Vod service for a lesser fee with supplementary advertisements

Abstract

A method for providing media to a user via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable media services server device includes receiving user input requesting on-screen comments to be provided with a media presentation and providing the user with a media presentation along with comments related to the media presentation.

1 . A method implemented by a set-top terminal (STT), comprising:
 providing a selectable option to enable reception of a second video stream corresponding to an advertisement during presentation of a video-on-demand (VOD) program in exchange for a lesser fee;   receiving from a server via a tuner in the STT a first plurality of streams corresponding to the VOD program, said first plurality of streams including an audio stream, a first video stream corresponding to a main view of the VOD program, and the second video stream; and   compositing for output the first plurality of streams.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the advertisement is specific to products observable to a viewer on a display communicatively coupled to the STT while viewing the presentation of the VOD program. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the advertisement is displayed concurrently to an interval of time when at least a portion of a video scene is directed specifically to a product corresponding to the advertisement. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the advertisement is presented in a format of a graphical pop-up. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second video stream includes multiple advertisements that are presented according to multiple non-overlapping time intervals during the presentation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a location of the advertisement on a screen is specified. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compositing is implemented in conjunction with a graphics buffer.