When the Cable Acts was first introduced the immediate result was that the satellite sales dramatically dropped. As a result of the Cable Act, the satellite sales industry has dramatically dropped. The other instant effect was the appearance of threats to the industry satellite signal theft.
In fact less than 500,000 of the estimated 2 million units produced in the years 1986 to 1995 were getting services legally. As a result of a merger between SPACE and the Direct Broadcast Satellite Association, the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association was founded in December 1986. Due to the efforts of a specialized task force, the problem of stolen satellite TV signals in 1993 was put under control.
Primestar, which is a Direct Broadcast Satellite system, was started in the early 90’s, by four big cable companies. Hughes DIRECTV Satellite System was launched in 1994, and later in 1996, Dish Network went public. and the small digital satellite TV dish era began in a serious way.
From 1992 to the present, the satellite picture has become much brighter. The satellite television industry has grown to over 18 million subscribers, making it one of the hottest and fastest growing consumer electronics products of all time. 12,Newer encryption systems have worked to reduce the problem of broadcast security. To reduce the problem of broadcast security, newer encryption systems have been put in place. Small-dish DBS systems have become a reality, creating a huge new market for satellite broadcast services.
The big-dish C-Band continues to hold a core group of subscribers, many of whom were the industry’s early adapters. Favorable legislation has removed many of the former obstacles of dish ownership, and the industry has seen the delivery of interactive TV services, two-way high-speed Internet access via satellite, and the emergence of satellite radio - a long way from one man’s vision in 1945…and a long way still to go!
Satellite TV is a growing industry and with companies like the Dish Network and others competing for our attention someone needs to keep track of it all and that’s what James Darren does.
