Patent ID: 8291461

Claim:
A method for managing the distribution of on-demand media using an interactive television application, the method comprising: receiving a request for on-demand media from a user, wherein: a television distribution facility is configured to transmit the on-demand media to the user at one of a plurality of bandwidths, a first of the plurality of bandwidths is greater than a second of the plurality of bandwidths, and the second of the plurality of bandwidths is less than an available bandwidth at the television distribution facility for transmission of the on-demand media; comparing the first of the plurality of bandwidths to the available bandwidth; and responsive to the comparison of the first of the plurality of bandwidths to the available bandwidth: providing the user with an option to receive the on-demand media at the second of the plurality of bandwidths based at least in part on the comparison of the first of the plurality of bandwidths to the available bandwidth, wherein a selection of the option causes a transmission of the on-demand media at the second of the plurality of bandwidths from the television distribution facility exclusively to the user.