Abstract: This invention discloses an entertainment system for providing entertainment to a user thereof, the system including an entertainment source for providing entertainment in a distributable form, entertainment distribution apparatus for distributing the entertainment and a plurality of entertainment delivery units, each entertainment delivery unit including receiving apparatus for receiving the entertainment from the entertainment source via the entertainment distribution apparatus, wherein at least one of the plurality of entertainment delivery units includes personalization apparatus adapted to receive a removable personalization element including personalization information, and the at least one of the plurality of entertainment units personalizes the entertainment based on the personalization information, and the personalization information includes at least one of the following: entertainment preference information; gaming information; and telecommunications information.

Abstract: A subscriber unit for use with a program guide selection system is described. The program guide selection system provides program guide information which is communicated over a communication network and includes operating characteristics of a communication system and selection codes which are associated with the operating characteristics of the communication system.

Abstract: A pay television system including a pay television network and a subscriber unit which receives pay television transmissions via the pay television network and displays the pay television transmissions on televisions coupled thereto. The subscriber unit includes at least two pay television decoders, wherein a first decoder includes a first card reader and a second decoder includes a second card reader. The system also includes a first smart card which is operative, upon insertion in a first slot in the first card reader, to activate decoding of the pay television transmissions in the first decoder and a second smart card which is operative, upon insertion in a second slot in the second card reader, to activate decoding of the pay television transmissions in the second decoder. The second smart card deactivates in accordance with predetermined criteria and reactivates upon insertion in the first slot in the first card reader after removal of the first smart card from the first card reader.

Abstract: A subscriber unit for use with a program guide selection system is described. The program guide selection system provides program guide information which is communicated over a communication network and includes operating characteristics of a communication system and selection codes which are associated with the operating characteristics of the communication system.

Abstract: A pay television gaming system including a pay television network having a multiplicity of subscriber units each including a television, receiving apparatus for receiving gaming inputs from the multiplicity of subscriber units, transmitting apparatus for transmitting to the multiplicity of subscriber units information relating to gaming results and accounting apparatus for settling gaming debts and winnings via the pay television network. Other services, such as shopping may be provided.