C band programming

PrimeStar began broadcasting using medium-power Ku-band satellite signals to North America in 1991. DirecTV Group's DirecTV, the first high-powered DBS system, went online in 1994. At the time, DirecTV's introduction was the most successful consumer electronics debut in American history.

Although PrimeStar transitioned to a digital system in 1994, it was ultimately unable to compete with DirecTV, which required a smaller satellite dish and could deliver more programming. DirecTV eventually purchased PrimeStar in 1999 and migrated all PrimeStar subscribers to DirecTV equipment.

In 1996, Echostar's DISH Network went online in the United States and went on to similar success as DirecTV's primary competitor. In 2003, Echostar attempted to purchase DirecTV, but the U.S. Department of Justice denied the purchase based upon monopoly concerns.

In 2003, News Corporation purchased a controlling interest in DirecTV's parent company, Hughes. News Corporation also owns the Fox TV and 20th Century Fox studios. In 2004, Rainbow DBS launched a new DBS service called VOOM, emphasizing that it featured more HDTV channels than either DirecTV or DISH. In addition there are dozens of satellite television stations that broadcast to specialized ethnic communities. DBS uses special high-powered Ku-band satellites that send digitally-compressed television and audio signals to 18- to 24-inch (45 to 60cm) fixed satellite dishes. DBS systems transmit signals to Earth in what is called the Broadcast Satellite Service (BSS) portion of the Ku band between 12.2 and 12.7GHz. Thanks to digital compression technologies, DBS systems can deliver hundreds of cable TV-style programming channels, as well as local network television affiliates.
DBS services offer many advantages over traditional analog services such as cable TV. DBS services generally offer a better picture quality and more channels than analog cable. DBS services also offer additional features like an on-screen guide, DVR functionality, HDTV, Pay-Per-View, and 5.1 sound. Cable companies have responded by introducing digital cable, which offers more channels and many of the same features as DBS.

DirecTV and Echostar both offer DVR units. These units integrated the digital-recording of a DVR with the capabilities of a traditional receiver/decoder. DirecTV's unit is powered by technology licensed from TiVo Inc.. Hughes (the parent company of DirecTV) and Echostar also offer high-speed internet access, mostly to rural customers who cannot access broadband via ADSL or cable modem. Service is generally spotty and expensive, but it generally superior to dial-up service and is often the only option.


 List of Satellite Programming Providers:
This is a list of direct broadcast satellite providers according to location.
Canada - Bell ExpressVu, StarChoice 
Europe - SIRIUS, SES Astra
Indonesia - Indovision
Japan - SkyPerfect 
Latin America - DirecTV Latin America 
Turkey - Digiturk 
United Kingdom - Sky Television 
South Africa and southern Africa - Multichoice 
United States - DirecTV, DISH Network, VOOM

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.

DirecTV has long been a victim of an active piracy underground but has recently begun to crack down on illegal reception of its signals. On its anti-piracy website (http://www.hackhu.com/), DirecTV claims to have sued over 24,000 end users as of March 17, 2004, including celebrity O.J. Simpson. DirecTV bases their suits on purchase records of ISO-7816 Smart Card devices, which have the potential to rewrite DirecTV access cards. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has created a website (http://directvdefense.org/) to help those defendants who have been wrongfully sued by DirecTV.
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.

Dish Network
The DISH Network is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service that broadcasts digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States. Owned by Echostar, DISH Network was launched in March, 1996 and is DirecTV's primary competitor in the United States.

DISH Network originally used an 18-inch satellite dish called DISH 300 which allowed subscribers to receive a signal from one satellite location. Nowadays, DISH Network uses 20-inch satellite dishes called DISH 500, which allows subscribers to receive satellite signals from two satellite locations simultaneously. Slightly larger, 36"x20" dishes (called SuperDISH) are being introduced with capability to receive satellite signals from three satellite locations simultaneously. Both DISH 500 and SuperDISH are becoming more common as DISH Network (as well as other DBS services) are attempting to squeeze more programming onto their growing systems, particularly local American television network affiliates stations, and foreign programming.

In 2003, DISH Network began providing in-flight satellite TV service to the U.S. airline Song. In 2004, selected music channels from Sirius satellite radio were added to DISH Network's lineup of audio-only channels. DISH Network is also partnered with Starband to deliver broadband satellite Internet service along with its television service.

In 2005, All selected music channels from Music Choice were added to DISH Network's lineup of audio-only channels, as well as America's Top 240 and Dish Latino Gold. Every month, DISH Network has a show called Charlie Chat which features news about upcoming hardware, programming events, and new channels. Charlie Ergen and Jim De Franco host the show and take questions from e-mail and live callers.

The following is a list of channels available on the Dish Network: