Cable TV
Cable television has transformed from community antenna systems (CATV) capturing broadcast signals to a multifaceted entertainment platform. Initially developed in the late 1930s, it has undergone significant advancements through hybrid fiber/coax systems and has expanded to include cable-exclusive content providers like HBO and CNN. Regulatory changes in the 1990s reshaped the industry, allowing more competition and consumer protection. Today, cable companies offer high-definition TV, interactive services, and video on demand, solidifying their crucial role in modern media consumption.
Cable TV
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Presentation Transcript
Acquisition of Signals • Cable Began as Community Antenna TV (CATV) • Large tower antenna captures broadcast signals and retransmits over wire to community • Obtains distant signals (via land line, antenna, microwave, satellite) • Superstations • Adds non-broadcast content • Cable-exclusive content providers (e.g., HBO, CNN) • including “Pay” TV • Local programming
Technology • Headend • Trunk cable • Distribution of feeder cable • Subscriber drop • Terminal equipment
Coaxial Cable • Bandwith (750 MHz) • cable can carry more channels than b’cast • Duplex • Coax carries signals in both directions • Industry has not generally exploited this feature • exception: subscription services (pay, scrambling)
History • Frank Jewett (1936) • Coaxial Cable installed between New York and Philadelphia • Louis H. Cook (1937) • Patent to send pictures over a wire • CATV – Community Antenna Television(1948) • Tap in to a coax cable connected to a large antenna • Charles Dolan HBO (1965-1972) • Used a satellite to make novel service available to cable companies
Modern Era • 1980 – Switch in who paid whom vis-à-vis programmers and operators • 1987 – Majority of people get TV via cable • 1992 – Cable Communications Consumer Protection and Competition act of 1992 • Cable companies had to stop gouging • Telecommunications Act of 1996 • Telephone companies allowed to get into the act
Current Era • By 2000 68% of homes had cable tv • Direct Broadcast Satellite presents competition • Fiber Optic compression enables cable company to transmit 12 signals where it used to be able to transmit one
Recent Activity • Digital Upgrades • High Definition TV • Interactive Services • Video on demand • Subscription video on demand • Interactive program guides • Enhanced TV services • Digital video recorder