Interactive television program guide system with pay program package promotion
View Patent ↗A system is provided that allows a user to select a pay program for purchase from a program guide. The program guide determines whether the selected program is part of a package of pay programs. If the selected program is part of a package, information regarding the package is provided to the user so that the user may decide whether to purchase the package. If the selected program is part of several packages, information for all packages is provided. The system automatically sets reminders for packages containing repetitive programming. The system monitors whether the user has watched any of the programs in such packages. When the user watches a program from the package, the remaining reminders are cancelled. If a user does not watch any programs in a package of any type, purchase of the package is cancelled and the user is provided with the opportunity to reschedule.
1. A system that allows a user to purchase a package of components for display, the system comprising user equipment on which a program guide is implemented, wherein said program guide is configured to:
provide the user with an opportunity to select an individually-purchasable component for purchase;
determine whether the selected component is part of a package; and
present the user with an opportunity to purchase the package of which the selected component is a part when it is determined that the selected component is part of the package.
2. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the selected component is one of the group consisting of a program, a channel and an event.
3. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the program guide is further configured to provide a customizable package of components that includes the selected component.
4. The system defined in claim 3 , wherein the customizable package of components includes at least one optional component that is selectively includable in the customizable package.
5. The system defined in claim 3 , wherein the customizable package of components includes an optional component and a mandatory component.
6. The system defined in claim 3 , wherein the customizable package is associated with a block of time.
7. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the package comprises components that share a common theme.
8. The system defined in claim 7 , wherein the common theme relates to a specific set of sporting events.
9. The system defined in claim 8 , wherein the specific set of sporting events includes a plurality of sports programs of a specific league.
10. The system defined in claim 8 , wherein the specific set of sporting events includes a plurality of sports programs of a specific team.
11. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the program guide is further configured to determine whether the selected component is part of a single package, and whether the selected component is part of multiple packages.
12. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the program guide is further configured to display purchasing information for the selected component.
13. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the program guide is further configured to display information on each package of which the selected component is a part when the selected component is included in at least one package.
14. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the program guide is further configured to display a telephone number for ordering the package.
15. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the program guide is further configured to provide the user with an opportunity to impulse purchase the package through the program guide.
16. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the program guide is further configured to determine whether the purchased package contains repetitive programming.
17. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the program guide is further configured to allow the user to set a reminder for at least one component in the purchased package.
18. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the program guide is further configured to automatically set reminders for each component in the purchased package.
19. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the program guide is further configured to monitor whether the user has watched any of the components in the purchased package.
20. The system defined in claim 19 , wherein the program guide is further configured to cancel the purchase of the purchased package when it is determined that the user has not watched any of the components in the purchased package.
21. The system defined in claim 20 , wherein the program guide is further configured to offer the user an opportunity to reschedule a cancelled package.
22. A method for allowing a user to purchase a package of components for display, the method comprising:
providing the user with an opportunity to select an individually-purchasable component for purchase;
determining whether the selected component is part of a package; and
presenting the user with an opportunity to purchase the package of which the selected component is a part when it is determined that the selected component is part of the package.
23. The method defined in claim 22 , wherein the selected component is one of the group consisting of a program, a channel and an event.
24. The method defined in claim 22 , wherein the program guide is further configured to provide a customizable package of components that includes the selected component.
25. The method defined in claim 24 , wherein the customizable package of components includes at least one optional component that is selectively includable in the customizable package.
26. The method defined in claim 24 , wherein the customizable package of components includes an optional component and a mandatory component.
27. The method defined in claim 24 , wherein the customizable package is associated with a block of time.
28. The method defined in claim 22 , wherein the package comprises programs that share a common theme.
29. The method defined in claim 28 , wherein the common theme relates to a specific set of sporting events.
30. The method defined in claim 29 , wherein the specific set of sporting events includes a plurality of sports programs of a specific league.
31. The system defined in claim 29 , wherein the specific set of sporting events includes a plurality of sports programs of a specific team.
32. The method defined in claim 22 , further comprising determining whether the selected component is part of a single package, and whether the selected component is part of multiple packages.
33. The method defined in claim 22 , further comprising displaying purchasing information for the selected component.
34. The method defined in claim 22 , further comprising displaying information on each package of which the selected component is a part when the selected component is included in at least one package.
35. The method defined in claim 22 , further comprising displaying a telephone number for ordering the package.
36. The method defined in claim 22 , further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to impulse purchase the package through the program guide.
37. The method defined in claim 22 , further comprising determining whether the purchased package contains repetitive programming.
38. The method defined in claim 22 , further comprising allowing the user to set a reminder for at least one component in the purchased package.
39. The method defined in claim 22 , further comprising automatically setting reminders for each component in the purchased package.
40. The method defined in claim 22 , further comprising monitoring whether the user has watched any of the components in the purchased package.
41. The method defined in claim 40 , further comprising cancelling the purchase of the purchased package when it is determined that the user has not watched any of the components in the purchased package.
42. The method defined in claim 41 , further comprising offering the user an opportunity to reschedule a cancelled package.