A brief on United States satellite TV (Part-3)
In part 1 we talk about the general stuffs about United States satellite TV; in part 2 we had a look on DISH Network; now lets have a look at another " free satellite TV provider" -- DirecTV. DirecTV is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service that broadcasts digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States. Owned by DirecTV Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group, DirecTV was launched in 1994 and was the first high-powered DBS service in the world. DirecTV typically uses smaller 18-inch satellite dishes to receive its signals. Slightly larger, 18 x 24-inch oval antennas to access multi-satellites are becoming more common as DirecTV (as well as other DBS services) are attempting to squeeze more programming onto their growing systems, particularly local television network affiliates stations as well as hybrid systems that also receive broadband satellite Internet service. In 1998 DirecTV acquired its partner, USSB for $1.3 billion. In 1999 DirecTV acquired PrimeStar for $1.83 billion. In 2003, a merger with EchoStar, owner of DISH Network, fell through. On December 22, 2003, controlling interest in Hughes Electronics was sold by General Motors to News Corporation. DirecTV is often abbreviated as "DTV". However, DTV has recently been used to refer to digital television, giving rise to the unofficial acronym "D*". DirecTV receivers (television set-top boxes) were originally referred to as "Digital Satellite Service", or DSS, so that services being broadcast by both DirecTV and USSB would appear to be received by generic equipment. In 1998, after the acquisition of USSB, an American court ruled that the term "DSS" was an already trademarked term that could not be used by DirecTV. DirecTV offers standard television including local channels in most markets. Local channels are transmitted over terrestrial optical fiber networks to the Castle Rock Broadcast Center, in Castle Rock, Colorado, where they are uplinked. DirecTV also offers high definition (HDTV); and a digital video recorder (DVR) service in partnership with TiVo. It has now more than 12 million customers in the US and 1.5 million in Latin America. 2002 revenues were USD 8.9 billion. The Economist has suggested that News Corp would eventually like to merge DirecTV with its UK satellite operation, BSkyB and possibly its Star network to form a global satellite TV company. |
||||
| Relevant Product Info | ||||
| Author | Comments | |||
     Paddy 931 Unregistered guest |
Great post! getting more interest on these free satellite TV deals .. .. |
|||
|
Margaret Unregistered guest |
is there a satellite system in the United states that would allow me to receive Uk and or German tv programming? |
|||
|
Unregistered guest |
I need to set up a cyber cafe in Cameroon. I live in the United States, but wish to purchase a satellite dish that can be easily used to go online in Cameroon. What do I need? and how can I acquire it? |
|||
