(Direct Broadcast Satellite) A one-way TV broadcast service from a communications satellite to a small round or oval dish antenna no larger than 20" in diameter. Using a highly compressed digital signal in the 11-15 GHz Ku-band, DBS offers every household in the country a service similar to cable TV. Prior to DBS, costly equipment and very large dishes were required, and tuning stations was complicated because content was available on multiple satellites.
DirecTV and USSB
Although DBS service existed in other countries, the first DBS in the U.S. was launched in 1994 by Hughes Electronics (DIRECTV) and Hubbard Broadcasting (USSB). DIRECTV and USSB were offered in 1994 using the DSS standard with equipment made by RCA and other manufacturers.
PrimeStar and EchoStar
Soon after, PrimeStar introduced a DBS service that included installation of its own equipment that was leased with the content. In 1995, EchoStar launched its first satellite and offers the Digital Sky Highway (DISH) network.
USSB and Primestar Became DIRECTV
Hughes acquired USSB and Primestar in 1998 and 1999, respectively and officially renamed its satellite fleet DIRECTV. In 2003, a proposed merger between DIRECTV and EchoStar never came to fruition.
