Human factors based video compression

1. A method, comprising:

determining a desirability score for media content using a processor;

selecting a compression level based on the desirability score for the media content using the processor, wherein a first compression level is selected when the desirability score is a first desirability score and a second compression level that is higher than the first compression level is selected when the desirability score is a second desirability score that is higher than the first desirability score; and

providing the compression level to an encoder, wherein the encoder compresses the media content based on the compression level.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing the compressed media content to a network.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

computing a network desirability score based on a desirability of the media content; and

comparing the network desirability score to a threshold score.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the threshold score is selected based on a cost of recoding the media content and a benefit gained from lower network utilization.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

recomputing the desirability score for the media content based at least in part on the desirability of the media content when the network desirability score satisfies the threshold score;

selecting a third compression level based on the recomputed desirability score; and

providing the third compression level to the encoder to compress the media content based on the third compression level.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

recomputing the network desirability score based on the desirability of the media content when the network desirability score does not satisfy the threshold score; and

comparing the recomputed network desirability score to the threshold score.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using a decoder to uncompress the compressed media content.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the decoder is part of a set-top box.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the desirability score comprises analyzing at least one of prior viewer ratings for the media content, retail video sales figures for the media content, wholesale video sales figures for the media content, video rental volume for the media content, theatrical release box office figures for the media content, awards for the media content, and award nominations for the media content.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second compression level is less than or equal to a maximum specified compression level.

11. A method, comprising:

computing, using one or more processors, a network desirability score of media content based on measured data associated with the media content;

comparing the network desirability score to a threshold score using the one or more processors; and

adding desirability data of the media content to human factors data using the one or more processors when the threshold score is satisfied, wherein the human factors data is used to determine a compression level for the media content.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising retrieving the media content from a source of digital video content.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising, when the threshold score is satisfied:

computing an overall desirability score for the media content based on the human factors data and based on the desirability data associated with the particular media content;

determining the compression level based on the overall desirability score; and

providing the compression level to an encoder, wherein the encoder compresses the media content based on the compression level.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising introducing the media content into a network.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the network is a cable television network.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising, when the threshold score is not satisfied:

recomputing, using the one or more processors, the network desirability score of the media content; and

comparing the recomputed network desirability score to the threshold score.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the human factors data includes at least one of popularity of a director of the media content, popularity of one or more actors in the media content, production budget of the media content, marketing budget of the media content, advertising expenditures for the media content, content distribution channels for the media content, content market penetration for the media content, repeat viewing data for the media content, focus group results for the media content, target demographic marketing data for the media content, and a number of first release screens for the media content.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the threshold score is selected based on a cost of recoding the media content and a benefit gained from lower network utilization.

19. A system, comprising:

one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors execute instructions to:

accept desirability data input for media content;

calculate a desirability score for the media content from the desirability data input;

determine a compression level for the media content based on the desirability score, wherein a first compression level is selected as the compression level when the desirability score is a first desirability score and a second compression level that is higher than the first compression level is selected as the compression level when the desirability score is a second desirability score that is higher than the first desirability score; and

output the compression level to one or more compression tools, wherein the one or more compression tools compress the media content based on the compression level.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the media content comprises digital video content.