Methods and apparatuses are provided, which may be implemented to combine and distribute user enhanced video and/or audio content.

A method for providing a personalized media stream includes receiving a signal from a user to launch a personalized media stream, determining a current time, identifying a first time slot of a schedule into which the current time falls, identifying a first channel that is associated with the first time slot, wherein viewing history for the user indicates that the user has viewed the first channel during the first time slot in the past, automatically tuning the display device to the first channel in response to the signal, receiving, subsequent to the automatically tuning, a command from the user to pause a program playing on the first channel, identifying a second channel associated with a second time slot, wherein the second time slot occurs later in time that the first time slot, and buffering a portion of a program being shown on the second channel during the second time slot.

Methods and systems are described for identifying and adapting the playback speed of content to be provided during an activity. The methods and systems receive an input including a start cue indicating a start of an activity and access an average duration and an intensity score for the activity. Then the system calculates an adjusted average runtime for the activity based on the average duration and the intensity score and identifies one or more content items, the one or more content items having a total runtime equivalent to the adjusted average runtime for the activity. The system adjusts the playback speed of the identified one or more content items such that the total runtime of playback of the one or more content items matches the average duration for the activity and provides the one or more content items for consumption.

In one aspect, a method is performed by a computing system that is in communication with a content-presentation device, where the content-presentation device is scheduled to perform, at a modification start-time, a content-modification operation that comprises modifying a modifiable content-segment that the content-presentation device is scheduled to receive. The method includes determining that the content-presentation device has detected, within a predefined time period after the modification start-time and during performance of the content-modification operation, a mismatch between reference fingerprint data representing the modifiable content-segment and query fingerprint data representing content received by the content-presentation device from a tuner device connected to the content-presentation device. The method also includes determining that the mismatch is due to the tuner device having modified the modifiable content-segment before the modification start-time and, in response to determining that the mismatch is due to the tuner device having modified the modifiable content-segment before the modification start-time, performing an action.

In one aspect, a method is performed by a computing system that is in communication with a content-presentation device, where the content-presentation device is scheduled to perform, at a modification start-time, a content-modification operation that comprises modifying a modifiable content-segment that the content-presentation device is scheduled to receive. The method includes determining that the content-presentation device has detected, within a predefined time period after the modification start-time and during performance of the content-modification operation, a mismatch between reference fingerprint data representing the modifiable content-segment and query fingerprint data representing content received by the content-presentation device from a tuner device connected to the content-presentation device. The method also includes determining that the mismatch is due to the tuner device having modified the modifiable content-segment before the modification start-time and, in response to determining that the mismatch is due to the tuner device having modified the modifiable content-segment before the modification start-time, performing an action.

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for generating videos with characters indicating regions of images are provided. For example, an image containing a first region may be received. At least one characteristic of a character may be obtained. A script containing a first segment of the script may be received. The first segment of the script may be related to the first region of the image. The at least one characteristic of a character and the script may be used to generate a video of the character presenting the script and at least part of the image, where the character visually indicates the first region of the image while presenting the first segment of the script.

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for generating videos with characters indicating regions of images are provided. For example, an image containing a first region may be received. At least one characteristic of a character may be obtained. A script containing a first segment of the script may be received. The first segment of the script may be related to the first region of the image. The at least one characteristic of a character and the script may be used to generate a video of the character presenting the script and at least part of the image, where the character visually indicates the first region of the image while presenting the first segment of the script.

A media switch enables a terminal to access content by receiving a content request from a terminal for a first piece of content to be distributed over a cable system, identifying.sup., a personal channel within resources available in the cable system to distribute the first piece of content to the terminal, transmitting access information to the terminal to enable the terminal to access the first piece of content through the personal channel, and interfacing with a cable headend to provide the first piece of content on the personal channel.

A media switch enables a terminal to access content by receiving a content request from a terminal for a first piece of content to be distributed over a cable system, identifying.sup., a personal channel within resources available in the cable system to distribute the first piece of content to the terminal, transmitting access information to the terminal to enable the terminal to access the first piece of content through the personal channel, and interfacing with a cable headend to provide the first piece of content on the personal channel.

A method of sharing recording capability on a network, the network having a server supporting at least a recording DVR and a receiving DVR, the recording and receiving DVRs being in different households, the method comprising: (a) determining that the receiving DVR is unable to record the content at a certain time; and (b) identifying that the recording DVR is able to provide the receiving DVR with a recording of the content; (c) recording the content on the recording DVR at the certain time; and (d) transmitting the content from the recording DVR to the receiving DVR after the certain time.