| Satellite Television is a type of television delivered by communication satellites. A Satellite Dish is required to receive Satellite TV. Satellite TV is offered by 2 main subscription based providers in the continental United States, Dish Network, and DirecTV.
There are two types of communication satellites that are used to broadcast a television signal. The first type, highly elliptical satellites orbit the Earth at an inclination of +/-63.4 degrees and take about 12 hours to complete each orbit. Geostationary satellites are also used to broadcast a television signal and orbit around 22,300 miles above the equator. These satellites rotate with the Earth and are stationary.
The technology behind Satellite TV became viable in the 1960s, and the first satellite television signal was broadcast in 1962. This signal was sent to the Telstar Satellite from Europe. |