Patent ID: 8321887

Claim:
A method comprising the steps of: operating a video content network having a plurality of program channels; identifying a target time slot for an enhanced advertisement, at least a first group of said plurality of program channels having a first group of programs scheduled during said target time slot; signaling said target time slot to a plurality of terminals connected to said video content network by sending a first digital cue tone, each of said terminals viewing a given one of said program channels prior to said signaling; maintaining recordings of said first group of programs in a head end of said video content network; responsive to said signaling: effectively pausing said first group of programs at a program time corresponding to a beginning of said time slot; and causing said enhanced advertisement to be displayed on said terminals by sending said enhanced advertisement in real time from said head end; and responsive to an end of said enhanced advertisement, resuming said first group of programs at said program time corresponding to said beginning of said time slot by making said recordings available from said head end; whereby substantially all viewers of said video content network during said target time slot are exposed to said enhanced advertisement regardless of which of said plurality of program channels said viewers were watching during said target time slot; wherein said signaling further comprises, for said first group of program channels, inserting said first digital cue tone at said target time slot.