Patent ID: 8566862

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, 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 node of said video content network remote from said terminals; 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 node of said video content network remote from said terminals as a multicast stream to which said terminals tune; 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 node of said video content network remote from said terminals as corresponding time-shifted internet protocol television streams to which said terminals tune; 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.