When was cable television (catv) invented

A few years later, in , the owner of a local television station in Atlanta — R. Ted Turner — launched a subscription television service broadcasting sports and classic movies. In , the cable industry, which had been growing thanks to relaxed regulation throughout the s, received another boost.

In , Congress passed the Cable Communications Policy Act, which loosed regulations once again and appropriated funds to grow the infrastructure needed to expand cable networks.

These funds were used aggressively, allowing for more and more people to access cable. Cable grew so rapidly that by , there were more than 50 million subscribers across the country and at least 79 networks, an increase from just 28 at the beginning of the decade.

Some of the networks that launched during this time included:. Few believed networks dedicated to one topic — news, sports, music, etc. But over time, these networks proved that they could stand on their own, and in doing so, launched a cultural revolution that is, in many ways, still playing out today.

The growth in demand, as well as the number of networks available, made cable TV a hot commodity. Service providers responded by raising the price of their service, a logical decision when expanding profits is the ultimate motive. This law forced cable companies to carry local channels and prohibited them from charging local broadcasters.

It also prevented cable companies from continuing to raise prices on consumers. Some argue that the growth experienced in the s was partly due to people being charged more for the service, which exaggerated the growth numbers slightly. However, despite these measures, cable did still grow throughout the s. It had become an important part of American life, and accessing popular shows and movies often required a cable subscription.

Throughout the 90s, more than new stations emerged, and the average cable consumer could expect to have access to at least 50, which was far more than they could ever hope to get relying solely on over-the-air broadcasts. By the beginning of the new millennium, cable was no longer just a necessity for those living in remote areas or a luxury for those who had the money.

Instead, it had become a staple of American life. However, as cable had become more popular, cable companies had to do more to compete with one another and ensure customer retention. As a result, things such as high-definition broadcasting, DVR service, on-demand programming, interactive guides, and much more became new features and eventually standards.

Steam pump.. Water pillar pump.. Spinning jenny.. Water frame.. Spinning mule.. Cotton gin.. Pipe organ.. Movable type.. Tower clock.. Single-lens reflex camera.. Ice cream maker.. Standard diving suit..

Daguerreotype process.. Compound camera lens.. Improved radio transmitter.. Arc transmitter.. X-ray tube.. Sound film.. Far ultraviolet camera.. Adaptive optics.. Multitrack audio recording.. Polaroid self developing film camera.. Electric guitar.. Glass harmonica.. Analytical engine.. Satellites changed the business dramatically, paving the way for the explosive growth of program networks. The second service to use the satellite was a local television station in Atlanta that broadcast primarily sports and classic movies.

The station, owned by R. By the end of the decade, growth had resumed, and nearly 16 million households were cable subscribers. The Cable Act established a more favorable regulatory framework for the industry, stimulating investment in cable plant and programming on an unprecedented level. Deregulation provided by the Act had a strong positive effect on the rapid growth of cable services.

This was the largest private construction project since World War II. By the end of the decade, nearly 53 million households subscribed to cable, and cable program networks had increased from 28 in to 79 by Some of this growth, however, was accompanied by rising prices for consumers, incurring growing concern among policy makers.

By the end of , there were cable programming services available nationwide, in addition to many regional programming networks. By the spring of , the number of national cable video networks had grown to By that time, the average subscriber could choose from a wide selection of quality programming, with more than 57 percent of all subscribers receiving at least 54 channels, up from 47 in And at the end of the decade, approximately 7 in 10 television households, more than 65 million, had opted to subscribe to cable.

The upgrade to broadband networks enabled cable companies to introduce high-speed Internet access to customers in the mids, and competitive local telephone and digital cable services later in the decade. Enactment of the Telecommunications Act of once again dramatically altered the regulatory and public policy landscape for telecommunications services, spurring new competition and greater choice for consumers. Almost simultaneously, Paul Allen, a founder of Microsoft, began acquiring his own stable of cable properties.

Cable's Story. Innovation Over the Years. Late s - Early s Infrastructure Gets Boost. Leaders of Connectivity. Powering America's Digital Future. Rural Broadband.

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