Cable television is a system of delivering television programming to consumers via radio frequency (RF) signals transmitted through coaxial cables, or in more recent systems, light pulses through fiber-optic cables. This contrasts with broadcast television, in which the television signal is transmitted over the air by radio waves and received by a television antenna attached to the television; or satellite television, in which the television signal is transmitted by a communications satellite orbiting the Earth and received by a satellite dish on the roof. FM radio programming, high-speed Internet, telephone services, and similar non-television services may also be provided through these cables. Analog television was standard in the 20th century, but since the 2000s, cable systems have been upgraded to digital cable operation.
A television channel is a terrestrial frequency or virtual number over which a television station or television network is distributed. For example, in North America, "channel 2" refers to the terrestrial or cable band of 54 to 60 MHz, with carrier frequencies of 55.25 MHz for NTSC analog video (VSB) and 59.75 MHz for analog audio (FM), or 55.31 MHz for digital ATSC (8VSB). Channels may be shared by many different television stations or cable-distributed channels depending on the location and service provider
TV Guide is a bi-weekly American magazine that provides television program listings information as well as television-related news, celebrity interviews and gossip, film reviews, crossword puzzles, and, in some issues, horoscopes. The print magazine is owned by NTVB Media, while its digital properties are controlled by the CBS Interactive division of CBS Corporation; the TV Guide name and associated editorial content from the publication are licensed by CBS Interactive for use on the website and mobile app through an agreement with the magazine's parent subsidiary TVGM Holdings, Inc.
Digital cable is the distribution of cable television using digital video compression for distribution. The technology was originally developed by General Instrument before being acquired by Motorola and subsequently acquired by ARRIS Group. Cable companies converted to digital systems during the 2000s, around the time that television signals were converted to the digital HDTV standard, which was not compatible with earlier analog cable systems. In addition to providing higher resolution HD video, digital cable systems provide expanded services such as pay-per-view programming, cable internet access and cable telephone services. Most digital cable signals are encrypted, which reduced the high incidence of cable theft which occurred in analog systems.
Television is one of the major mass media of the United States. As of 2011, household ownership of television sets in the country is 96.7%, with approximately 114,200,000 American households owning at least one television set as of August 2013. The majority of households have more than one set. The peak ownership percentage of households with at least one television set occurred during the 1996–97 season, with 98.4% ownership.
Pop, commonly referred to as Pop TV, is an American basic cable and satellite television network operated as a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Lionsgate Entertainment. It is a general entertainment channel, focusing primarily on programs pertaining to popular culture.
Pay television or subscription television are subscription-based television services, usually provided by both analog and digital cable and satellite television, but also increasingly via digital terrestrial and internet television. Subscription television began in the multi-channel transition and transitioned into the post-network era. Some parts of the world, notably in France and the United States, have also offered encrypted analog terrestrial signals available for subscription.
In cable television, governments apply a must-carry regulation stating that locally licensed television stations must be carried on a cable provider's system.
KFXK-TV, virtual channel 51, is a Fox-affiliated television station serving Tyler, Texas, United States that is licensed to Longview. Owned by White Knight Broadcasting, it is a sister station to Tyler-licensed low-power MyNetworkTV affiliate KTPN-LD ; Nexstar Media Group, which owns Jacksonville-licensed NBC affiliate KETK-TV, operates KFXK and KTPN-LD under a shared services agreement. The three stations share studios on Richmond Road in Tyler; KFXK's transmitter is located near FM 125 in rural northwestern Rusk County.
StarHub TV is the sole cable television operator in Singapore. A subsidiary of StarHub Limited, when StarHub acquired Singapore Cable Vision (SCV) in 2001, and now assumes ownership over the S$600 million broadband infrastructure built across the country by 1996.
Hong Kong Cable Television Limited, formerly known as Wharf Cable Television Limited until 31 October 1998, is a cable television provider in Hong Kong currently owned by Forever Top (Asia) Limited, which operates it as a part of i-Cable Communications business. It is the second company to provide a cable television service in Hong Kong. It was incorporated on 1 January 1992 and officially inaugurated on 31 October 1993, offering a broad range of information and entertainment to its viewers through over 100 pay television channels, of which 54 are directly operated by the company.
WDAY-TV is an ABC-affiliated television station licensed to Fargo, North Dakota, United States. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 21 from a 1,000-foot (305 m) tall transmitter tower near Amenia. On cable, the station can be seen on channel 6 in most areas, and on Midcontinent Communications digital channel 606 and Cable One digital channel 1006 in high definition.
In broadcasting, digital subchannels are a method of transmitting more than one independent program stream simultaneously from the same digital radio or television station on the same radio frequency channel. This is done by using data compression techniques to reduce the size of each individual program stream, and multiplexing to combine them into a single signal. The practice is sometimes called "multicasting".
The CW Plus is a national feed of The CW, owned by The CW Network, LLC, that is primarily carried on digital subchannels and pay television outlets. The service is intended for areas ranked below the top 99 television markets in the United States designated by Nielsen Media Research. In addition to carrying CW network programming on Monday through Fridays in daytime and prime time, as well as its Saturday morning educational programming block, The CW Plus runs a mix of syndicated and brokered programs outside designated network programming time periods.
SelecTV was an American subscription television service that was formed in 1976, and first began broadcasting in 1978; the service focused entirely on televising movies, and was shut down in 1991. The service originally allowed subscribers to pay only for programs "selected" during the month, with the first several minutes free ; it later switched to a flat fee.
TBS is an American multichannel television network that is owned by the Turner Broadcasting System, a namesake subsidiary operating as a unit of AT&T's WarnerMedia. It carries a variety of programming, with a focus on comedy, along with some sports events, including Major League Baseball and the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. As of September 2018, TBS was received by approximately 90.391 million households that subscribe to a pay television service throughout the United States.
The distribution of cable television around the world:
CTH Public Company Limited (CTH), formerly known as Cable Thai Holding Public Company Limited, was a Thai pay TV operator and Internet broadband services provider.
Silverline Movie Channel is a German-language pay-TV station, which plays feature films from the areas of action, horror, martial arts, science fiction and Z movies. The station was founded by the Silverline Television AG based in Grünwald. The distribution networks are the cable and IPTV network of the German-speaking Europe.
KUAN-LD, virtual channel 48, is a Telemundo owned-and-operated television station serving San Diego, California, United States that is licensed to Poway. The station is owned by the NBC Owned Television Stations subsidiary of NBCUniversal, and is sister to San Diego-licensed NBC owned-and-operated station KNSD. The two stations share studios on Granite Ridge Drive in the Kearny Mesa section of San Diego and transmitter facilities southeast of Spring Valley.
