CONUS Communications Pioneering Satellite Newsgathering

CONUS Communications was a pioneering American company that revolutionized the way local television stations gathered and shared news. Operating from 1984 until 2002, the company specialized in the sale of satellite trucks for remote television newsgathering and established a cooperative news exchange that empowered local stations to operate independently of major networks.

History and the Newstar Technology

Founded in 1984 by Stanley E. Hubbard of Hubbard Broadcasting, CONUS (an acronym for "continental United States") was designed as a cooperative to make satellite newsgathering (SNG) affordable for individual television stations. By leveraging the Newstar technology developed by KSTP-TV in St. Paul, Minnesota, CONUS allowed stations to bypass traditional microwave links, which were limited to a roughly 30-mile range.

The Newstar vehicles utilized Ku band uplinks, enabling live reports from significantly greater distances. For example, a pilot vehicle successfully fed coverage of a murder trial in Ivanhoe, Minnesota, from 150 miles away. Hubbard viewed this technology as a way for local stations to break free from the editorial influence of the three major networks in New York.

Growth and Network Competition

The cooperative grew rapidly, starting with four initial stations—including KSTP-TV, KOB-TV, KRON-TV, and WBTV—and expanding to 34 stations by January 1986. This growth prompted major networks to react. ABC, CBS, and NBC launched their own newsgathering cooperatives, such as ABC NewsOne, to ensure their affiliates remained dependent on network resources rather than turning to CONUS.

Despite the competition, CONUS became a vital tool for direct station-to-station sharing. During the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, CONUS members shared live reports across the United States and even with Japan's Fuji Television, demonstrating the power of a decentralized news exchange.

Diversification of Services

Beyond the news exchange, CONUS expanded its offerings to include several specialized services:

• CONUS Washington Direct: Launched in 1985, this service provided live coverage of White House press briefings and other D.C.-based events.
• TV Direct: A partnership with the Associated Press (launched in 1986) that provided a comprehensive newsfeed package.
• CONUS Satellite Services: A division that provided satellite time and facilities for corporate clients, political candidates, and sports organizations like the NBA and Fox Sports.

All News Channel and First Business

In 1989, CONUS partnered with Viacom Network Enterprises to launch the All News Channel, a television network modeled after all-news radio. Additionally, the company produced the syndicated program First Business and expanded internationally by acquiring Phoenix Television Ltd. in London in 1999.

The Decline and Shutdown

By the late 1990s, the landscape of newsgathering shifted. The emergence of competing services, such as CNN Newsource, and the evolving costs of satellite technology led many stations to reconsider their investment in the cooperative. After nearly two decades of influencing the technical and editorial independence of local news, CONUS ceased operations in 2002.