▁six ▁remaining ▁regional ▁super st ations ▁are ▁limited ▁to ▁distribution ▁via ▁D ish ▁Network ▁and ▁C - band ▁satellite ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁through ▁limited ▁distribution ▁on ▁cable ▁prov iders ▁in ▁their ▁associated ▁regions ▁of ▁the ▁U . S . ▁ ▁The ▁second ▁basic ▁cable ▁network , ▁the ▁first ▁to ▁operate ▁as ▁a ▁cable - origin ated ▁out let ▁and ▁the ▁first ▁such ▁network ▁to ▁be ▁u pl ink ed ▁via ▁satellite ▁from ▁launch ▁was ▁the ▁C B N ▁Sat ellite ▁Network , ▁launched ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 9 7 7 ▁by ▁te lev angel ist ▁Pat ▁Robert son ▁as ▁the ▁television ▁min istry ▁of ▁his ▁Christian ▁Broadcast ing ▁Network . ▁By ▁the ▁time ▁it ▁reform atted ▁as ▁the ▁C B N ▁C able ▁Network ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 1 , ▁it ▁ref oc used ▁towards ▁sec ular ▁family - orient ed ▁programming , ▁carrying ▁a ▁mix ▁of ▁r er uns ▁of ▁classic ▁television ▁series ▁and ▁feature ▁films ▁alongside ▁its ▁religious ▁programming . ▁The ▁network ▁changed ▁its ▁name ▁to ▁The ▁C B N ▁Family ▁Channel ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁( re vised ▁to ▁The ▁Family ▁Channel ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 0 , ▁after ▁C B N ▁sp un ▁it ▁off ▁into ▁the ▁indirect ly ▁related ▁International ▁Family ▁Entertainment ), ▁foc using ▁more ▁on ▁family ▁entertain ment ▁programs ▁and ▁reducing ▁reli ance ▁on ▁religious ▁programs ; ▁this ▁shift ▁towards ▁an ▁entertain ment ▁format ▁was ▁more ▁pron ounced ▁in ▁its ▁subsequent ▁formats ▁as ▁Fox ▁Family ▁( follow ing ▁its ▁ 1 9