Abstract: The resources of a remote device such as a head end device are used for storage of viewer preference data. An agent in a set-top box communicates with a server agent at the remote device to transmit viewer preference data from the set-top box to the server, and from the server to the set-top box. The remote device stores viewer preference data for each set-top box associated with the remote device. The remote device also communicates with a web server that hosts a preference modification application. Viewers may modify their viewer preference data through the internet using the preference modification application, and changes to the viewer preference data are communicated from the web server to the remote device and from the remote device to the set top box. Processing of program and segment metadata using the viewer preference data may be performed in the remote device or in the set-top box.