A cable television system is a method used to deliver television programming to subscribers via radiofrequency waves that are transmitted over coaxial cables, or in more recent times, light pulses transmitted over fiber optic cables. Television differs from broadcast (sometimes called terrestrial television), in which signals are carried by radio waves and received by antennas mounted on television sets; and satellite TV, in which a satellite beams a signal into space that is received by a dish mounted on the roof. In addition to TV programming, these cables may provide high-speed Internet, telephone services, and other non-television stuff. Since the 2000s, it's been all-digital cable since analog was popular in the 20th century.
Cable channels (sometimes called cable networks) are television networks available via cable television. The term "satellite channel" refers to a channel that can be viewed through satellite television, including provider providers like Dish Network, Direct Broadcast Satellite, and Sky, as well as providers such as Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-verse.
Nowadays, cable television is a ubiquitous part of our lives. But back in the late 1940s, no one had even heard of it. It was an unknown commodity. There were only three national networks — NBC, CBS, and ABC — and most households had just a single TV set that got poor reception at best.
So it's difficult to appreciate how revolutionary cable television was when it first appeared on the scene.
The Early Years
The idea of cable television can be traced back to the 1930s. As early as 1934, American inventor Charles G. Hoxie developed a system in which radio signals were sent through coaxial cables rather than through the airwaves. The concept didn't catch on at first, but some people began to see its possibilities.
As early as 1938, a man named Glen Warren saw the potential for bringing television signals into hard-to-reach areas using coaxial cable. He discussed his vision with some friends in Astoria, Oregon — including Harold Sobel, a lawyer with ties to Hollywood — and they decided to develop their cable system.
The History Of Cable Television
Before cable television, people only had a few choices of what they could watch on TV. They often received their TV images through antennas on the roof of their homes, and they could watch local channels. By the 1960s and 1970s, cable TV became popular in many areas of the United States.
Before cable television, people only had a few choices of what they could watch on TV. They often received their TV images through antennas on the roof of their homes, and they could watch local channels. By the 1960s and 1970s, cable TV became popular in many areas of the United States.
Before cable television, people only had a few choices of what they could watch on TV. They often received their TV images through antennas on the roof of their homes, and they could watch local channels. By the 1960s and 1970s, cable TV became popular in many areas of the United States.
How Does Cable Work?
Cable television works when an antenna receives a signal from a broadcast station and sends it through a cable into your home television set. This is why certain programs are often interrupted with messages like "signal lost," or "you must subscribe to this channel." This is because you are receiving the signal through an antenna. With cable, the signal is delivered directly into your home, making it more reliable
Future of Cable Television
Cable television has been around for decades, and it's a mainstay in the entertainment diet of most households. But people are increasingly turning to stream services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime for their entertainment needs. According to a report by The Diffusion Group, cable subscriptions will drop to 79 percent of American homes by 2021, down from 90 percent in 2010.
In the face of this changing landscape, what does the future hold for cable television?
Many experts believe that cable companies have no choice but to evolve with the times if they want to survive. Some are already offering standalone streaming packages so customers can watch their favorite shows without a cable subscription. Cable TV is no longer the behemoth it once was. Over the last decade, it has lost millions of subscribers as more and more people choose to stream TV shows and movies instead of subscribing to cable.
FAQ
When was cable television invented?
Ans: 1948
What was the original purpose of cable TV?
The cable television system was invented in the United States in the late 1940s so that broadcasts could be better received in remote areas and hills.
What does cable TV mean?
A cable system gets its name from how the television signal is transmitted to you, and the way that is done is through coaxial or fiber-optic cables.
How long ago was cable TV introduced in India?
Its markets were opened to cable television in 1992 when the government released them. Indians got a breath of fresh air when STAR TV launched five new channels.
What is the oldest TV channel?
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC), the oldest broadcast network in the United States, was founded on November 15, 1926
