Systems and methods are described for requesting media content playback. Media content item metadata relating to product endorsement in the media content item is accessed. An endorsement profile for the media content item is generated based on the media content item metadata. The endorsement profile comprises data relating to which segments of the media content item have product-related content. A manifest file comprising instructions re-questing playback of the media content item is generated based on the endorsement profile for the media content item.

A method to control the display of content on a screen connected to a processing platform, the content including access conditions, and the method including acquiring an image within a sensitive area, the sensitive area being an area within which content displayed on the screen would be within the field of view of an observer placed thereat, detecting a number of potential observers within the sensitive area, acquiring a number of credentials from the detected observers within the sensitive area, if the number of credentials is below the number of detected observers, disabling the display of the content, if the number of credentials equal the number of detected observers, comparing each credential with the access conditions and if all credentials match the access conditions, enabling display of the content.

A method to control the display of content on a screen connected to a processing platform, the content including access conditions, and the method including acquiring an image within a sensitive area, the sensitive area being an area within which content displayed on the screen would be within the field of view of an observer placed thereat, detecting a number of potential observers within the sensitive area, acquiring a number of credentials from the detected observers within the sensitive area, if the number of credentials is below the number of detected observers, disabling the display of the content, if the number of credentials equal the number of detected observers, comparing each credential with the access conditions and if all credentials match the access conditions, enabling display of the content.

“Binge watching” of multiple episodes of a program is improved by the player device automatically skipping repeated portions of the program. Opening and closing credit scenes, for example, can be automatically skipped to thereby allow the viewer to progress through the entire season of programming at an even faster rate than was previously thought possible. Programming to be skipped may be identified by detecting audio or other digital fingerprints in the content itself, for example. Content to be skipped may be identified to the playback device according to presentation time stamp (PTS) or other time markers.

“Binge watching” of multiple episodes of a program is improved by the player device automatically skipping repeated portions of the program. Opening and closing credit scenes, for example, can be automatically skipped to thereby allow the viewer to progress through the entire season of programming at an even faster rate than was previously thought possible. Programming to be skipped may be identified by detecting audio or other digital fingerprints in the content itself, for example. Content to be skipped may be identified to the playback device according to presentation time stamp (PTS) or other time markers.

Methods and systems for facilitating discovery of fresh content in a grid guide are described herein. The system generates for display a grid guide with a first set of content identifiers populating the grid guide. The system receives an input to shift the grid guide and, in response, identifies a second set of content identifiers that would populate the grid guide following the shift. The system determines duplicative content identifiers between the first and second sets of content identifiers. The system then removes the duplicative content identifiers or highlights the non-duplicative content identifiers in order to emphasize fresh content in the grid guide. The system may additionally add identifiers to the content identifiers to indicate recorded or previously watched content and may collapse the grid guide if there are blank rows or columns. These methods and systems provide the user with easier access to fresh content in the grid guide.

Methods and systems for facilitating discovery of fresh content in a grid guide are described herein. The system generates for display a grid guide with a first set of content identifiers populating the grid guide. The system receives an input to shift the grid guide and, in response, identifies a second set of content identifiers that would populate the grid guide following the shift. The system determines duplicative content identifiers between the first and second sets of content identifiers. The system then removes the duplicative content identifiers or highlights the non-duplicative content identifiers in order to emphasize fresh content in the grid guide. The system may additionally add identifiers to the content identifiers to indicate recorded or previously watched content and may collapse the grid guide if there are blank rows or columns. These methods and systems provide the user with easier access to fresh content in the grid guide.

Systems and methods are provided to record portions of media assets. User request is received to record a media asset together with a criterion for recording portions of that media asset. A content recognition algorithm is executed against segments of the media asset to determine a set of keywords associated with those segments. Separately a set of keywords associated with the criterion is generated. Sets of keywords are compared and segments that match the criterion are discovered. If it is determined that a first segment and third segment each match the criterion and a second segment does not, a delete indicator is added to the second segment and the third and first segments are compared. If those segments match the delete indicator is removed from the second segment.

Systems and methods are provided to record portions of media assets. User request is received to record a media asset together with a criterion for recording portions of that media asset. A content recognition algorithm is executed against segments of the media asset to determine a set of keywords associated with those segments. Separately a set of keywords associated with the criterion is generated. Sets of keywords are compared and segments that match the criterion are discovered. If it is determined that a first segment and third segment each match the criterion and a second segment does not, a delete indicator is added to the second segment and the third and first segments are compared. If those segments match the delete indicator is removed from the second segment.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for providing audio assistance during trick play. Users, for example, visually-impaired users, may enable audio assistance features for trick play operations and customize audio assistance settings. The audio assistance may comprise outputting one or more audio cues during trick play. The audio cues may be associated with one or more types of scenes may indicate the progress of a trick play content item. The audio cues may also indicate automatic skipping of an objectionable scene or commercial and the output of a next scene.