The history of cable television is a very interesting one, as the preconceived notations many would have based on the creation of cable television are wrong. As we learned in class lecture, all TV was originally broadcast through antennas, but there were several areas that could not pick up the signals from these antennas. We learned that Robert Tarlton started the first CATV network and it was known as "community antenna television". In the beginning, cable just started off as a way to rebroadcast analog channels that could not be picked up by the antennas. In the 1970s, TV broadcasters began using satellites to bounce their signals back down to CATV companies. This allowed for more channels to be broadcast than just the channels that were not able to receive through regular antennas. Once the creation of more channels came about, there were several channels that decided to only be broadcast through cable television, essentially creating cable television as we know it. In the 1990s there was an emergence of DBS television through satellites. Satellite television has had a significant impact on society because it has become "...the most significant competitor to cable today."(Uri 207) Satellite subscription service is steadily rising. "Based on the 2004 FCC Annual Cable Price Survey, 83.0% of households in the United States that subscribe to a subscription television service use cable television although DBS subscriptions are growing." (Uri 207) This has proven to be revolutionary because it shows how television has evolved beginning with simple analog broadcasts channels, then the move to cable television, and now the takeover of satellite television. Many people prefer satellite over cable television because there is a broader selection of channels. Being able to directly satisfy the consumers’ needs is important because it is the pathway to more revenue. This is probably why satellite companies are so successful because they are able to satisfy a much greater range of the average consumer. The creation of cable and satellite cable has proven to be beneficial for both the consumer and cable companies. The consumers are able to enjoy the constant developments of the cable companies for entertainment purposes and the cable companies are able to enjoy the monetary benefits and become prosperous successful companies.
Citation
Uri, N. D. (2006). The Market for Subscription Television Service in the United States. Engineering Economist, 51(3), 205-236.
