancifully | | | | made information to be at the reach of the folks |
| designed plastics with nets while others were | | | | with low income levels in the developing world. |
| metallic and painted to protect them against rust. | | | | Since many providers are striving for mastery in |
| During this period, it takes a great resources and | | | | the business world, they have introduced many |
| manpower to mount a satellite dish since crane | | | | innovations aimed at having edge over their |
| trucks and fork lifts were used for carrying and | | | | competitors. These innovations which includes |
| mounting the dishes that receive signals mainly | | | | watching the TV programs on the mobile phone |
| free from stations that transmit in Arabic and | | | | everywhere you go, codes for controlling channels |
| few English speaking stations. The paid satellite TV | | | | to ensure children are not endangered, recording |
| services were very few with large dishes as well. | | | | services to ensure that telecasted programs can |
| The ownership of the dish at this time is a mark | | | | be stored and watched at convenience etc. have |
| of affluence and a sign of distinction. | | | | placed some providers at advantage over others |
| Today, what used to be the pride of the wealthy | | | | and left customers the choice to migrate through |
| in the society has become of little consequence to | | | | providers at will. |
| the poor and depraved among men. Thanks to | | | | The introduction of software to surf thousands of |
| satellite TV service proliferation and | | | | satellite TV stations over the internet with the |
| competitiveness among providers. It is a common | | | | computer at no service charge by some |
| phenomena to see very small apartments ( | | | | programmers have gone a long way to liberalize |
| sometimes even mud houses) in the remote | | | | their services hence, making the customer to be |
| villages in some developing nations having very | | | | at freedom to decide how and when to use the |
| small dishes(about 0.35m diameter) hanging either | | | | service. Since the internet facility is not domicile in |
| on the wall or on small metallic poles (of about 2m | | | | any country, the satellite TV services can now be |
| high and 0.1m diameter) providing satellite TV | | | | view by customers at no service charge from |
| services to the occupants of the houses. Some | | | | around the world with internet facility. This has |
| of the houses do not have dishes but specialized | | | | made information dissemination easy hence |
| antennas for receiving signals from the base | | | | emancipation of the poor and mediocre from |
| stations of their service providers. | | | | ignorance is imminent. |
| Prior to this era of proliferation and | | | | I believe that as technology continues to be |
| competitiveness among satellite TV service | | | | dynamic, satellite TV service competitiveness will |
| providers, the cost of providing decoder, dish and | | | | continue and the level of knowledge dissemination |
| other accessories needed for transmitting to | | | | will increase. This will make it possible to achieve |
| home TV sets was not less than $600 whereas | | | | the UN millennium development goals among |
| the monthly subscription was about $100 . This | | | | developing nations of the world. |