Digital Television1989 - International Telecommunications Union established the first HDTV standards, based on digital packet transmission rather than analog wave transmission. 1990- The RCA dog Nipper was joined by a smaller canine companion named Chipper, who represented the semi-conductor-based future of digital consumer electronics. 1993 - Digital HDTV Grand Alliance was created to develop prototype digital high definition television equipment. Thomson introduced CinemaScreen, the first widescreen TV available in the U.S. (but analog, not yet digital). Thomson Consumer Electronics was created by the 1988 purchase of RCA and GE consumer electronics businesses from General Electric. 1994 - RCA Digital Satellite System (DSS) became North America's first high-power direct broadcast satellite (DBS) consumer television system, with DIRECTV, started by Hughes Electronics Corporation in 1990 in the Ku-band of the radio spectrum, and three Hughes HS 601 satellites relaying 200 channels to any 18-inch dish in North America. 1995 - Dec. 28, EchoStar launched its first Direct Broadcast Satellite, EchoStar I, and DISH (Digital Sky Highway) Network came to life on March 4, 1996. The EchoStar Communications Corporation was founded in 1980 by Charlie Ergen, his wife Candy Ergen and Jim DeFranco, to supply direct-to-home (DTH) television products in the large-dish C-band of the radio spectrum. EchoStar V was launched by International Launch Services September 23, 1999, and will begin Nov. 29 broadcasting local channels to 13 selected cities. 1996 - In December, the FCC approved HDTV standards proposed by the Advanced Television Standards Committee (ATSC) that was formed in 1983 to replace the analog standards of the NTSC. E...
