Patent ID: 8566888

Claim:
A method for delivering video programs to customers by means of a system that is capable of operating in two different modes, a broadcast mode and a switched mode, wherein video programs are delivered in the broadcast mode to customers irrespective of whether the video programs are requested by the customers, and delivered in the switched mode only to customers who requested the video programs, said method comprising: delivering a plurality of video programs to customers in at least one of the broadcast and the switched modes; and for at least one of said plurality of video programs that is being delivered to at least a first customer in a first mode of the two modes, causing said at least one video program to be delivered for at least a second customer different from the first customer, in a second mode that is different from the first mode, wherein said at least one video program is delivered to said first and second customers simultaneously in the two different modes only during a transition time period of predetermined duration, after which delivery of said at least one video program in the first mode is terminated, and wherein said causing is transparent to said first customer during the transition time period.