Here was an interesting post on RB...:
Loral Skynet Information
It appears Loral SkyNet is the first half of the TTN distribution equation.
First the signal must leave Palm Springs, and must reach the wholesale distributor - whether that be a cable system on Long Island or San Francisco, or the DISH Network system.
Secondly, a wholesale distributor, such as your local cable system, or DISH or DirectTV, then must agree to make it available to their customers.
Again, Loral appears to take care of the first half of the problem. Here's some info from their site:
"Telstar 7
129° W
Coverage: Continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, into Canada and Latin America.
Markets: Full digital capacity serving a robust broadcast and syndication neighborhood anchored by Time Warner Cable; host to SNG, data, business television, Internet, direct-to-home and other value-added services."
loralskynet.com
"PLAYBOY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC. TO DISTRIBUTE PROGRAMMING USING LORAL SKYNET'S TELSTAR 7 SATELLITE
BEDMINSTER, N.J. - July 24, 2001 - Loral Skynet today announced that Playboy Entertainment Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Playboy Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: PLA), has selected the Telstar 7 satellite to distribute its Playboy, Vivid and Spice Network programming to 20 million U.S. cable households. Loral Skynet is a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications (NYSE: LOR).
Playboy joins Loral Skynet's Cable Zone(SM) on the Telstar 7 satellite, where cable programmers benefit from co-locating programming with such content providers as Time Warner Cable's AthenaTV, A&E Television Networks, OlympuSAT programming, InDemand pay-per-view services and HBO HDTV. Telstar 7, located at 129 degrees West longitude, carries 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders, covering the US, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and into Canada and Latin America.
"As our networks and programming increase, Loral Skynet will keep all of our networks transmitting from their state-of-the-art satellites," said Jim English, president, Playboy Entertainment Group, Inc. "There is value added to the cable operators as well as consumers with the Loral Global Alliance and Playboy TV is happy to be a part of the entertainment menu they will be offering."
loralskynet.com
Also, it doesn't sound like a home CBand satellite dish will pick up the signal. Loral is offering free antenna updates to cable companies to receive the Telsat 7 signal:
"LORAL SKYNET OFFERS ANTENNA-SEEDING PROGRAM FOR GROWING CABLE ZONE
Free Antennas for Qualifying Cable Operators to Receive Programming from Telstar 7 and Telstar 13 Cable Satellites
BEDMINSTER, NJ – JUNE 12, 2001 – Loral Skynet today announced an antenna seeding program for its Telstar 7 satellite that will provide cable operators access to the premier programming available on the satellite, enhancing their consumer cable package. Beginning immediately, Skynet will provide free antennas or feed horn kits to qualified cable operators. This easy-to-use antenna program will be expanded to the next Loral satellite that will cater to cable operators - Telstar 13 - when it enters service next year. Loral Skynet is a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications (NYSE: LOR).
From Telstar 7, cable operators can receive premium content that includes Time Warner Cable’s AthenaTV, A&E Television Networks, OlympuSAT programming, InDemand pay-per-view services, HBO HDTV and Playboy Television. Through Loral Skynet’s previous antenna seeding efforts, used by A&E, Time Warner and InDemand, programming on the Telstar 7 satellite now reaches an audience of approximately 30 million viewers. "
loralskynet.com
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