Patent ID: 8707357

Claim:
A method for allowing selection of video programs from a program guide presented to a viewer, the method comprising: presenting with a set-top box at the viewer's location a first program with characterizing identifiers, wherein the first program is provided by a content provider; determining with the set-top box that a viewer is likely switching away from the first program or has activated a non-textual thematic link, wherein: the non-textual thematic link is displayed in overlay fashion with the first program, and the determination of likely switch away from the first program includes one or more of: determining that viewer has paused or stopped playback, determining that the viewer has switched away from the channel, determining the program has become unavailable, determining there are insufficient digital rights, determining that the viewer has selected fast or slow playback, and/or determining that a commercial break is playing; determining a plurality of programs with the set-top box; searching the plurality of programs with the set-top box for one or more alternative programs that have characterizing identifiers similar to the first program, wherein the one or more alternative programs are also provided by the content provider; and in response to determining that the viewer is likely switching away from the first program or in response to determining that the viewer activated the non-textual thematic link, and without additional input from the viewer, displaying with the set-top box the one or more alternative programs in a menu, which is presented for the viewer.