Automatic return to a high-definition mode after guide demonstration

1. A television system, comprising:

an input for receiving signals including video content from one or more external sources, said signals being in one of a lower definition format and a higher definition format;

circuitry for enabling display of said video content in one of a lower definition mode and a higher definition mode of said television system;

circuitry for switching said television system between said lower definition mode and said higher definition mode;

a memory for storing video content corresponding to an electronic program guide demonstration; and

wherein said television system automatically switches from said higher definition mode to said lower definition mode in response to an activation of said electronic program guide demonstration while said signals received at said input are in said higher definition format and not in said lower definition format, and automatically switches back from said lower definition mode to said higher definition mode in response to one of said electronic program guide demonstration being completed and a predetermined time period having expired.

2. The television system of claim 1 wherein video content provided from one of an external digital video disk (DVD) player, a gaming system, and a satellite box is displayed in said higher definition mode.

3. The television system of claim 1 wherein said activation of said electronic program guide demonstration occurs in response to a user input.

4. The television system of claim 1 wherein said activation of said electronic program guide demonstration occurs in response to one of a user input to a program guide demonstration switch of a remote control device, a user input to a key or combination of keys on a front panel of said television system, and a software program which automatically starts said electronic program guide demonstration after a predetermined period of time has passed after a previous demonstration.

5. The television system of claim 1 wherein said video content corresponding to said electronic program guide demonstration is upconverted prior to being displayed.

6. A method for operating a television system, comprising:

receiving, at an input of said television system, signals including video content from one or more external sources, said signals being in one of a lower definition format and a higher definition format;

detecting an activation of an electronic program guide demonstration stored in a memory of said television system;

switching said television system from a higher definition mode to a lower definition mode in response to said activation while said signals received at said input are in said higher definition format and not in said lower definition format;

detecting one of said electronic program guide demonstration being completed and a predetermined time period having expired; and

switching said television system from said lower definition modebackto said higher definition mode in response to said detecting step.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein data corresponding to said electronic program guide demonstration is digitally encoded and stored in said memory of said television system.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein video data provided from one of a digital video disk (DUD) player, a satellite box, and a gaming system is processed and displayed when said television system is in said higher definition mode.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said television system comprises a high definition television tuner.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein said activation of said electronic program guide demonstration occurs in response to a user input to said television system.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein video content corresponding to said electronic program guide demonstration is upconverted prior to being displayed.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said video content corresponding to said electronic program guide demonstration is overlaid onto a video signal prior to being upconverted.

13. A television system comprising:

an input for receiving signals including video content from one or more external sources, said signals being in one of a lower definition format and a higher definition format;

circuitry for enabling display of video content in one of a lower definition mode and a higher definition mode of said television system;

a controller for switching said television system between said lower definition mode and said higher definition mode;

a memory for storing video content corresponding to an electronic program guide demonstration; and

wherein said controller automatically switches said television system from said higher definition mode to said lower definition mode in response to activation of the electronic program guide demonstration while said signals received at said input are in said higher definition format and not in said lower definition format, and automatically switches said television system back from said lower definition mode to said higher definition mode in response to one of said electronic program guide demonstration being completed and a predetermined time period having expired.

14. The television system of claim 13 wherein video content provided from one of an external digital video disk (DVD) player, a gaming system, and a satellite box is displayed in said higher definition mode.

15. The television system of claim 13 wherein said activation of said electronic program guide demonstration occurs in response to a user input.

16. The television system of claim 13 wherein said activation of said electronic program guide demonstration occurs in response to one of a user input to a program guide demonstration switch of a remote control device, a user input to a key or combination of keys on a front panel of said television system, and a software program which automatically starts said electronic program guide demonstration after a predetermined period of time has passed after a previous demonstration.