Direct broadcast satellite on Ku band using small 18" dishes has been quite common in the U.K. for a good few years. It no doubt became popular due to the fact that cable TV systems are nothing like as commonplace as in the U.S., and in fact have only really started to appear in the largest of cities in the last few years.
Trumpy,
In case you didn't realize this, when looking at how much anyone in the States pays for cable/satelite subscriptions, remember that they have no TV license as exists in many European countries (and NZ???).
