Telemeter was an American subscription television service developed by the International Telemeter Corporation, that operated from 1953 to 1967. Telemeter was used on a coin-to-box machine connected to any television set. When the right amount of money was deposited into the box, a scrambled signal sent through coaxial cables was unscrambled and rendered visible.
Overview During the late 1940s, the concept of coin-operated televisions appeared to be a revolutionary idea for the future. Various companies such as Covideo and Televista, alongside well-known brands like General Electric, emerged after World War II and created televisions that could be used with a pay-as-you-go system. These devices were primarily marketed for commercial use, including spaces such as hotels, hospital waiting rooms, laundromats, and airports, where individuals had some spare time to pass. The demand for these televisions in public areas was high, and they provided a convenient source of entertainment for people who were waiting for something or had some time to kill. The concept underlying the early coin-operated television technology was similar to that of a pay phone or a washing machine. To activate the TV, the viewer had to insert coins into a slot, which would grant them timed access to local TV stations. Initially, these coin-operated TVs were extremely profitable since America was still in the early stages of developing its national TV addiction, and people were willing to pay for the novelty of watching TV outside their homes. The success of these units in commercial locations led industry insiders to consider whether they could also be marketed for residential use. However, a significant question arose about how people would be persuaded to pay to watch TV in their homes when broadcast channels were already free. As it is now, the answer lies in offering premium content. By providing access to exclusive and high-quality content, people would be willing to pay to watch TV at home, just as they were willing to pay for coin-operated TVs outside their homes. RCA and Zenith, among other companies, explored the possibility of transmitting their distinctive shows via designated broadcast frequencies. In principle, this was a promising concept; however, in reality, it created a significant issue: the converters used to receive these broadcasts were causing interference with other signals. To remedy this problem, companies attempted to solve the issue by installing a coin-operated box, which ultimately made it nearly impossible to watch regular TV broadcasts. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), responsible for regulating all broadcast signals, whether free or paid, disapproved of this and refused to grant licenses to any new stations that caused interference with existing stations. In effect, the FCC was determined to ensure that viewers were able to watch television without any interference, whether from free or paid broadcasts. The entire landscape of pay-per-view TV was transformed by The International Telemeter Corporation, a small startup, through an innovative plan. Instead of using over-the-air broadcasting, the Telemeter devised a massive closed-circuit system. The coin-operated converter, equipped with a router, provided viewers with the option to select between broadcast channels and the closed circuit network transmitted through a wired coaxial connection. The new service featured three streaming channels that played unique programming on a 24-hour loop. Customers could receive a refreshed program schedule every week and deposit money directly into their Telemeter receiver to watch their preferred program. This groundbreaking concept paved the way for the future of pay-per-view TV, providing viewers with a more diverse range of choices and convenient payment options.
Paramount investment In May 1951, the International Telemeter Corporation received a huge boost when Paramount Pictures acquired a 50% stake in the company. Even though Paramount had no immediate plans to use Telemeter's system to promote its films, it deemed the investment to be highly valuable. Paramount's decision to invest in Telemeter not only provided financial support to the corporation, but also helped to establish the latter's reputation as a savvy investor, capable of recognizing opportunities with the potential for long-term growth and profitability. With this acquisition, Paramount demonstrated its confidence in the future of the burgeoning television industry and its belief that Telemeter could play an instrumental role in shaping the industry's future. Overall, this strategic move by Paramount signaled its commitment to staying ahead of the curve and investing in innovative technologies that would pave the way for its success in the years to come. Telemeter was a pay television method that differed from most early systems in that it did not rent out spectrum space. Instead, it utilized a wired connection to create a direct link between the subscriber and the television studio. This approach had the advantage of not interfering with traditional closed-spectrum television signals, as Telemeter used a closed circuit system that operated with a film chain. Subscribers had access to three channels that could be selected using a dial on the Telemeter box, which was installed at the television set. The box received scrambled signals that were transmitted onto low-VHF channels (typically channels 5 or 6) for descrambling. With Telemeter, customers could enjoy high-quality television programming without any disruption to other broadcast signals.
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