In late 2002, a reorganization of Conus Communications, a limited partnership owned primarily by St. Paul-based Hubbard Broadcasting, resulted in the closing of some of the company's business units. Three former employees of Conus successfully purchased the Production and Satellite Services Division and ARCTEK HD was born.

But the history of ARCTEK and the services it provides goes way beyond just the employee-purchase of the division...

In the early 1980s, Stanley S. Hubbard and his son Stan E. Hubbard II believed that the advent of Ku-band satellites could provide journalists at television stations throughout America a powerful tool to extend their live capability, and in fact, their editorial thought process, beyond the short range of their microwave transmitters. A small team headed by Ray Conover and George Orgera was assembled to create the world's first satellite newsgathering truck.

With a working prototype in hand, Hubbard Broadcasting established CONUS Communications in 1984, dedicated to helping television stations nationwide, and ultimately worldwide, gather and share news in a way that eliminated geographical boundaries from editorial coverage decisions.

Conus One was the first addition to the Production and Satellite Services fleet after it was formed in 1986. It was believed that the small Ku-band satellite trucks could be used in a variety of commercial and broadcast production applications.

In 1987 all three networks would only consider using Ku-band transmissions for short live inserts into news programs or as backup.

Stanley S. Hubbard was asked to participate in a panel discussion on the use of Ku-band technology that year. Unable to attend in person, Mr. Hubbard asked Conus to take charge of linking him live via satellite to the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles.

Technicians traveled to LA with a suitcase size receive dish and the necessary equipment to establish the link. They rented a 40-foot screen and video projector and installed it on the stage next to a distinguished panel of network executives, one of which was the late Julius Barnathan, ABC's Senior Vice President of Engineering. Each panelist was asked to deliver opening commentary and opinion on the use of Ku-band satellite technology and how it was being applied to their business. Mr. Barnathan spoke immediately before Mr. Hubbard and emphatically stated, "The signal quality was not up to ABC's high technical standards." As soon as Mr. Barnathan ended his commentary, Mr. Hubbard's crystal clear image from Minneapolis was switched on to the 40-foot screen. It towered over the panel and Mr. Hubbard had the sense of mind to look down at the floor, which made him appear as if he was looking at Mr. Barnathan, and said " Well Jules, how do I look?" The audience roared and it wasn't long after that experience that Ku-band began to gain acceptance among the major networks.

By the end of that year, Conus Production and Satellite Services was doing regular feeds for ABC's Good Morning America. By 1989, Conus Production and Satellite Service's biggest client was ESPN Sports and the division was operating 5 trucks.