Abstract: Systems and methods that monitor part-time transponder usage in real time. A satellite carries one or more part-time usage transponders and a ground station communicates with the transponders. A satellite receiver at the ground station processes transponder signals to output a baseband video signal when present and a noise signal when the video signal is not present. An integrated receiver-decoder at the ground station processes the transponder signal to output an analog video signals comprising constant video black line, synchronization, tip and color burst signals, when no signal is present at the input thereof.