In July 1987 British Satellite Broadcasting Ltd. (BSB), selected Hughes Space and Communications Company, today known as Boeing Satellite Development Center, to design and build two Hughes 376 satellites for the first television direct broadcast service (DBS) in the United Kingdom. Key to the BSB direct broadcast scheme was having a satellite with enough power to be received by very small (35cm/13.5 inch diameter), low-cost dishes, thereby making DBS both environmentally friendly and affordable for the public. Each satellite was equipped with three 110-watt channels. With a footprint that covered the United Kingdom, the satellites broadcast a mix of news, sports, current affairs, light entertainment, children's daytime TV, and a subscription nighttime movie channel.