United States Patent for Subscription Television Decoder Unit, June 27, 1961
Add to SetSummary
Phonevision, the first subscription television system, allowed people to watch popular Hollywood films at home. To order a film, viewers called an operator, who would send a signal over the telephone and into a descrambling unit on top of the television. While a few extra steps were involved, Phonevision was similar to today's web-based "on-demand" streaming services.
Phonevision, the first subscription television system, allowed people to watch popular Hollywood films at home. To order a film, viewers called an operator, who would send a signal over the telephone and into a descrambling unit on top of the television. While a few extra steps were involved, Phonevision was similar to today's web-based "on-demand" streaming services.
Artifact
Patent
Date Made
27 June 1961
Subject Date
27 June 1961
Creators
Keywords
Collection Title
On Exhibit
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Object ID
90.1.1746.25
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Mel Boldt and Associates.
Material
Paper (Fiber product)
Technique
Printing (Process)
Color
Black-and-white (Colors)
Dimensions
Height: 11.25 in
Width: 7.875 in
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