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History of DTH
Satellite's Early Years:
1945,
1962,
1972,
1973,
1974,
1975
Arthur C. Clarke makes prediction, Telstar 1 launches and HBO delivers
its first satellite signal.
The Beginnings Of DTH: 1976, 1978,
1980, 1981, 1983
Talyor Howard builds a dish, Ted Turner uplinks his superstation
and America sees the "Thrilla from Manila."
Piracy Takes Hold: 1984, 1985,
1986, 1987, 1988,
1989
HBO scrambles its programming while signal theft increases.
Finding Competition For Cable: 1990,
1991, 1992, 1993
Al Gore unleashes the 1992 Cable Act and DBS begins to formulate
plans.
The Small Dish Rises: 1994, 1995,
1996, 1997, 1998,
1999, 2000
DBS becomes a serious player in the multichannel marketplace.
In February 2008, after 14 months of scrutiny, the Federal Communications Commission approves News Corp.’s sale of its controlling stake in DIRECTV to Liberty Media.
In July 2008, after 17 months of waiting, the Federal Communications Commission formally approves the merger between Sirius and XM. The company becomes known as Sirius XM Radio after completion of the deal.
In February 2007, XM and Sirius announce plans to merge operations.
On Jan. 9, Howard Stern started his tenure at Sirius. The satellite radio company put the shock jock on two dedicated channels that featured other programming, most of which was picked by Stern himself.
In December 2006, News Corp. announced a plan to sell its controlling stake in DIRECTV to Liberty Media, a deal that includes a swap of Liberty shares in news Corp. for the DIRECTV interest, a handful of regional sports networks and cash.
In October 2004, Sirius announced a $100 million deal to bring shock jock Howard Stern to its satellite radio service.
In 2003, Hughes Electronics and News Corp. announced a deal that would allow Rupert Murdoch’s media company to take over a controlling stake in DIRECTV. The companies take the deal to the Federal Communications Commission in May.
In late December 2003, the FCC grants the News Corp./DIRECTV deal, with conditions. Those conditions include allowing competitive video services to have access to News Corp.-controlled programming, including regional sports networks.
In July 2002, Sirius took its satellite radio service nationwide.
In October 2002, after about a year of debate, and tens of thousands of comments both for and against the deal, the Federal Communications Commission rejected the proposed merger between EchoStar and DIRECTV. Opponents of the merger fretted about the potential anti-competitive impact of the deal on rural areas where satellite TV was the only video service.
XM Satellite Radio officially launched service on Sept. 25, 2001. The debut was delayed a few weeks due to the 9/11 attacks.
In October 2001, EchoStar and DIRECTV announced controversial plans to merge operations, a deal that would create a single DBS entity. On Dec, 3, 2001, the Federal Communications Commission received applications requesting consent to the transfer of control of licenses and authorizations held by Hughes Electronics and its DIRECTV unit to EchoStar.
DirecTV swallows most PrimeStar medium-power subscribers and converts them to the high-power service. The conversion process ends in September.
During 2000, DirecTV had its best year ever with 1.834 million net high-power subscriber additions, a 14 percent improvement when compared to the 1.606 million net subscribers added in 1999. EchoStar's DISH Network passes the 5 million subscriber milestone in November.
Two-way satellite broadband services debut. EchoStar's DISH Network partners with StarBand, a two-way offering that has VSAT maker Gilat and Microsoft as backers. Hughes Network Systems, sister company of DirecTV, unveils two-way DirecPC service. America Online partners for DirecPC/DirecTV services.
DirecTV agrees to acquire PrimeStar under a two-part deal worth $1.83 billion. The proposal includes the TEMPO satellite at 119 degrees and subscribers. Part of the agreement closes in the spring, along with DirecTV's acquisition of USSB. The combined deal gives DirecTV more than 7.4 million subscribers.
EchoStar's DISH Network passes the 2 million subscriber mark. The FCC approves EchoStar's ASkyB deal with News Corp. and MCI/WorldCom.
NRTC's DirecTV business crosses the 1 million subscriber mark. NRTC/DirecTV affiliate Pegasus Communications acquires 500,000 subscribers.
Two out of every three new multichannel subscribers pick DBS for their video service.
DirecTV passes the 4 million subscriber mark.
Cable giant Tele-Communications Inc. agrees to be acquired by AT&T under a landmark, multi-billion dollar deal.
The Justice Department voices opposition to the PrimeStar/ASkyB merger.
EchoStar launches its fourth satellite into the 148-degree orbital position.
EchoStar agrees to purchase ASkyB assets from News Corp. and MCI/WorldCom. The deal gives the company majority control of two full-CONUS slots, one at 119 degrees and the other at 110 degrees.
The DSS trademark used by DirecTV and USSB disappears. DirecTV reaches an agreement to buy USSB under a $1.3 billion deal. DirecTV also unveils plans to launch a new satellite into its 101-degree position, and migrate DBS-1 to frequencies acquired from USSB at 110 degrees.
DTH crosses the 10 million subscriber mark.
BSkyB debuts SkyDigital.
DirecTV passes the 3 million subscriber barrier, while EchoStar's DISH Network achieves the 1 million mark.
TCI Satellite launches the TEMPO-1 satellite into the 119-degree orbital location. The satellite incurs some technical problems, though the company says it's fully operational. However, the bird is never used by TSAT or PrimeStar while in orbit for two and a half years.
EchoStar launches Echostar-3 into the 61.5-degree position.
EchoStar and ASkyB partners News Corp. and MCI agree to merge DBS assets. The deal quickly sours, however, when News Corp. begins discussions with PrimeStar. Both sides launch billion-dollar lawsuits.
PrimeStar agrees to merge ASkyB into its DTH business under a transaction valued at $1.1 billion.
AlphaStar parent Tee-Comm Electronics goes into receivership in Canada, and AlphaStar in the United States enters bankruptcy proceedings. The service goes dark in August with 55,000 subscribers.
MCI outbids EchoStar and Tempo/TCI Satellite for 28 DBS frequencies at the 110-degree orbital location during an FCC auction. The company agrees to pay $682.5 million for the spectrum. MCI and partner News Corp. unveil American Sky Broadcasting, a new high-power DBS contender. During the same auction, EchoStar successfully bids $52.6 million for spectrum at 148 degrees.
U.S. Satellite Broadcasting unleashes an IPO. Wall Street reacts with excitement, launching USSB shares at $27 and pushing the price up 29 percent by the end of the first trading day.
EchoStar launches DISH Network on March 4. By the end of the year, DISH acquires 350,000 subscribers. The company also reveals its uplink center in Cheyenne, Wyo., and launches its second satellite into the 119-degree position.
DISH Network begins DBS price wars, lowering equipment prices to $199 with a programming commitment from new subscribers.
AlphaStar, backed by Canadian equipment manufacturer Tee-Comm Electronics, debuts medium-power DBS service.
DirecTV breaks the 2 million subscriber mark.
The 1996 Telecommunications Act is signed into law, paving the way for some deregulation of cable and other telecomm businesses.
Tee-Comm's AlphaStar announces plans for DBS service.
DirecTV, USSB and PrimeStar announce plans to spend nearly $170 million in advertising in 1995.
DirecTV launches DBS-3 into its 101-degree orbital position.
FCC strips Advanced Communications of its 110-degree orbital slot due to failure to comply with "due-diligence" rules requiring the construction and launch of a DBS system. That leaves PrimeStar's effort to switch to high power in doubt. FCC then votes to auction the DBS channels at 110 degrees.
Four million shares of EchoStar DISH stock are offered at $17, and $63 million is raised. By the end of the year, EchoStar launches its first satellite into the 119-degree location.
C-Band reaches its peak with 2.3 million subscribers.
DirecTV, U.S. Satellite Broadcasting and Thomson Consumer Electronics sell the first DSS (Digital Satellite System) offering in Jackson, Miss. By the end of the year, DirecTV acquires 320,000 subscribers. DirecTV also launches its DBS-2 satellite from Cape Canaveral, Fla., into the 101-degree position.
PrimeStar rolls out nationwide digital TV service via a medium-power Ku-Band satellite. The company ends 1994 with about 250,000 subscribers.
C-Band shipments surge to historic levels, hitting nearly 85,000 alone in August. C-Band subs total 646,000 for the year.
DBS-1, the nation's first high-power DBS satellite, launches aboard an Ariane rocket from French Guiana. The bird will carry programming for DirecTV and U.S. Satellite Broadcasting.
The VCII stream is shut off. C-Band booms after VCII-Plus upgrade and its extra signal security features.
Congress overrides President Bush's veto of the Cable Act. Legislation guarantees access to satellite-delivered cable programming services by alternative multichannel video providers, such as DBS operators.
General Instrument shows first satellite-delivered digital High Definition Television.
A deal with Hughes gives the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative exclusive distribution rights to DirecTV in rural America.
PrimeStar launches first medium-powered Ku-band service, an analog offering with limited channels.
Hubbard Broadcasting, which will later form U.S. Satellite Broadcasting, agrees to buy five transponders on the first DBS satellite from Hughes Communications.
Hughes Communications, NBC, News Corp. and Cablevision Systems announce plans for Sky Cable, a high-power DBS service. The partnership becomes troubled, however, and the plans eventually land in Hughes' hands. The impetus for Sky Cable eventually becomes DirecTV.
VCII, the troubled "VideoCipher" satellite decoder from General Instrument, is phased out. The company introduces VCII-Plus.
Faced with enormous losses, rivals BSB and News Corp.-backed Sky TV merge to form British Sky Broadcasting.
Piracy reaches epidemic levels. Copyright holders threaten to withdraw product due to problems.
Piracy problem escalates. General Instrument announces plans to introduce VideoCipher II Plus within a year. SBCA establishes Anti-Piracy Task Force (APTF) to combat signal theft problem.
President Reagan signs Satellite Home Viewer's Act into law, which establishes copyright license for delivery of TV broadcast signals to DTH marketplace and toughens penalties for theft of satellite signals.
Sen. Al Gore and Rep. Billy Tauzin introduce legislation calling for third-party packaging and consumer access to network signals, among other provisions. Reps. Robert Kastenmeier and Mike Synar introduce legislation clarifying the rights of dish owners to continue to access the superstation and network signals.
HBO becomes the first programmer to scramble its movie services full-time. The industry is rocked by negative press coverage and a cable-led anti-dish advertising campaign after HBO begins its scrambling efforts. Shipments drop to 235,000 as more than 50% of all satellite retailers close their businesses.
PrimeTime 24 and Netlink offer distant network signals.
SBCA emerges after merger between the Society for Private and Commercial Earth Stations (SPACE) and the Direct Broadcast Satellite Association (DBSA).
HBO announces its plan to market scrambled HBO and Cinemax programming to home satellite TV viewers via local cable companies. Reps. Billy Tauzin (D-LA) and Charlie Rose (D-NC) introduce a bill guaranteeing access to scrambled satellite TV programming at "fair and reasonable" rates.
C-Band system shipments top 735,000, a record for the industry.
President Reagan signs "The Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984" including Section 705, a provision legalizing the private reception of unscrambled satellite television programming.
Hughes Communications launches Galaxy I, the first satellite dedicated to cable TV distribution.
Stanley S. Hubbard, who will later launch U.S. Satellite Broadcasting, files for the first DBS license.
National Microtech offers the first home satellite system priced below $10,000.
Satellite Television Corp. requests FCC authorization to construct and operate a DBS system in the BSS band. In the following seven months, 13 additional broadcast direct service (BDS) applications are submitted to the FCC.
FCC makes licensing of satellite dishes voluntary except for satellite dishes used for international communications purposes.
Neiman Marcus features "his-and-hers" home satellite TV equipment from Scientific-Atlanta on the cover of its Christmas catalog. The two-dish system is priced at $36,000.
Taylor Howard publishes "A low cost satellite-TV receiving system" manual. DTH industry picks up steam as technology is shared among ham radio operators around the world.
Taylor Howard is the first person to receive C-Band satellite signals on his home-made dish.
Federal Communications Commission issues a ruling stating that 4.5 meter dishes are acceptable (previous standard was 9 meters), providing that the terminals attain certain minimum levels of performance.
HBO shows the "Thrilla from Manila" heavyweight boxing match with the help of satellites. Ted Turner debuts America's first superstation. Christian Broadcasting Network (later The Family Channel) launches as the first satellite-delivered basic programming service.
HBO establishes the first operational satellite broadcast system on Satcom I. The service sends programming to cable affiliates.
Western Union launches Westar 1, soon followed by Westar II, the first domestic geosynchronous satellites for the United States.
Canada begins operation of Anik 1, the first domestic geosynchronous satellite over North America.
United States adopts an "Open Skies Policy" to encourage private industry to enter the satellite business.
First satellite TV transmission via Telstar 1 is delivered from France to the United States. Congress approves Communications Satellite Act, and COMSAT is formed.
Science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke writes an article outlining the possibilities for establishing a global communications system using three satellites placed in geosynchronous orbit (22,300 miles above the equator). Clarke's article states that satellites would be equal distance from each other.
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