Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for distributing content are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes storing, in a data structure, data specifying a future live event. An opportunity to provide the specified content to a user at a user device is identified. It is determined that (i) a time of the opportunity is between a start time and an end time for the live event, (ii) that a user device is located in a same geographic region as the live event based on geographical data provided by the user device, and (iii) the user is interested in the live event based on attributes of the user matching attributes of other users that were identified as interested in the live event (e.g., based on evaluation of online search data). The content is provided for display at the user device.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for distributing content are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes storing, in a data structure, data specifying a future live event. An opportunity to provide the specified content to a user at a user device is identified. It is determined that (i) a time of the opportunity is between a start time and an end time for the live event, (ii) that a user device is located in a same geographic region as the live event based on geographical data provided by the user device, and (iii) the user is interested in the live event based on attributes of the user matching attributes of other users that were identified as interested in the live event (e.g., based on evaluation of online search data). The content is provided for display at the user device.

Systems and methods are described for delivering regional content for a lineup over a national network. A content provider may select a particular regional broadcast for inclusion in a regional service lineup. The content provider may be able to broadcast multiple, or even all, services nationally. At regional distribution centers, a multiplexer may select only those services that are desired for the region in response to in-stream signals. In some instances, a single region-specific version of a given service may be selected from multiple versions broadcasted nationally. The regional lineup, including the selected services, can then be multiplexed and transmitted to customers throughout the region.

Systems and methods for providing an advertisement marketplace where buyers and sellers can trade mediacast advertisement inventory programmatically at local, national, and/or worldwide levels. The marketplace system may include a seller-controlled marketplace system which connects sellers with buyers and offers revenue management tools for optimizing yields across direct and programmatic channels. The advertisement inventory is bought and sold as canonical inventory units which group similar but discrete advertisement slots together. The marketplace system may include a seller side platform (SSP) for sellers through which sellers can access demand across multiple sales channels and can make advertisement inventory available and accept or reject bids based on marketplace demand.

A goal-based method, as disclosed herein, is usable to procure advertising. The method, in an embodiment, includes providing goal data associated with an advertising goal for a plurality of markets. The at least one processor is operable to process advertising inventory data associated with one or more media sources. The advertising inventory data is associated with a plurality of advertising opportunities. The at least one processor is operable to modify at least one of the opportunity sets as a result of the at least one opportunity set deviating from the advertising goal by an extent, and the modification results in a modified opportunity set that deviates from the advertising goal by a lesser extent. The at least one processor is operable to cause an output that identifies the modified opportunity set.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method in which a processing system of a media server determines a number of media content playout periods in a media program to be presented at a client device, obtains a media content item for presentation during a playout period, and transmits the media content item for storage in a client device cache prior to presentation of the media program. The method also includes transmitting to the client device a time stamp associated with the transmitting of the media content item, and transmitting an instruction to the client device to perform buffering of streaming media during the playout period. The client device also transmits a first message indicating that the transmitting of the media content item has been performed, and a second message indicating that the presenting of the media content item has been completed. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, detecting, by a processing system including a processor, a transmission of a signal that identifies an advertisement, transmitting, by the processing system, a first indication of having detected the signal, and transmitting, by the processing system, a second indication of a status of the processing system when the signal is detected. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A method for generating a personalized television channel for a user of a terminal configured to access at least one audiovisual content broadcasting service is disclosed. The method includes obtaining user preference criteria in advance; for at least one given time slot, selecting, from the preference criteria obtained, an audiovisual content to be programmed on the personalized television channel, from among a plurality of audiovisual contents accessible from the terminal of the user by the at least one service; and on receipt of a request for access to the personalized television channel from the terminal of the user in the given time slot, transmitting access information to the selected audiovisual content to the terminal of the user, with a view to its playback by the terminal of the user as a program of the personalized channel.

A system that handles delivery of service(s) through a client device, includes an interactive service provider, a video service provider, and a client device. The interactive service provider inserts at least one of digital watermarks and digital fingerprints in non-programming media content. The video service provider transmits a media stream of the media content that includes programming media content and the non-programming media content. The client device detects at least one of the inserted digital watermarks and the digital fingerprints in the playback duration of the media content and renders overlay graphics on the media content. The client device activates at least one of input devices paired with the client device and the rendered overlay graphics. The client device further receives trigger responses over activated overlay graphics and displays an interactive view to enable delivery of service(s) in response to the trigger responses.

Various embodiments describe methods, systems, and devices for deploying live media content as a time-shifted playback. Exemplary implementations may receive, from a client computing device, a content request for a time-shifted playback of live media content. The time-shifted playback may use a unique copy of a live media content configured for playback associated with the content request. The content request may indicate a past point in time in the live media content from which the time-shifted playback originates. The client computing device may be provided access to an assigned private path for accessing segments of the time-shifted playback starting from a requested segment that corresponds to the indicated past point in time. Access by the client computing device to further segments of the time-shifted playback may be prevented in response to determining that the subsequent content request for playback of the second live media content is received.