Premium channel promotion system and method

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a television schedule guide which includes a detector for determining whether a previously scrambled program is unscrambled. If a previously scrambled program is momentarily unscrambled due to promotional efforts by the program provider, the system will visually distinguish the program on the guide, and a viewer may tune to or record the program from the guide. The view may also subscribe to the program provider through the guide during the promotional period.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method for promoting a premium content service, the method comprising:
 receiving a plurality of program listings for a plurality of programs, including a   program listing for a program of the plurality of programs, wherein the program is a restricted-access program;   determining that access to the program is no longer restricted during a promotional time period;   determining that the promotional time period has ended;   in response to determining that the promotional time period has ended, generating for display a promotion that provides the user with an option to subscribe to the premium content service, wherein subscription to the premium content service allows the user to access the program; and   based on the user subscribing to the premium content service, providing the user access to the program.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising visually distinguishing the promotion generated for display from the plurality of program listings in response to determining that the promotional time period has ended. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein generating for display the promotion includes generating for display the plurality of program listings including the program listing for the program. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, in response to determining that the promotional time period has ended, positioning the program listing for the program in closer proximity to the promotion than to other program listings of the plurality of program listings. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising ordering, in response to determining that the promotional time period has ended, the plurality of program listings to position the program listing for the program above other program listings of the plurality of program listings. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising ordering, in response to determining that the promotional time period has ended, the plurality of program listings to position the program listing for the program below other program listings of the plurality of program listings. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 in response to determining that the promotional time period has ended, receiving a user input requesting subscription to the premium content service; and   providing access to at least a subset of the plurality of programs corresponding to the premium content service.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein receiving a plurality of program listings for a plurality of programs further comprises:
 receiving a data stream from a server including program information data for the program of the plurality of programs, the program being associated with:
 a first indicator indicating that the program is a restricted-access program, 
 a second indicator indicating that the program is associated with a promotional time period, and 
 a third indicator indicating the duration of the promotional time period. 
   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising determining, based on the second indicator, that access to the program of the plurality of programs is no longer restricted during the promotional time period. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising determining, based on the third indicator, that the promotional time period has ended. 
     
     
         23 . A system for promoting a premium content service, the system comprising:
 control circuitry configured to:
 receive a plurality of program listings for a plurality of programs, including a program listing for a program of the plurality of programs, wherein the program is a restricted-access program; 
 determine that access to the program is no longer restricted during a promotional time period; 
 determine that the promotional time period has ended; 
 in response to determining that the promotional time period has ended, generate for display a promotion that provides the user with an option to subscribe to the premium content service, wherein subscription to the premium content service allows the user to access the program; and 
 based on the user subscribing to the premium content service, providing the user access to the program. 
   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to visually distinguish the promotion generated for display from the plurality of program listings in response to determining that the promotional time period has ended. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the control circuitry configured to generate for display the promotion is further configured to generate for display the plurality of program listings including the program listing for the program. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to position, in response to determining that the promotional time period has ended, the program listing for the program in closer proximity to the promotion than to other program listings of the plurality of program listing. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to order, in response to determining that the promotional time period has ended, the plurality of program listings to position the program listing for the program above other program listings of the plurality of program listings. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to order, in response to determining that the promotional time period has ended, the plurality of program listings to position the program listing for the program below other program listings of the plurality of program listings. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 in response to determining that the promotional time period has ended, receive a first user input requesting subscription to a premium content service; and   provide access to at least a subset of the plurality of programs corresponding to the premium content service.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein control circuitry configured to receive a plurality of program listings for a plurality of programs is further configured to:
 receive a data stream from a server including program information data for a program of the plurality of programs, the program being associated with:
 a first indicator indicating that the program is a restricted-access program, 
 a second indicator indicating that the program is associated with a promotional time period, and 
 a third indicator indicating the duration of the promotional time period. 
   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein control circuitry determines that access to the program of the plurality of programs is no longer restricted during the promotional time period based on the second indicator. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein control circuitry determines that the promotional time period has ended based on the third indicator. 
     
     
         33 . A method for promoting a premium content service, the method comprising:
 receiving a data stream from a server including program information data for a program, the program being associated with:
 a first indicator indicating that the program is a restricted-access program, 
 a second indicator indicating that the program is associated with a promotional time period, and 
 a third indicator indicating the duration of the promotional time period, 
   receiving a video stream of the program from the server;   determining, based on the first indicator, that the program is a restricted-access program;   determining, based on the second indicator, that access to the program is no longer restricted during the promotional time period;   determining, based on the third indicator, that the promotional time period has ended;   in response to determining that the promotional time period has ended, generating for display a promotion that provides the user with an option to subscribe to the premium content service, wherein subscription to the premium content service allows the user to access the program; and   based on the user subscribing to the premium content service, providing the user access to the program.