Final answer:
A satellite television system includes communications satellites and satellite dish antennas. The dish antennas receive TV signals sent from orbit and are tuned to resonate at specific frequencies of the microwaves used for communication, which allows for the transmission of a large amount of information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The satellite television system requires several components to function properly. Among these components, the correct answer to what it includes, apart from communications satellites, is D. satellite dish antennas. These antennas are designed to receive TV signals sent from orbit. Despite the weakness of the signals, satellite dishes can detect them by resonating at the specific frequencies of the electromagnetic waves that carry the data. This concept is illustrated by the fact that satellite dishes like the one at Kennedy Space Center use microwaves for communication due to their high frequencies, which are suitable for transmitting more information per unit of time.
Thus, the satellite dish antennas, with their capability to focus the signal onto an antenna, are crucial for receiving the satellite-transmitted information. It is important to highlight that a clear line of sight is required between the transmitter and receiver due to the short wavelengths of microwaves used in these transmissions.