Patent ID: 8272013

Claim:
A method for delivering a program in advance of a scheduled broadcast time for the program, the method including: retrieving the scheduled broadcast time for the program, wherein the scheduled broadcast time is associated with a program content identifier for the program; prior to the scheduled broadcast time, selecting a pre-cast channel on a network by selecting a dedicated pre-cast channel; prior to the scheduled broadcast time, sending a signal for placing a viewer program storage device into a pre-cast mode, such that viewing of the pre-cast channel is disabled; prior to the scheduled broadcast time, delivering the program to the viewer program storage device over the pre-cast channel, wherein the program is associated with the program content identifier and a time stamp for disabling playback of the program until arrival of the scheduled broadcast time; assigning a time period for the program, upon expiration of the time period permitting the program to be overwritten on the viewer program storage device; and adjusting the time period in response to a viewer viewing the program in its entirety, the adjusting the time period being applied to the program and other episodes of the program, wherein viewing of the program increases the time period relative to not viewing the program.