Here is a comprehensive summary of the article about cable television:

Cable television delivers broadcast programming via coaxial or fibre-optic cables, and it originated in the United States in 1948 as Community Antenna Television (CATV) to serve rural areas where geography blocked over-the-air signals. Its popularity surged dramatically, growing from just 6.4% of U.S. households in 1968 to 62.4% by 1994. Originally an analog system, cable has been upgraded to digital cable since the late 1990s, enabling high-definition television (HDTV) as well as bundled services like FM radio, high-speed internet, and telephone. To watch most modern channels, subscribers need a set-top box or conditional access card because the digital signals are encrypted to prevent theft, though older analog TVs can often tune in unencrypted basic networks directly. The physical infrastructure relies on standard RG-6 coaxial cables and splitters, which connect from utility poles or underground lines to individual jacks in a home, making it a strictly wired alternative to terrestrial and satellite TV.