The start of pay television was in the 70's, hand in hand with the U.S. group Time launched HBO. In the 80 expanded in Europe this new form of television delivered by satellite or cable, which allows to choose the programming to their subscribers in exchange for a monthly fee.

Later, spreads the pay per view, namely the subscriber pays for product consumed a film, a documentary history, a football match, and so on. Actual almost all pay-TV offering the combined product, that is packaged television services along with Internet access and telephony.

The operation is technically simple, part of a television station that sends a coded signal to the subscriber's decoder. This device decodes the signal and allows the vision of the programmes. The contents offered are very varied and are aimed at specific audiences, there are channels specializing in sports, history, cinema, fashion, etc..