Satellite TV is heavily connected with the history of communications satellites, hence the name. In 1976, Home Box Office (HBO) made history with the first satellite delivery of programming. This was quickly followed by Ted Turner’s Superstation (TBS). In 1977,  the CBN Cable Network began the first “basic” cable service through satellite TV. Stanford University’s Taylor Howard built the first direct-to-home (DTH) system, a satellite dish. These dishes sprouted up all over the country although they were much larger than today’s dishes. Howard developed this system because HBO refused to sell its signal to anyone but cable providers. This “fad” was soon brought to an end, when Congress in 1984 permitted the scrambling of signals. This left many dish owners in the dark. Without transmission, satellite receivers were useless. This is where the satellite business really begins. Companies begin to sell decoders that would allow people to receive only their signal. The companies would charge them for this service and make a profit.
By 1986, it was apparent that signal theft had spread across the nation. Hackers had decrypted the scrambled codes. There were also illegal dealers selling equipment that stole satellite TV service. Until 1994, the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA) had relied on a taskforce of retired FBA agents to shutdown pirated satellite systems. In 1990, General Instrument Corporation developed a new system, the VideoCipherII Plus, which was “hacker-proof”. Most companies transitioned to this system by 1992. “Pirate” consumers had to buy satellite services legally.
Currently, 2.4% of all television households own satellite TV. While this is not a huge percentage, it is one way that ideas have been dispersed. It is a competing force with cable TV and will continue to be in the foreseeable future. (see also Cable TV and Color TV.)

 *Pictures from Microsoft Electronic Encarta Encyclopedia Edition 2002

Sources:
Direct TV Satellite TV Dish Systems. History of Satellite TV. 16 October 2003. <http://www.satellite-tv-dish-systems.com/History-of-Satellite-TV.html>

Orbit Communications Corporation. About Satellite-TV. 17 October 2003. <http://www.orbitsat.com/AboutSat/history1.htm>

Satellite-TV-Mania. Brief History of Satellite TV. 17 October 2003. <http://www.satellitetvmania.com/briefhistory.htm>

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