A method at a computer system includes: receiving a request from a user device for presenting a poll based on a broadcast program being viewed by a user of the user device, the request corresponding to a triggering event detected by the user device, the triggering event being initiated by the user on the user device; receiving from electronic devices search queries related to the broadcast program; identifying automatically popular moments of the broadcast program based on at least a corresponding history of search queries related to the broadcast program including the received search queries related to the broadcast program; generating a poll including one or more questions related to the broadcast program, the questions being populated based on the popular moments; and sending the generated poll to the user device configured for display by the user device, wherein the poll is configured to be actionable by the user.

In one aspect, an example method involves: accessing, by a computing device, a program schedule of a news program; accessing, by the computing device, data associated with an election; using, by the computing device, the accessed data to make a determination that a status of the election satisfies each condition in a condition set; responsive to making the determination that the status of the election satisfies each condition in the condition set, modifying, by the computing device, the program schedule at least by inserting into the program schedule a record that corresponds to the election; and displaying, by the computing device, the modified program schedule.

Provides are an online management method for a bodybuilding competition and a system for the online management method. The online management method for a bodybuilding competition includes determining whether bodybuilding images conform to rules of the bodybuilding competition, dividing each of the bodybuilding images conforming to the rules into a plurality of pose images, and determining a winning bodybuilding image by using scores for identical-pose images among the bodybuilding images conforming to the rules.

Video content is uploaded via the Internet to a video-on-demand (VOD) server identified by a title and a hierarchical address of categories and subcategories for categorizing the title. The VOD server converts and stores the video content at a storage address in a video content database linked to the title. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as in its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. This can enable many new blogging or podcasting-like programs by popular Hosts to be self-published on the Internet and readily navigated for display on TV. The EPG can also store TV program addresses as bookmarks and allow them to be shared with other subscribers or with friends and contacts online by sending to their email addresses.

Video content is uploaded via the Internet to a video-on-demand (VOD) server identified by a title and a hierarchical address of categories and subcategories for categorizing the title. The VOD server converts and stores the video content at a storage address in a video content database linked to the title. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as in its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. This can enable many new blogging or podcasting-like programs by popular Hosts to be self-published on the Internet and readily navigated for display on TV. The EPG can also store TV program addresses as bookmarks and allow them to be shared with other subscribers or with friends and contacts online by sending to their email addresses.

Aspects of an asynchronous video interview system and related techniques include a server that receives a plurality of pre-recorded video prompts, generates an interview script, transmits a video prompt from the interview script to be displayed at a client computing device, and receives a streamed video response from the client computing device. The server can perform algorithmic analysis on content of the video response. In another aspect, a server obtains response preference data indicating a timing parameter for a response. In another aspect, a video prompt and an information supplement (e.g., a news item) that relates to the content of the video prompt are transmitted. In another aspect, a server automatically selects a video prompt (e.g., a follow-up question) to be displayed at the client computing device (e.g., based on a response or information about an interviewee).

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for enabling viewers to participate in a television program. In one aspect, a method includes transmitting a linear television program that includes a request for viewer responses to be submitted using a user device and receiving, through a communication network, an electronic message including a viewer response to the request from a user. Consideration is received from the user, and the consideration is associated with the viewer response. Credits are allocated to the user in response to receiving the viewer response and consideration. A record of the one or more credits is stored in association with an identifier of the user, and in response to a request from the user, credits associated with the identifier of the user are redeemed in exchange for virtual goods or services associated with delivery of content over a network.

A media content packaging and distribution system that handles the distribution of one or more channels, receives a programming schedule of a channel of the one or more channels which includes one or more content placement opportunities (CPOs). At least a CPO from the one or more CPOs, associated metadata, and one or more channel parameters of the channel is communicated to an exchange system to facilitate a bidding procedure to populate the CPO with a media item related to a winning bid in the bidding procedure. The media item related to the winning bid is dynamically inserted at a specified position in a media feed associated with the CPO. A resultant media feed that includes the media item is distributed over a distribution network to be viewed on one or more consumer devices. The media item inserted in the resultant media feed is selected by a bidder associated with the winning bid based on an outcome of the bidding procedure in the exchange system.

In one aspect, an example method includes (i) accessing a first set of ordered content items and a second set of active/inactive status attributes; (ii) identifying a subset of the first set based on each content item of the subset corresponding to an active status attribute in the second set; (iii) using the content items of the identified subset to generate video content that includes the content items of the identified subset, as ordered in the first set; (iv) determining that a particular content item of the first set satisfies a condition, wherein the particular content item corresponds to a particular active/inactive status attribute of the second set; (v) based on the determination, modifying the particular active/inactive status attribute; and (vi) after modifying the particular active/inactive status attribute, repeating the identifying and using acts, thereby causing modification of the generated video content.

Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for allowing multiple viewers to vote on a manner in which time-delayed content may be displayed. Alternate branches of pre-recorded content, each including alternate endings, may be displayed based on the expressed desires of a majority of viewers. The system also generates content from existing three-dimensional (3D) models of characters, and specific settings and backgrounds and 3D models generated from new images. Automatically generated content, generated from the existing 3D models or the 3D models created from the new images, may be displayed according to the expressed desires of a majority of viewers.