How Does Cable TV Work?

A C-Band satellite dish

From the network to the cable company

Cable companies receive programming using two different methods. Stations located near a cable company, including broadcast channels and cable channels located in major cities, will transmit their signal using a fiberoptic network of cable. This provides a high quality, digital signal without the delay of satellite transmission. Channels like ESPN or CNN rely on satellite for the distribution of their signal. They bounce their signal off a satellite, which is transmitted to a satellite dish owned by the cable company.

From event to network

In the case of a sporting or news event, an extra step is added. A live event is filmed and produced onsite. A mobile satellite truck will transmit the signal to a satellite, which bounces the signal back to the originating network for distribution. The signal is then sent back to the satellite and picked up by cable companies.

From the cable company to your dwelling

The cable company scrambles its signal, to prevent theft of signal, and sends it out on a network of cables. The signal is amplified by a series of boosters that are geographically located in a community. These boosters prevent loss of signal and keeps the electric current on the cable at full capacity. Many urban and suburban structures are wired for cable and have lines which run from the building to a pole at the street.

From the line to your television

The line that connects to your dwelling comes in on the perimeter and is split through your home our apartment building. In the case where there are more than four users, the signal generally is amplified with a smaller in-home booster. Cable companies have the ability to add and subtract cable channels to your home from their headquarters without making a visit. This includes sending a signal to your cable converter box that unscrambles a signal for a premium-level movie channel. From the converter box, a cable connects to your television, which completes the connection from network to your television.