Satellite TV- A Short History

A Short History of Satellite TV

When the satellite was invented, the idea of being able to receive Television broadcasts from it was not even considered. The first satellite in orbit was developed by the Russians and it was named sputnik. This satellite didn't even have the ability to communicate to the earth. Therefore a communications satellite was invented in 1963 and it transmitted a message from a US navy ship in the Lagos harbor, in Nigeria. This message was transmitted all the way to a navy base in Lakehurst, New Jersey.

In the following article you will know what certain services use the satellite especially the television.

Telephone

Telephone companies began using the satellite communication method as land based message services became overloaded. This allowed people to communicate faster than the old style of sending a letter through the mail.

Satellite TV

Satellite TV began on March first 1978. The first broadcaster, the public broadcasting service introduced public television via a satellite. Television networks adopted the satellite TV method of distribution from 1978 all the way through 1984. As the uses for satellite communications increased it was inevitable that people would have the potential to be able to receive satellite TV signals for free. Direct to home satellite TV receivers were developed in the early1980's. Rural areas in the country thus gained the capacity to receive these satellite TV broadcasts without using the standard method. With the development of the TV receive only, broadcasters complained that there broadcasts could be picked up illegally without paying. The FCC responded to this with the free airspace act. Saying receivers could receive it, if broadcasters could send it.

Why can't I get certain channels for free

When broadcasters realized there signals could be picked up free, they developed a scrambler that would filter the broadcast so only certain people could see the image. You would have to purchase a certain filter that would unscramble the signals in order for you to view them. These devices made it possible for the broadcasters to receive money for their broadcasting so it may be funded and continued. This lead to a potential market in the satellite TV industry seeing as there is money to be made in it.

So next time you are watching satellite TV think about how the signal gets from outer space where the satellite is located all the way to your living room TV set. That little decoder you pay for every month that brings the signal to you.

Tim is the webmaster of TVCableSatellite.com an website specializing in satellite tv information