Satellite Television

Satellite television is a television reception system where signals are received from satellites orbiting at a distance of approximately 37,000 kilometers above Earth's surface. Using satellites is the most effective way to instantly transmit television signals around the world.

The first ever satellite TV signal was sent from Europe in 1962. Canada launched the first North American television satellite in 1973.

About the author:
Jeremy Maddock is the owner of a quickly growing telecommunications news website - http://www.teleclick.ca 

The History and Growth of Satellite Television Worldwide

The first satellite television signal was relayed from Europe to the Telstar satellite  in 1962. The first communication satellite, was launched in 1963.

The world's first commercial communication satellite, called was launched into orbit in April , 1965

The first national network of satellite television, was created in Soviets in 1967.

The first domestic North American satellite to carry television was by Canada in 1973.

Satellite television, relayed by satellite, starts with a transmitting antenna at an uplink facility.

There are 3 main types of satellite television utlization: reception to the viewer, reception by local television affiliates, or reception by headends for distribution to cable systems.

Satellite television by country

UK Satellite Television

The first commercial DBS service, Sky Television, launched in 1989 and served customers in the UK providing 4 analogue TV channels

U.S. Satellite Television

Consumer satellite television reception in the U.S. began in the early 1980s with the introduction of the first home satellite systems

Canada

The two legal DBS satellite television services available are Bell Canada's ExpressVu and StarChoice.

Australia and New Zealand

Satellite television in Australia has proven to be a far more feasible option than cable tv, due to the vast distances between population centres.

Europe

In Europe, DBS satellite services are found mainly on the Hotbird and Astra satellite television systems.

Japan

The modern two satellite television systems in use in Japan are B-SAT and JSAT; the BS digital service uses B-SAT, while SKY PerfecTV!  uses JSAT.

India

After more than a decade of debate and controversy, two networks were allowed to start satellite television Direct To Home (DTH) services in India

Latin America

Latin America’s main satellite system is SKYTelevision which has up to one million subscribers

Africa

Multichoice is the satellite television sytem offered on th3 continent.

Russia

Since creation of its Orbita national network of satellite television, Russian satellite television broadcasting service provide mostly Free-To-Air satellite television channels to millions of householders