System and method for controlling access to video events associated with video broadcast services

1. A method of controlling access to back-to-back events by a customer associated with a video services receiver in a system having a plurality of video services receivers for a plurality of customers, wherein the video services receiver is configured to receive video content and to provide the video content to the customer on a display, the method comprising:

receiving system-wide service information (SI) at the video services receiver, the SI being common to all of the plurality of video services receivers in the system, and the SI including system-wide blackout information for events on the service, and the SI including join-in-progress indicators for back-to-back events on the service;

maintaining the system-wide blackout information at the video services receiver;

receiving an entitlement control message (ECM) at the video services receiver, the ECM being specific to the service, and the ECM conveying service-specific blackout information for events on the service that is distinguishable and distinct from the system-wide blackout information;

maintaining the service-specific blackout information at the video services receiver independently and separately from the system-wide blackout information;

identifying a current event on a service;

analyzing the system-wide blackout information for the current event;

granting access to the current event when the system-wide blackout information authorizes access;

checking a join-in-progress indicator for the current event when the system-wide blackout information indicates a blackout for the current event, wherein the SI includes the join-in-progress indicator for the current event;

denying access to the current event when the join-in-progress indicator for the current event is in a first state;

analyzing the service-specific blackout information for the current event when the join-in-progress indicator for the current event is in a second state;

granting access to the current event when the service-specific blackout information authorizes access; and

denying access to the current event when the service-specific blackout information prohibits access.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

receiving the system-wide blackout information occurs at a relatively low update rate; and

receiving the service-specific blackout information occurs at a relatively high update rate.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a blackout notification on the display in response to denying access to the current event.

4. A video services receiver system for providing video content to a display for viewing by a customer, the system comprising:

a receiver interface configured to receive system-wide service information (SI) that is common to a plurality of video services receivers in a satellite video system, the SI including system-wide blackout information for events on a service provided by the satellite video system, and the SI including join-in-progress indicators for back-to-back events on the service, and the receiver interface configured to receive a program specific information (PSI) table that is specific to only one satellite transponder in the satellite video system, the PSI table conveying service-specific blackout information for events on the service, the service-specific blackout information being distinguishable and distinct from the system-wide blackout information;

a display interface for the display;

at least one memory element configured to store the system-wide blackout information as dated blackout information for events on the service, and to store the service-specific blackout information as frequently updated blackout information for events on the service, wherein the system-wide blackout information and the service-specific blackout information are stored to be distinguishable and distinct from one another; and

a processor coupled to the receiver interface, the display interface, and the at least one memory element, the processor being configured to control access to a current event on the service by analyzing the system-wide blackout information, the service-specific blackout information, and the join-in-progress indicators, and the processor being configured to present video content associated with the current event if access is granted;

wherein the processor controls access to the current event by:

granting access to the current event when the system-wide blackout information for the current event authorizes access;

denying access to the current event when (1) the system-wide blackout information for the current event indicates a blackout for the current event, and (2) a join-in-progress indicator for the current event is in a first state;

granting access to the current event when (1) the system-wide blackout information for the current event indicates a blackout for the current event, and (2) the join-in-progress indicator for the current event is in a second state, and (3) the service-specific blackout information for the current event authorizes access; and

denying access to the current event when (1) the system-wide blackout information for the current event indicates a blackout for the current event, and (2) the join-in-progress indicator for the current event is in a second state, and (3) the service-specific blackout information for the current event prohibits access.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one memory element stores the join-in-progress indicator for back-to-back events on the service.