DirectV Satellite Service in Arizona
DirecTV is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service based in El Segundo, California, that transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in North America , South America and the rest of the world. DirecTV is owned by DirecTV Group, which is controlled by News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group.
Some History of DirecTV
In 1981, Stanley S. Hubbard founded United States Satellite Broadcasting. After 10 years of waiting for technology to catch up, Hubbard approached RCA Consumer Electronics and General Motors subsidiary Hughes Electronics to develop a new generation of digital satellite service capable of delivering 175 channels to a small 18" dish. The two agreed to jointly develop and launch the satellite which would carry two programming services: USSB and DirecTV.
In 1994, the USSB and DirecTV programming services were launched. Digital Equipment Corporation provided the customer-care out of their existing technical support center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
In 1998 DirecTV acquired USSB for $1.3 billion.
In 1999 DirecTV acquired PrimeStar for $1.83 billion.
In 2003, a merger with EchoStar, owner of Dish Network, fell through.
On December 22, 2003, General Motors sold controlling interest in Hughes Electronics to News Corporation.
On November 15, 2005, DirecTV stopped carrying Music Choice audio-only channels, replacing it with 72 channels of XM Satellite Radio.
