What DBS services are available today?
Five companies currently offer all-digital DBS services in the U.S. with their services called Primestar, DIRECTV, USSB, DISH Network, and Sky Angel. Primestar is offered by a group of Cable TV companies and operates from conventional satellites using 27-36 inch dishes. Primestar has been very successful logging about two million subscribers and capturing over 30% of the DBS market to date, although their growth has slowed somewhat lately. DIRECTV, Inc. which is a subsidiary of Hughes Communications offers a service called DIRECTV which operates from specially designed High Powered DBS satellites receivable with 18 inch dishes. DIRECTV is considered the premier DBS service in the U.S. today acquiring over three million subscribers since starting in 1994 which is over half of the DBS market. The United States Satellite Broadcasting Company (USSB) has partnered with DIRECTV to deliver a complimentary 25 channel premium movie service which use the same satellites and reception systems and
