Satellite communications II: Television for everyone: Low-cost Earth stations that can select from a broad menu of satellite broadcasts are sought

Sometime in the 1980s-perhaps as early as 1984-television programs relayed by satellite will be received by small, inexpensive Earth stations mounted on the houses of viewers or antennas in their local communities. Viewers will be able to choose from at least five new TV channels and, in some areas, as many as 20 or 30. The projected European satellite broadcasting service will use geostationary satellites to relay TV and sound signals from Earth transmitters to Earth receivers. Unlike conventional satellite communications systems, the new TV satellite system will not use large, expensive receiver antennas, but small (about 1 m diameter fixed parabolic dishes on buildings.