Cable Television

The cable television industry is not new. It is reputed to have begun in the year 1948, when it made an appearance as an alternative to the state owned and operated television stations. Initially though, cable television was little more than local channels operated by individuals to provide their community and the surrounding regions with news, views and activities that the national television channels would either not cover or skip altogether. In order to make the business viable, most cable television operators also screened movies. This is the humble service that has grown to become the Home Box Office or HBO that we know and enjoy today. Most of these early cable operators also operated a shopping channel where locally produced goods and services could be offered to local communities. This too has grown unimaginably to become the Tele Shopping Network of today.

The cable television world of today is a multi billion dollar industry. With hundreds of channels offering a variety of programs and entertainment to cater to differing and diverse needs, it has become a mammoth service that is a far cry from the video based programming of yester years. In fact, the innovations in technology have enabled cable television to become the medium of choice for the delivery of modern day content such as video on demand, interactive telephony, and even high speed cable broadband internet services! Cable television is therefore no longer synonymous with video. It is a hub for entertainment, education and communication.