Methods and apparatus for monitoring locally inserted media are disclosed. A disclosed system for detecting locally inserted media includes a tag encoder and a media monitoring device at a media presentation location. The tag encoder is to associate an identifying tag with a segment of a media stream carrying local media that was spliced into a primary media stream after the primary media stream was received by an editing station of a media distributor. The media monitoring device is to: detect presentation of the media stream; determine that the segment is local media that was spliced into the primary media stream based on changes in the media stream indicative of transitions between primary media and local media, the changes including changes in identifying tags; and store an indication to credit presentation of the media and to indicate that the media stream includes locally inserted media.

A method for playing out a media program including a primary programming. The method includes storing the primary programming; forming first and second sets of content for play-out during a break in the primary programming, where the second set's duration differs by less than a predetermined amount from the duration of the first set of content transmitting, by a first mechanism, a base program including the primary programming and subsequently, during the break, the first set of content, and after the break, the primary programming; and transmitting, by a second mechanism, the primary programming at a first time offset to the transmitting by the first mechanism before the break and subsequently, during the break, the second set of content and after the break, the primary programming at a second time offset to the transmitting by the first mechanism, after the break, the first and second time offsets being different.

In one aspect, a method includes (i) receiving query fingerprint data representing content transmitted by a content-distribution system on a channel; (ii) comparing the received query fingerprint data with multiple reference fingerprint data sets, wherein each of the multiple reference fingerprint data sets corresponds with a different respective content segment; (iii) based on the comparing, detecting a respective match between the received query fingerprint data and reference fingerprint data in each of the multiple reference fingerprint data sets; (iv) accessing broadcast-schedule data associated with the channel; (v) using the accessed broadcast-schedule data to identify which one of the different respective content segments is being transmitted by the content-distribution system on the channel, thereby identifying a corresponding upcoming content modification opportunity on the channel; and (vi) performing an action to facilitate performing a content modification operation related to the identified upcoming content-modification opportunity on the channel.

Techniques are described for expanding and/or improving the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0 television protocol in robustly delivering the next generation broadcast television services. Broadcaster non-real time (NRT) data packets are downloaded into RAM memory first and then saved to disk once the complete NRT package is in RAM. Old saved NRT data is retained until channel change with new NRT data, at which point old NRT data may be deleted before starting to save the new oncoming NRT data. Old NRT data may be deleted only when the new oncoming NRT data is not the same as the old.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for providing alternate content in place of other content based on an issue associated with receiving the other content. The alternate content may be an advertisement associated with the other content. Output of the other content may resume once the issue is resolved and/or after output of the alternate content has concluded.

Disclosed herein is a music service that enables consumers listen to a broadcast radio station without commercials. The service operates by shifting the source channel of a radio from the broadcast radio to a streaming audio service for the duration of the commercial. In some embodiments, the service utilizes any of: a radio including native firmware/software, a mobile device such as a smart phone executing an application, cooperative integration of a radio and a mobile device, or master/slave relationship between a mobile device and a radio. The mobile device listens to the radio broadcast and determines when to shift between the radio broadcast and the streaming audio via any of audio fingerprint analysis, radio station behavioral analysis, radio station metadata, and/or radio station voice recognition analysis.

Techniques are described for expanding and/or improving the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0 television protocol in robustly delivering the next generation broadcast television services. An empty x-link period is provided at the end of an MPD to alert a newly tuning in receiver to obtain and insert a replacement ad in the period.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for providing alternate content in place of other content based on an issue associated with receiving the other content. The alternate content may be an advertisement associated with the other content. Output of the other content may resume once the issue is resolved and/or after output of the alternate content has concluded.

A system and method for blocking normal media content signals, such as television program signals emitted on a visual display of an electronic media device and substituting alternative content for blocked signals includes a control module operable to receive a blocking command via an input device electrically connected to the electronic media device. Receiving a blocking command results in the normal content being blocked and predetermined alternative content is played for either a user specified time or a predetermined time. Control over the television or other media device may be oral via speech recognition technology.

Techniques are described for expanding and/or improving the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0 television protocol in robustly delivering the next generation broadcast television services. Broadcaster non-real time (NRT) data packets are downloaded into RAM memory first and then saved to disk once the complete NRT package is in RAM. Old saved NRT data is retained until channel change with new NRT data, at which point old NRT data may be deleted before starting to save the new oncoming NRT data. Old NRT data may be deleted only when the new oncoming NRT data is not the same as the old.