If it was emitting on 121.5 MHz, then why was it first
picked-up by a satellite, as opposed to the dozens of
aircraft that would have been passing overhead in the
time before the satellite passed over ? The Truth !! -
as filtered through journalism students sigh.

"Benton"
Makes perfect sense. The US and Russia have
Sarsat/Cospas satellites that monitor international
distress frequencies (121.5, 234.0, 406 MHz) and
alert regional search centers. This system can detect
and report much faster than random aircraft monitoring
enroute. See
www.faa.gov/ATpubs/AIM/Chap6/aim0602.html.

The malfunctioning TV was reportedly 'transmitting' on 121.5 MHz. Detecting
121.5 MHz by satellite is done from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and depends upon
waiting for a satellite pass (typically several hours - not
instantaneously). I would have thought that there was more air traffic
(airplanes) over Oregon than that - most places have lots of airplanes
passing overhead nearly constantly.

Perhaps it was his exact location and blockage by mountains. Maybe the
timing was coincidental. OK then...