The introduction of satellite TV in the 1960s ushered in a new era of global communication. The inherent weaknesses of previous commercial audio-visual transmission techniques, including the necessity of line-of-sight, and the natural decay of radio signals over long distances, were negated by using a transceiver situated above the planet itself.

Not many people know that the Soviet Union was one of the primary movers of the use of satellites for TV purposes. This former country created the first national network of satellite television, known as Orbita, in 1967. However, the NASA-built ATS-6 is considered the first example of a direct broadcast satellite (DBS). The satellite was able to demonstrate the feasibility of 'direct-to-home' broadcasts, which became the basis for practically all commercial and consumer-level satellite television broadcasts.

Satellite TV transmissions can be classified into several standards. Analog TV distributed via satellite is usually sent under NTSC, PAL or SECAM broadcast standards. A digitized TV signal, or a multiplex of signals, is usually under the QPSK standard. And digital TV, as is the norm with subscription satellite television services, commonly uses open-source standards such as MPEG-2. Recent technological developments in the world of high-definition TV however, have made the use of H.264/MPEG-4 AVC systems a rapidly growing trend.

These improvements in satellite data transmission technology also naturally require upgrades on the part of terrestrial receivers. Just less than two decades ago, the cost of such systems would have put satellite TV out of the reach of many consumers. Now however, these receivers (also known as 'satellite boxes) are both state-of-the-art and affordable. Clean, clear and highly diversified TV channels are now available around the world, keeping practically every place on earth in sync with each other.