Satellite television, a revolutionary concept often credited to writer Arthur C. Clarke, has transformed global communication and entertainment over the past five decades. Clarke's visionary idea of a worldwide satellite communications system laid the groundwork for a technology that would eventually reshape the television industry. This article delves into the fascinating history of satellite TV, from its inception during the space race to its current status as a dominant force in broadcasting.
The journey of satellite television began in the 1950s, amidst the fervor of the space race. The launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik in 1957 spurred the United States to invest heavily in satellite technology. By 1963, a consortium of businesses and government entities had developed the first communication satellite, Syncom II. This satellite orbited 22,300 miles above the Atlantic Ocean, and on July 26, 1963, it facilitated the first satellite communication between a U.S. Navy ship in Lagos, Nigeria, and the U.S. Army naval station in Lakehurst, New Jersey.
Initially, satellite communication was primarily utilized by telephone companies to alleviate overloaded land-based distribution methods. It wasn't until 1978 that the television industry began to harness the power of satellite communication. In 1975, Stephen Birkill, co-founder of RWT and a BBC transmitter engineer, built an experimental system to receive Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) transmissions, which were beamed to Indian villages from a NASA geostationary satellite.
Birkill's system evolved to receive TV signals from various satellites, including Intelsat, Raduga, and Molniya. In 1978, Birkill connected with Bob Cooper, a cable TV technical journalist and amateur radio enthusiast in the U.S., at the CCOS-78 conference. This meeting catalyzed the development of Television Receive Only (TVRO) satellite technology, which soon caught the attention of premium cable programmers.
The American TVRO boom in the mid-1970s piqued the interest of international operators like Intelsat and Intersputnik. On March 1, 1978, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) launched the Public Television Satellite Service, marking a significant milestone in satellite communication. From 1978 to 1984, broadcasters like HBO, TBS, and CBN (later The Family Channel) began using satellite technology for distribution. The prices of TVRO systems dropped, leading to the establishment of the Society for Private Commercial Earth Stations (SPACE) and the first satellite TV dealerships.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) played a crucial role in the evolution of satellite TV. Adhering to its open skies policy, the FCC believed that users had the right to receive satellite signals just as broadcasters had the right to transmit them. In 1980, the FCC introduced the Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) service, which included a broadcast satellite in geostationary orbit, transmission facilities, and the necessary equipment for consumers to access the signals. This led broadcasters to develop scrambling methods, requiring consumers to purchase decoders or direct-to-home (DTH) satellite receivers.
From 1981 to 1985, the big dish satellite market flourished, particularly in rural areas where traditional TV reception was limited. The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association of America (SBCA) was founded in 1986 through a merger between SPACE and the Direct Broadcast Satellite Association. However, the satellite TV industry faced significant challenges, including negative press coverage and the illegal theft of pay television signals. Despite these hurdles, encryption technology eventually helped stabilize the industry.
Japan and Hong Kong led early successful attempts to launch satellites for the mass consumer market in 1986 and 1990, respectively. In 1994, a group of major cable companies in the U.S., known collectively as Primestar, made significant strides in the satellite TV market. Later that year, DirecTV was established, followed by the entry of DISH Network, a subsidiary of Echostar, in 1996. DISH Network's competitive pricing forced other DBS providers to lower their prices, leading to a surge in the popularity of digital satellite TV.
The first fifty years of satellite TV have been marked by groundbreaking innovations, regulatory changes, and market challenges. From its early days as a communication tool for telephone companies to its current status as a major player in the broadcasting industry, satellite TV has continually evolved to meet the demands of consumers. As technology advances and the market grows, satellite TV is poised to remain a vital component of global communication and entertainment.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the history and evolution of satellite TV, highlighting key milestones and interesting statistics. For more detailed information on the current state of satellite technology, visit NASA's official website and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
