Multimedia content distribution management

A computer-readable storage device comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform operations including:

• receiving multimedia content from a communications network;
• superimposing a heartbeat signal on an alternating current electrical power signal associated with an electrical wiring system of a customer premises;
• encoding the multimedia content based on the heartbeat signal to produce encoded multimedia content;
• and
• wirelessly transmitting the encoded multimedia content to a device.

A set-top box device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to perform operations comprising:
• receiving encoded multimedia content wirelessly transmitted from a communications gateway;
• extracting a heartbeat signal from alternating current received via an electrical wiring system, wherein the communications gateway superimposed the heartbeat signal on the alternating current;
• and
• decoding the encoded multimedia content based on the heartbeat signal.