Patent ID: 7594109

Claim:
A digital content distribution system comprising: a high definition television broadcaster comprising a high definition television transmitter configured for multicasting, on a repeating periodic basis, an encrypted terrestrial high definition television signal that includes a plurality of different encrypted digital content selections for purchase, wherein the multicasted signal comprises a multiplexed array of signal portions that are broadcast simultaneously and in which each respective signal portion of the multiplexed array carries just one of the respective different encrypted content selections; and a consumer media unit comprising: a high definition television tuner configured for receiving the encrypted terrestrial high definition television signal; a memory configured for storing the different encrypted digital content selections from the signal for selective purchase at the consumer media unit; and an encryption and content manager configured for receipt of a decryption key from the broadcaster via a return communication link, upon electronic payment to the broadcaster for purchase of at least one of the plurality of different encrypted digital content selections, to permit access to the purchased at least one encrypted digital content selection stored in the memory of the consumer media unit.