卫星电视（简称卫视）即使通过接收人造卫星转播过来的电视信号节目的电视广播方式。卫星电视的传输过程一般为：通过卫星将地面基站发射的微波信号远距离传输，最终用户使用定向天线将接收的信号通过解码器解码后输出到电视终端收视的一整套过程。其他常见的广播方式有地面电视和有线电视。

早期的微波信号为模拟信号，常常需要很大的天线来接收。90年代后期起数字信号渐渐成为主流，现在模拟信号大多已经淘汰。而数字信号又分为C,Ku两种波段传输，因为很多原因现在越来越多的运营商更趋于选择Ku段。而加密方式各运营商也有不同选择，华人运营商多选择法国电信、Conax、南瓜Nagra等加密方式。

Satellite television is – according to article 1.39 of the International Telecommunication Union´s (ITU) ITU Radio Regulations (RR) – a Broadcasting-satellite service.

It is delivering television programming using signals relayed from space radio stations (e.g. DVB satellites). The signals are received via an outdoor parabolic reflector antenna usually referred to as a satellite dish and a low-noise block downconverter (LNB). A satellite receiver then decodes the desired television programme for viewing on a television set. Receivers can be external set-top boxes, or a built-in television tuner. Satellite television provides a wide range of channels and services, especially to geographic areas without terrestrial television or cable television.