Satellite TV Systems – In The Beginning…

The innovation of satellite television had its debut in 1957 with the launch of the Russian satellite ‘Sputnik’. Research and development continued with the first communications satellite being launched in 1963 and named ‘Syncom II’. This satellite was the first of many to orbit and was developed by several governments and businesses. ‘Syncom II’ orbited at approximately 22,300 miles over the earth, with the first communication being on July 26, 1963, between a US Navy ship in a port near Nigeria and a naval station in New Jersey.

Telephone communications were first to utilize satellite communications with television communications first use on March 1, 1978, with PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) use as a distribution method. From 1978 through 1984, several broadcast networks instituted the use of satellite communications. As use and continued research and development continued, it was clear that all businesses and homes could receive satellite signals freely.

The early 80’s were years for development of Direct to Home (DTH) satellite receivers allowing any area in the world, including rural areas, to receive television programming for the first time. As with all new innovations, there are always disagreements concerning rights – the right to receive and the right to transmit, with broadcasters complaining that services were obtained illegally or pirated. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) took the position that users had as much right to receive signals as broadcasters had to transmit them. Technological development began in earnest to allow broadcasters to scramble signals to prevent unauthorized viewing. It then became necessary for users to purchase decoders to enable viewing television programming.

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