Method And Apparatus For Satellite Television Service With Alternate Delivery Capabilities

A computer-readable storage device having stored thereon computer readable instructions for transmitting a subject media content program to a premises equipment, wherein execution of the computer readable instructions by a processor causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

• receiving authentication information from the premises equipment indicating that the premises equipment is associated with a satellite service subscription and is further associated with a backup delivery service subscription designating a threshold minimum satellite reception quality level associated with a satellite transmission path to the premises equipment and further designating a backup media stream resolution associated with the premises equipment;
• transmitting to the premises equipment, via the satellite transmission path, the subject media content program;
• receiving a first message from the premises equipment indicating that a satellite reception quality level of the satellite transmission path is below the threshold minimum satellite reception quality level associated with the premises equipment, the first message including an identification of the subject media content program;
• in response to receiving the first message from the premises equipment and to receiving the authentication information, transmitting the subject media content program to the premises equipment using a terrestrial network, the transmitting being at the backup media stream resolution associated with the premises equipment;
• receiving a second message from the premises equipment indicating that the satellite reception quality level of the satellite transmission path is above the threshold minimum satellite reception quality level;
• and
• in response to receiving the second message from the premises equipment, discontinuing the transmitting of the subject media content program to the premises equipment using the terrestrial network.

A media content satellite distribution system comprising:

• a premises equipment,
• a media distribution network server including a processor;
• a satellite transmission connection connecting the media distribution network server with the premises equipment;
• a terrestrial network connecting the media distribution network server with the premises equipment;
• and
• a computer-readable storage device having stored thereon computer readable instructions for transmitting a subject media content program to the premises equipment, wherein execution of the computer readable instructions by a processor causes the processor to perform operations comprising:
• receiving authentication information from the premises equipment indicating that the premises equipment is associated with a satellite service subscription and is further associated with a backup delivery service subscription designating a threshold minimum satellite reception quality level associated with the satellite transmission connection to the premises equipment and further designating a backup media stream resolution associated with the premises equipment;
• transmitting to the premises equipment, via the satellite transmission connection, a plurality of media content programs including the subject media content program;
• receiving a first message from the premises equipment indicating that a satellite reception quality level of the satellite transmission connection is below the threshold minimum satellite reception quality level associated with the premises equipment, the first message including an identification of the subject media content program;
• in response to receiving the first message from the premises equipment and to receiving the authentication information, transmitting the subject media content program to the premises equipment using the terrestrial network, the transmitting being at the backup media stream resolution associated with the premises equipment;
• receiving a second message from the premises equipment indicating that the satellite reception quality level of the satellite transmission connection is above the threshold minimum satellite reception quality level;
• and
• in response to receiving the second message from the premises equipment, discontinuing the transmitting of the subject media content program to the premises equipment using the terrestrial network.