Fantasy sports television programming systems and methods

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed that enable fantasy betting sports games via the Internet and a comprehensive all-sports social networking community for sports fans, virtual sports bettors and sports gamers. The systems and methods include Internet-enabled interactive display systems located at player sites. An Internet-enabled server system is provided for generating a television channel comprising the fantasy betting sports games, fantasy sports games, real-time live off-shore and domestic odds, short segment video content from sports handicappers relating to the fantasy betting sports games. sports prognosticator predictions, and all-sports social networking services and programs. The display systems are used to select and view the fantasy betting sports games, odds, and sports handicapper content. The sports handicappers also provide personal, interactive advice via premium priced appointments, selectable from the display systems. An Internet-based communication link is coupled between the server system and the interactive display system for communicating sports handicapper selections made at the interactive display system to the server system and for communicating the fantasy betting sports games, off-shore and domestic odds, and handicapping information from the server system to the display system.

1 . A fantasy television system, comprising: 
 an Internet-enabled interactive display system located at a consumer site for selecting a professional handicapper whose handicapping information is desired;    an Internet-enabled server system for storing handicapping information derived from one or more professional handicappers for purposes of information and playing fantasy betting sports games; and    an Internet-based communication link coupled between the server system and the interactive display system for communicating the selection from the interactive display system to the server system and for communicating the handicapping information from the server system to the display system.    
   
   
       2 . The system recited in  claim 1  wherein the server system transmits real-time odds derived from one or more off-shore and domestic sports books for purposes of information and playing the fantasy betting sports games.  
   
   
       3 . The system recited in  claim 1  wherein the display system comprises an interactive television system.  
   
   
       4 . The system recited in  claim 1  wherein the display system comprises a web-enabled computer device.  
   
   
       5 . The system recited in  claim 1  wherein the display system comprises a wireless device and the communication link is wireless.  
   
   
       6 . The system recited in  claim 1  wherein the display system comprises a wireless interactive display system and the communication link is wireless.  
   
   
       7 . The system recited in  claim 1  wherein the communication link is a wired communication link.  
   
   
       8 . The system recited in  claim 1  wherein the communication link comprises a telecom provider and/or company  
   
   
       9 . The system in  claim 1  where the communication link comprises a handheld device.  
   
   
       10 . The system recited in  claim 1  wherein the server system comprises a website and wherein the display system comprises a web-enabled computer device that displays the fantasy betting sports games, and the handicapping information when the web-enabled computer device is linked to the website.  
   
   
       11 . The system recited in  claim 1  wherein the handicapping information comprises video content that may be used for general information purposes.  
   
   
       12 . The system recited in  claim 1  wherein the handicapping information comprises video content that may be used to play selected fantasy betting sports games.  
   
   
       14 . The system recited in  claim 1  wherein the handicapper provides personal, interactive advice via an appointment.  
   
   
       15 . The system related in  claim 1  where the handicappers are in a pool of more than one, and members can select to use one or more handicappers per game.  
   
   
       16 . The system related in  claim 1  wherein handicapper information is customizable.  
   
   
       17 . The system related in  claim 1  where the professional handicappers and amateur handicappers compete.  
   
   
       18 . The system related in  claim 1  where certain handicappers have their own blogs.  
   
   
       19 . The system recited in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a social networking website that allows consumers to access casual games, rotisserie games and fantasy gambling games.    
   
   
       20 . The system recited in  claim 19  further comprising: 
 a web-based audio-video content website that allows consumers to store audio and video content for retrieval by other consumers, and that is accessible by way of the server system and the social networking community or site.    
   
   
       21 . The system recited in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a web-based audio-video content website that allows consumers to store audio and video content for retrieval by other consumers, and that is accessible by way of the server system and the social networking community or site.    
   
   
       22 . The system recited in  claim 1  wherein the Internet-enabled server system implements community and social networking within the context of the fantasy betting sports game.  
   
   
       23 . A method comprising: 
 providing an Internet-enabled interactive display system located at a consumer site;    providing an Internet-enabled server system that stores handicapping information derived from one or more professional handicappers for purposes of information and playing a fantasy betting sports game;    selecting a professional handicapper at the interactive display system whose handicapping information is desired to play the fantasy betting sports game;    communicating the selection from the interactive display system to the server system via the Internet; and    communicating the handicapping information relating to the fantasy betting sports game from the server system to the display system via the Internet.    
   
   
       24 . The method recited in  claim 23  further comprising communicating real-time odds derived from one or more off-shore and domestic sports books from the server system to the display system for purposes of information and playing the fantasy betting sports games.  
   
   
       25 . The method recited in  claim 23  wherein the display system comprises an interactive television system.  
   
   
       26 . The method recited in  claim 23  wherein the display system comprises a web-enabled computer device.  
   
   
       27 . The method recited in  claim 23  wherein the display system comprises a wireless device and the television signal is wirelessly transmitted.  
   
   
       28 . The method recited in  claim 23  wherein the display system comprises a wireless interactive device and the television signal is wirelessly transmitted.  
   
   
       29 . The method recited in  claim 23  further comprising: 
 providing a social networking website that allows consumers to access casual games, rotisserie games and fantasy gambling games from the display system.    
   
   
       30 . The method recited in  claim 29  further comprising: 
 providing a web-based audio-video content website that allows consumers to store audio and video content for retrieval by other consumers, which website is accessible to consumers by way of the server system and the social networking community or site.    
   
   
       31 . The method recited in  claim 29  further comprising: 
 presenting advertisements to consumers by way of the server system and interactive display system; and    rewarding consumers for watching the advertisements.    
   
   
       32 . The method recited in  claim 23  further comprising: 
 providing a web-based audio-video content website that allows consumers to store audio and video content for retrieval by other consumers.    
   
   
       33 . The method recited in  claim 23  wherein the Internet-enabled server system implements community and social networking within the context of the fantasy betting sports game.