logging in- We don't have the exact particulars of each deal TFN has with each cable/satellite carrier... but I believe most of the deals are revenue sharing deals.... where the carrier would get X% of all subscriptions fees from the consumer.
logging in, I think you are referring to the free time customers get to watch TFN on their carrier. When the free time is up, the customer has to pay for access, like when HBO has a free weekend, but to have it permanently you have to pay a monthly fee. I don't know if TFN has to pay the carrier anything for that customer free time. It could be that the carrier and TFN work together because they both get money from paying customers.