Customizable Media Channels

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes receiving an identification of a media program from a broadcast channel on an electronic program guide for inclusion in a personalized channel, adding the identified program to a personalized channel at a first time, and adding one or more additional programs to the personalized channel at times other than the first time.

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving an identification of a media program from a broadcast channel on an electronic program guide for inclusion in a personalized channel;   adding the identified program to a personalized channel at a first time; and   adding one or more additional programs to the personalized channel at times other than the first time.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identification of a program comprises sensing a drag-and-drop command from a cell in a program guide to the personalized channel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more additional programs overlap in time with the identified program. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising identifying a non-overlapping time for the identified program and the one or more additional programs, and moving one of the identified program or the one or more additional programs to eliminate the overlap. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing code for causing the display of advertisements targeted to a user or to the identified program or one or more other programs. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing code for causing the automatic playing of each of the identified program and the one or more other programs in a predetermined order. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising identifying advertisements targeted to the identified program or the one or more other programs and providing the advertisements for display between program segments. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a search request from a user and providing for display to the user a list of search results and the electronic program guide, wherein the electronic program guide displays a program responsive to the request. 
     
     
         9 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 displaying media programs in an electronic program guide grid identifying a plurality of different channels;   receiving a user selection of one of a program episode associated with one of the plurality of different channels; and   adding the program episode to a personalized schedule of television programming to be displayed over a future time period.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising identifying gaps in programming on the personalized schedule and generating a command to select downloadable media from the internet to fill the gaps. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the downloadable media is targeted at least in part to characteristics of one or more programs in the personalized schedule. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising displaying media in the personalized schedule automatically in order. 
     
     
         13 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 displaying an electronic program guide grid having a plurality of channels;   receiving a command to add an episode from one of the plurality of channels to a personalized channel; and   combining the selected episode with other programs in the personalized channel.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising generating a user alert for overlapping programs on the personalized channel and moving one or more episodes to eliminate the overlap. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the command to add an episode comprises a drag-and-drop command from a cell in one of the plurality of channels to an area defined by the personalized channel. 
     
     
         16 - 20 . (canceled)