Interactive television program guide system and method with niche hubs

Abstract

A system for providing interactive television program guide features and other features and information related to a specific user interest or programming category in niche hubs is provided. All of the television programming features provided by user television equipment that relate to a specific user interest or programming category may be accessed from the niche hub. For example, a movie lovers niche hub may provide programming features such as television program listings for movies, video-on-demand listings for movies, pay-per-view listings for movies, web site links related to movies, movie-related merchandise, movie news groups, movie chat groups, movie e-mail clubs, movie contests, movie trivia questions, movie actor interviews, movie reviews, movie channel package ordering, etc. The programming features of the niche hubs may be transmitted from a server, database, or other storage facility via a television distribution facility. User television equipment may be connected via two-way communications paths to transmit messages to each other.

1 . A method for providing access to applications associated with an interactive television program guide comprising:
 providing an interactive television program guide to a user comprising a plurality of selectable options for sports-related applications, wherein the plurality of selectable options comprises a first selectable option for providing the user with a listing of a plurality of broadcast programs and a second selectable option for providing the user with access to a fantasy sports contest; and   providing the user with the ability to access the fantasy sports contest using the interactive television program guide.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the user with the ability to access a sports wagering application using the interactive television program guide. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the sports wagering application allows the user to wager a real bet. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the sports wagering application allows the user to wager a pretend bet. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the user with point spreads. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the fantasy sports contest via an interactive television program menu screen. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising allowing a user to participate in a fantasy sports league using the interactive television program guide. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising using the interactive television program guide to provide a participant of the fantasy sports league the ability to select a fantasy squad. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the participant's fantasy squad is evaluated based on real-life performances of the squad. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing scores of real-life sporting events to a fantasy sports contest participant using the interactive television program guide. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing fantasy sports contest rules to a fantasy sports contest participant using the interactive television program guide. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the fantasy sports contest and a television program substantially simultaneously to a fantasy sports contest participant using the interactive television program guide. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising calculating a score for a fantasy sports contest participant using the interactive television program guide. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising displaying the score of fantasy sports contest participant using the interactive television program guide. 
   
   
       15 . A system for providing access to applications associated with an interactive television program guide comprising:
 a transceiver that transmits and receives data relating to sports-related applications;   an interactive television program guide comprising a plurality of selectable options for sports-related applications, wherein the plurality of selectable options comprises a first selectable option that provides the user with a listing of a plurality of broadcast programs and a second selectable option that provides a user with access to the fantasy sports contest; and   a display device that displays the fantasy sports contest.   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the transceiver further transmits and receives data relating to a sports wagering application. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the interactive television program guide provides the user with the ability to access the sports wagering application. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the display device displays a user selected video channel and a fantasy sports contest substantially simultaneously. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the interactive television program guide displays data comprising available fantasy sports contests, real-life sports scores, and fantasy sports contest information. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a local processor that calculates a score for a fantasy sports contest participant, wherein the calculated score is based at least in part on the performance of real-life sports teams. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a local storage device that stores the participant's score. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a remote processor that calculates a score for a fantasy sports contest participant, wherein the calculated score is based at least in part on the performance of real-life sports teams. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising a remote storage device that stores the participant's score. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a local database that stores league information for a fantasy sports contest. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a remote database that stores league information for a fantasy sports contest. 
   
   
       26 - 46 . (canceled)