An end-to-end global distribution system that can produce and deliver live
content as well as pre-recorded content and other content, to commercial
passenger aircraft via a satellite and ground-based infrastructure. The
content can include live television, pre-recorded content, advertisements
as well as other content such as software applications, internet material,
etc. The delivered content can be tailored based on distribution criteria
such as airline, aircraft, origin and destination, flight number, cabin
class, and others. Such system can be advertiser-supported and include
targeted and distribution specific advertisements. Furthermore, access to
the content can be controlled by various conditional access parameters at
the server level, to various aircraft zones, and at the passenger level.