Patent ID: 7716703

Claim:
A method implemented on a computing device by a processor configured to execute instructions that, when executed by the processor, direct the computing device to perform acts comprising: searching a multimedia program database for one or more multimedia programs based on: (1) an indicated viewing period, and (2) a licensing agreement of the multimedia program; requesting a multimedia program of the one or more multimedia programs and a corresponding ad element based on the searching of the multimedia program database, wherein the requested ad element specifies a desired format of the ad element based on a technology capability of a broadcast carousel of a multisystem operator; receiving the requested multimedia program and the corresponding ad element for a real time distribution to a third party, wherein the received ad element complies with the desired format; forming a plurality of daypart guides each comprising: a template page including advertising space; the ad element assembled into the template page; a first navigational link from the ad element to a video storefront for a corresponding multimedia program, the video storefront including a second navigational link selectable by the third party to initiate a real time distribution of the corresponding multimedia program; indication of a time of day; and indication of one or more headends; transmitting each formed daypart guide to the indicated one or more headends before the indicated time of day of any day during the viewing period; receiving a daypart guide request from the third party; determining which of the plurality of formed daypart guides corresponds to the daypart guide request by comparing the time of day of the daypart guide request with the indicated time of day; polling a video delivery server for the corresponding multimedia program; and when the polling determines that the corresponding multimedia program is resident on the video delivery server, initiating a real time distribution of the determined daypart guide to the third party from the indicated one or more headends that is associated with the third party; wherein, a content provider indicates the indicated one or more headends, the indicated time of day, and the indicated viewing period, wherein the content provider has ownership rights in the multimedia program and the owner of the indicated one or more headends receives distribution rights in the multimedia program from the content provider.