Satellite TV Basics

This website is a collection of Satellite TV “quick facts' meant to serve as a resource for prospective & current satellite TV subscribers. While browsing this website you will find that it contains basic information about the mechanics behind the reception of satellite TV signals, providers, packages & retailers. The content herein has been condensed to an absorbable minimum yet hitting the finer and relevant points. The site also does reference & highlight other industries related to satellite TV as well as other new transmission media; such as the "new kid on the block" - software that allows users watch satellite TV on their PC. There is also information about how satellite broadband internet works, as well as where you can purchase the service.

SATELLITE TV - HOW IT WORKS
Objects that routinely orbit the earth are technically known as satellites. Satellites launched into space in order to transmit TV signals is referred to as a "communications satellite". Satellites are lauched into space for many different purposes; some are launched for weather purposes while others are launched for scientific purposes.

As stated earlier satellite TV is made possible by virtue of communication satellites as opposed to your terrestrial TV and cable TV systems. Satellite TV in many parts of the world is fast complementing and taking over your traditional cable and terrestrial TV. This type of television is preferred not only due to the high quality of reception but because the equipments is portable and doesn’t require burying cable wires to transmit signals etc.

Today’s satellite TV produces an unbelievable picture quality. Without a doubt it's fast becoming the fastest growing electronic consumer product in the world.

HISTORY –HISTORY: The first satellite television signal was relayed from Europe to the Telstar satellite over North America in 1962. The first geosynchronous communication satellite, Syncom 2 was launched in 1963. The world's first commercial communication satellite, called Intelsat I (nicknamed Early Bird), was launched into synchronous orbit on April 6, 1965.

The first national network of satellite television, called Orbita, was created in Soviet Union in 1967, and was based on the principle of using the highly elliptical Molniya satellite for re-broadcasting and delivering of TV signal to ground downlink stations. The first domestic North American satellite to carry television was Canada’s geostationary Anik 1, which was launched in 1972 [1]. ATS-6, the world's first experimental educational and Direct Broadcast Satellite, was launched in 1974. The first Soviet geostationary satellite to carry Direct-To-Home television, called Ekran, was launched in 1976.

Smaller sized dishes might be susceptible to the element; to avoid this it’s important to select a dishes of optimum size that will withstand the elements.

There are Lots of reasons you should pick dish over cable besides the obvious [picture quality and programming]. Most providers provide you with “Free satellite dishes” & free installation”. The same providers also give you free digital equipments [DVR] and “protection plans”. Needless to say the affordable startup rates of satellite TV packages makes it an unrivalled choice and option over cable.

Satellite TV reception is great, affordable, with great local and international programming to meet the needs of a truly diverse audience. Ordering Satellite TV is a painless and quick process; ordering can be achieved either via telephone or online.

Included in today’s satellite TV subscriptions is the very convenient onscreen interactive program guide. It comes standard with all subscriptions; this on screen guide provides all sorts of informative data [program duration, name, year etc] and allows great functionality as well [scheduling recordings, reminders etc].

Most satellite services also include a high end functional receiver & remote access. Today’s subscriptions also include the option of delivering their consumers' favorite programs in High definition [HDTV Package]. Also available as stated earlier is a Digital video recorder that presents the consumers with the ability to record all of their favorite programming. For some subscriptions “digital satellite radio with zero commercials often times come standard".

Satellite TV without an ounce of doubt has an obvious edge over cable TV in lots of areas such as picture quality, programming [local and international], affordability, deals and customer services.

Affordability, package and programming as well as the technology are major factors driving more users to satellite TV. Compared to cable, satellite TV offers a wide variety of channels, a greater value and superior customer service plus 100% digital quality on every channel. Satellite TV programming is 100% digital whereas you would have to pay extra to get the same thing from cable TV. Visit this page to select a satellite TV provider to serve you.

SATELLITE TV BY CONTINENT & COUNTRY
AFRICA
Multichoice's DSTV services the sub-Saharan region in Africa.
Canal Horizons services the users in French-speaking Africa. Needless to say satellite TV has been more successful in Africa for the very obvious  reasons – affordability and infrastructure availability.

AMERICAS
CANADA
Bell Canada’s ExpressVu and StarChoice services the Canadian market.Latin America
Latin America’s main satellite systems are  provided by SKY Latin America.USA
Main carriers in the US are DirecTV and DISH Network.

ASIA
Malaysia
Malaysia's sole satellite television operator, Measat Broadcast Network Systems - a subsidiary of Aro All Asia Networks plc.
Japan
The modern two satellite systems in use in Japan are BSAT and JCSAT; the modern BS digital service uses BSAT satellites, while other system of digital TV broadcasting SKY PerfecTV! Uses JCSAT satellites.
India
DD Direct Plus, DishTV and Tata Sky are the three major commercial service providers of Satellite Television in India.

EUROPE
Continental Western Europe
In Europe, DBS satellite services are found mainly on Astra satellites and Hotbird (operated by Eutelsat.) BSkyB (known as Sky) serves the UK. Sky Italia, Canal Digital and UPC being the main providers in Italy, the Netherlands and Central Europe.
Russian Federation
Modern Russian satellite broadcasting services based on powerful geostationary buses such as Gals, Express, Yamal and Eutelsat which provide a large quantity of free-to-air television channels to millions of householders. Pay-TV is growing in popularity amongst Russian TV viewers. The NTV Russia news company, owned by Gazprom, broadcasts the NTV Plus package to 560,000 households, reaching over 1.5 million viewers.
United Kingdom and Ireland
Sky Television Broadcasting (BSkyB) serves the UK and Ireland.Nordic countries
There are two competing satellite services: Canal Digital (Norwegian Telenor launched in 1997) was digital from onset and Viasat (Kinnevik) operating since the late 1980’s waited until the year 2000 before launching a digital service.

MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA
MBC being broadcasts via the c band through Arabsat and is the first network in the world to offer a free-to-air Western based English language movie channel to the Middle East audience via its spin-off channel MBC 2. Its main rival is the Dubai; UAE based One TV, earlier known as Channel 33, which was the first channel in the Middle East to provide English language general entertainment programming for the expatriate community.
Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network broadcasting via Arabsat (C band), later on Showtime Arabia a joint venture between Viacom (21% stake) and KIPCO (79% stake) started broadcasting, via Nilesat (KU band). Arab Digital Distribution although a late comer, gained ground by broadcasting exclusive sports events. Most of the popular channels are transmitting from these satellites and orbital positions: Arabsat at 26°E, Asiasat at 100.5°E and 105.5°E, Eutelsat Hot Bird at 13°E, Nilesat at 7°W, and PanAmSat at 68.5°E.
Israel
In Israel, Satellite TV services were introduced by YES! Company, using Israeli based Amos (satellite).
Australia
Due to massive distance between population centers Satellite television in Australia has proven to be a far more feasible option than cable television. Galaxy television was the first provider to be launched, which was later taken over by Cable Television giant Foxtel, which now operates both cable and satellite services to all state capital cities (except Darwin and Hobart) and the whole of Western Australia. Its main metropolitan rival was Optus Vision, while rural areas are served by Austar. In 2006 SelecTV began operating, aiming at providing comparatively low cost packages and catering to specialized market segments.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, SKY Network Television offers multichannel digital satellite TV, in addition to its non-digital terrestrial UHF service. The newly released Freeview service is also available on the Optus D1 satellite.