Abstract: Advertising templates, and request for corresponding multimedia programs that are available for distribution to third parties during a time period, are transmitted to content providers who respond by sending ad elements corresponding to the advertising templates. Daypart guides showing particular ad elements are designed for a particular headend and daypart. Each daypart guide is available to viewers serviced by the particular headend only during the time of day corresponding to the daypart. Viewers of the daypart guide select one of the ad elements each of which is navigationally linked to a display request page for the corresponding multimedia program from which the viewer can request to initiate a real time distribution thereof.

Abstract: Each transmission received from a video asset owner includes information regarding a video asset that is available for real time distribution during a future time period to third parties. Following a selection from among the video assets, the corresponding video asset owners receive transmissions requesting the selected video assets and one or more initial templates. The video asset owners transmit final templates that conform to the initial templates and contain information descriptive of the video assets. Each final template, and the corresponding video asset, is transmitted to predetermined network resource, such as a headend, at a predetermined time corresponding to the future time period of availability. The predetermined network resource can then distribute video assets to viewers that were requested from the corresponding video storefront by viewers.

Abstract: A digital video switching apparatus has a matrix switch which receives a plurality of input video signals and connects certain of the input video signals as outputs thereof. The input video signals can be externally supplied or can be internally generated by video processors within the switching apparatus. The connection of certain of the input video signals as outputs of the matrix switch is determined by a plurality of first switch signals. The first switch signals are generated by a selection circuit. The selection circuit receives a plurality of second switch signals and in response thereto generates the first switch signals. A plurality of user activatable switches generate the plurality of second switch signals. A plurality of displays is associated with the user activatable switches and displays the functions of the associated user switch.