How does the cable company..?

Question

program a PPV in your tv

Answer 1

It's all done at the Cable Company's "Head End" where the signals originate.  Your cable box has an address, just like a computer.  When you buy a PPV, the box is given the codes to decode the PPV event and show it to you.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Your cable company records your request and sends a digital message over the cable to your cable box to enable it to receive and descramble the PPV signal so that you can watch the movie.