Cable television

Cable television is a system for delivering broadcast programming to viewers by radio frequency (RF) signals transmitted through coaxial cable and through fibre-optic cable. Cable television is contrasted with terrestrial television, wherein the television signal is transmitted over-the-air by radio waves and received by a television antenna; and with satellite television, wherein a communications satellite transmits the television signal over-the-air by way of radio waves which then are received by a satellite dish antenna. A cable channel (also cable network) is television programming transmitted by cable (coaxial or optical fibre) and by satellite television. Alternative terms for a cable channel include non-broadcast channel and programming service, the latter term is used in legal contexts.

In the U.S., in 1948, in order to provide television services to the rural areas of the country where the geography blocked television signals, the Community Antenna Television (CATV) program erected large television antennas atop hills and mountains, from which the coaxial cable was directly connected to the individual houses of the community. In 1968, 6.4 percent of households in the U.S. had cable television service, 7.5 percent in 1978, 52.8 percent in 1988, and 62.4 percent of households in 1994. Moreover, FM radio programming, high-speed Internet, and telephony communication services also are transmitted by cables. In the 20th century, analog television was the television standard, but in the 21st century, cable television systems have been upgraded to digital cable operations.