The history of satellite TV begins on July 10, 1962, when Telstar 1 was launched from a rocket; it immediately sent the first signals across the Atlantic between North America and Europe. Besides television signals, this satellite transmitted phone calls and faxes. Less than a year later its twin, Telstar 2, was launched. One of the first TV shows broadcast by satellite was a baseball match between the Chicago Cubs and the Philadelphia Phillies. Some time later, the spacecraft broadcast President Kennedy making a speech about the value of the dollar. Unfortunately, the Telstar 1 went out of service less than a year after its launch, due to irreparable damage from a high- altitude bomb being tested by the Soviets. Newer Telstar satellites were made in the succeeding years, however; the most recent being 14 in June 2004.
In 1965, Intelstat 1 (the “Early Bird”) became the first commercial communications satellite. It provided more direct contact between Europe and North America than the Telstar did, and it was also used to help the Apollo astronauts in 1969. In 1967, the EB and several other satellites were used to put on the special “Our World,” in which the Beatles made appearance.