tandards. An antenna was used to pick up the broadcast signals. Coaxial cable was used to run these signals through an amplifier, and "the amplified signals were then delivered to subscriber homes by more cable" (MacDonald, 1990, p. 224). With improvements in technology, the role of cable television changed. For example, the use of satellites has enabled cable companies to provide a broader variety of channels and programs. Because of this factor, cable TV stopped being focused on simply providing broadcast programming to hard-to-reach areas. Instead, it became an alternative to regular broadcast television for all people, regardless of their location. During the 1970's and 1980's, the cable industry grew at a rapid pace. More channels, as well as a wider variety of programs, were made available to consumers. The popularity of the cable market grew with each new technological innovation. Many of these innovations were designed to improve the quality of cable transmissions. For example, digital technology and fiber optics provide better images than earlier cable systems were capable of. Some innovations are designed for potential new applications in everyday life. For example, there have been experiments with interactive cable, a system which allows two-way communications between the television station and the home consumer.
One of the most important innovations in cable television has been the creation of original programming. This programming provides an entertaining alternative to the shows that the broadcast networks offer. When it was first developed, cable television concentrated on showing the same things that the broadcast stations were showing. Later, cable TV began to provide more exclusive types of programming. For example, some cable channels began offering exclusive sporting events. Another example can be seen in Home Box Office (HBO), a cable channel which originated in the early 1970's for the purpose ...