Abstract: A system for automatically tuning to a channel based on an event includes a tuner to tune to a first channel, an event table to associate an event with a second channel, and event detector to detect the event and to instruct the tuner to tune to the second channel in response to the event.

Abstract: A mini-TV or picture-in-graphic (PIG) window within a digital video recorder (DVR) menu may be repurposed after one or more activities, such as watching a digitally-recorded program, to display content other than live television content on a channel that was being tuned to before the one or more activities.

Abstract: The ticker for an interactive television system has navigational features, including a feature to lock elements of the ticker topics dynamically from the display screen while the ticker is being presented and without the need to navigate to a static preferences screen. This allows the user to view only ticker elements of interest, where the ticker loops through a specific category, subcategory, or item only. Locked ticker elements are readily re-included without the use of a static preferences screen by performing additional navigation.

Abstract: The ticker for an interactive television system has user-customizable features, including a feature to exclude ticker topics dynamically from the display screen while the ticker is being presented and without the need to navigate to a static preferences screen. This allows the user to view only ticker items of interest. Excluded ticker topics are readily re-included without the use of a static preferences screen. Navigation and scrolling controls are used to customize the ticker presentation for the non-excluded ticker topics. Finer granularity of user customization within a topic itself is provided, including an ability to change modes or add content to a ticker. Implicit profiling is used in one implementation to customize the ticker by collecting viewer behavior data.

Abstract: A reviewer edits a media program stored in digital form. Such “editing” does not directly change the media program; rather, editing information is stored in a separate meta data file. The reviewer can be a person or an automated system. The meta data can include supplemental content, indicia defining highlight segments, skipped-over segments, content categorization, etc. The meta data files can be distributed to other users via various networks, or manually, including a decentralized, peer-to-peer network or a centralized, client-server network.