Patent ID: 6934963

Claim:
A hybrid passive-interactive television program guide system comprising: a main facility comprising: a data source configured to provide program guide data having program listings information; and a transmitter configured to transmit the program guide data to television program guide equipment on which an interactive television program guide is implemented, wherein: the television program guide equipment comprises: a receiver configured to receive the program guide data; a screen generator configured to generate a passive guide display screen in which the program listings information is displayed, wherein the program listings start with a given program listing; user television equipment on which the interactive television program guide is at least partially implemented; distribution equipment configured to distribute program guide data, passive guide characteristics, and the passive guide display screen to the user television equipment, wherein the passive guide display screen is distributed over a given television channel; and the interactive television program guide is programmed to overlay the program listings information of the passive program guide display screen with interactive television program listings, wherein the interactive television program listings start at the given program listing based on the passive guide characteristics.