A distribution system for transmitting media content programs to premises equipment via a satellite transmission path addresses signal degradation caused by atmospheric conditions and other factors. Upon detection of a degradation of the satellite signal, the system may begin transmitting the content using an alternative signal path, such as a terrestrial IP network. The satellite transmission path is brought back on line after the satellite link is restored. Alternatively, the system may begin recording the signal in the media distribution system for transmission via the satellite link after the link is restored.

A receiver for receiving data in a broadcast system includes a broadcast receiver configured to receive, via the broadcast system, a receiver input data stream including a plurality of channel symbols represented by constellation points in a constellation diagram. A demodulator demodulates the channel symbols into codewords and a decoder decodes the codewords into output data words. A redundancy unit selects or requests, if demodulation of a channel symbol and/or decoding of a codeword is erroneous or likely to fail, redundancy data for demodulation of future channel symbols and/or decoding of future codewords via a broadband system and a broadband receiver obtains the redundancy data via the broadband system. The demodulator and/or the decoder is configured to use the obtained redundancy data to demodulate the respective future channel symbols and to decode the respective future codewords, respectively.

A system and method for collaborative broadcasting and bi-directional network transmission. Such a system may comprise a broadcast transmission source that uses a one-to-many broadcasting method, a bi-directional network that uses a one-to-one broadcasting method, and a receiver apparatus configured to receive broadcasts from the broadcast transmission source and communicate with the bi-directional network. When the receiver apparatus receives a broadcast from the broadcast transmission source, and when the broadcast is partially damaged or missing, the receiver apparatus is configured to communicate with the bi-directional network and request the damaged or missing data.

A method of processing a service in a transmitter, and including generating, by a hardware processor, a first media component and a second media component for the service; generating, by the hardware processor, signaling data for the service; time interleaving, by a time interleaver, the first media component, wherein the first media component is time-interleaved by column-wise writing actual Forward Error Correction (FEC) blocks including the first media component in a Time Interleaving (TI) memory and diagonal-wise reading the first media component in the actual FEC blocks from the TI memory, wherein one or more virtual FEC blocks are skipped during the diagonal-wise reading the written first media component, and wherein a number of the one or more virtual FEC blocks is equal to a difference between a number of the actual FEC blocks and a column number of the TI memory; generating, by a signaling generator, physical layer signaling information, wherein the physical layer signaling information includes first physical layer signaling information and second physical layer signaling information, wherein the first physical layer signaling information includes information for identifying a size of the second physical layer signaling information and wherein the second physical layer signaling information includes information for obtaining the column number of the TI memory; transmitting, by an antenna, the time-interleaved first media component, the physical layer signaling information and the signaling data through a broadcast network; and transmitting, by a network interface, the second media component to a receiver through a broadband network. Further, the signaling data transmitted through the broadcast network includes first timeline information for specifying a timeline of the first media component transmitted through the broadcast network and uniform resource location information for the second media component.

A system and method facilitate digital marketing for sponsors of live television broadcasts. The system allows a user, using an application on a computing device while a piece of sponsored content is being broadcast, to express an interest in the broadcast piece of sponsored content and the interest of the user is communicated to a backend system that selects an endpoint destination associated with the broadcast piece of sponsored content wherein the endpoint destination is a pointer to further digital information about the broadcast piece of sponsored content. The system and method may periodically change the selected endpoint destination based on an event in the sponsored piece of content.

In accordance with some implementations, a method for measuring viewership of media content is disclosed. The method is performed on a client system. The client system obtains identification information for individuals who have agreed to participate in a media viewership totals measurement study, detects a first user of the client system, determines media content being presented in proximity to the first user, automatically determines if the first user is an individual who has agreed to participate in the media viewership totals measurement study; and generates viewership data according to the determination.

A system and method facilitate digital marketing for sponsors of live television broadcasts. The system allows a user, using an application on a computing device while a piece of sponsored content is being broadcast, to express an interest in the broadcast piece of sponsored content and the interest of the user is communicated to a backend system that selects an endpoint destination associated with the broadcast piece of sponsored content wherein the endpoint destination is a pointer to further digital information about the broadcast piece of sponsored content. The system and method may periodically change the selected endpoint destination based on an event in the sponsored piece of content.

Content synchronization with over-the-air radio transmissions captures user engagement and telemetry data. User engagement data creates a closed-loop feedback with over-the-air content and is tracked. User engagement and telemetry data feeds machine learning algorithms for radio station advertising effectiveness and programming refinement. User telemetry data identifies the listener radio receiving device. Machine learning applied to over-the-air advertising content categorizes ads for correlation with user behavior profile and ad effectiveness. Prediction models predict listener demographics and user engagement with advertising content in anonymous and registered mode. Over-the-air advertisements are synchronized with ad content provided to broadcast listeners on an electronic user device. Ad content may be listed, searched, and acted on by telephone, email, website click-through, including special ads and coupons targeted to users based on telemetry and user profile and behavior.

In accordance with some implementations, a method for measuring viewership of media content is disclosed. The method is performed on a client system. The client system obtains identification information for individuals who have agreed to participate in a media viewership totals measurement study, detects a first user of the client system, determines media content being presented in proximity to the first user, automatically determines if the first user is an individual who has agreed to participate in the media viewership totals measurement study; and generates viewership data according to the determination.

The invention relates to a method for modifying a stream of digital content received via a first data connection at a reproducing device, the stream of digital content being related to at least one time code. The method comprises the following steps when reproducing the stream of digital content: (a) receiving at least one cue point by the reproducing device via a second data connection; and (b) modifying the stream of digital content by the reproducing device when the at least one time code related to the stream of digital content matches the at least one cue point.