Abstract: A video on demand server includes a video pump an ad management system interface to disable fast forwarding during commercials and allow fast forwarding during play of content. A playlist generator configures the disabling and allowing of fast forwarding and compiles the playlist from (a) separately provided breakpoints for the commercials during presentation of the content, and (b) an ad map including trick mode instructions that define commands for enabling and disabling trickmode during presentation of the commercials.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, advertisements may be inserted into ongoing content using predefined break points within that content. For example, the break points may be defined by times within the content and specify advantageous situations for the interruption of the ongoing content and the insertion of commercials. In some embodiments, conditions may be placed on the activities which may occur during the playback of commercials, including the disabling of fast forwarding. In addition, commercials may be automatically inserted in the predetermined content break point based on user provided criteria. In some embodiments, the user criteria may be applicable generally to all assets and, in other cases, the user criteria may be specific to a particular asset, but, in both cases, in some embodiments, the advertisements may be populated within the content automatically.