Industry Information about Cable TVThe cable television industry was created in the United States during the late 1940s to serve small communities incapable of receiving conventional television signals due to awkward topography or physical distance from television stations. Cable TV also provided better television reception to isolated areas. Cable systems placed their antennas in areas where reception was excellent, picked up broadcast signals, and then transmitted them by cable for a fee to subscribers. Recent Trends in Cable TVThe cable industry continued moderately well during the early 2000s. Figures from the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) reveal that subscriber service revenues increased from $40.9 billion in 2000 to $43.5 billion in 2001 and $49.4 billion in 2002. Cable TV in Charlotte is representative to Time Warner Cable; one of the industry leaders in cable television, as well as Pittsburgh Cable TV for Adelphia Communications. For example, by 2002 the top five cable companies were Comcast Corp., with 21.6 million subscribers; Time Warner Cable (10.9 million); Charter Communications (6.7 million); Cox Communications (6.3 million); and Adelphia Communications (5.8 million).Businesses in This CategoryThis industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in the dissemination of television programs on a subscription or bill basis. The industry is mainly engaged in the focus of cable casting and produce taped program materials.