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. 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.

1 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . A method for personalizing an interactive media guide, the method comprising:
 generating for display on a display screen a plurality of profile graphics;   receiving a first user input selecting a profile graphic of the plurality of profile graphics, wherein the profile graphic is associated with a user profile;   in response to the first user input, retrieving the user profile, wherein the user profile includes user preferences and content ratings specific to a user associated with the user profile;   generating for display, on the display screen, a plurality of categories in the user profile, wherein each of the plurality of categories includes a plurality of media listings that correspond to a respective category of the plurality of categories;   receiving a second user input adding a user-selected first media listing to a user-selected first category of the plurality of categories;   in response to the second user input, updating the user-selected first category to include the user-selected first media listing;   receiving a third user input selecting the user-selected first category; and   in response to the third user input selecting the user-selected first category, generating for display, on the display screen, the first media listing in the first category.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46  wherein receiving the first user input further includes:
 receiving a user profile name; and 
 receiving a user password. 
 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46  further comprising generating a graphical representation of media listings that correspond to the first category in response to the third user input. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 46  further comprising accessing the interactive media guide via an Internet connection. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 46  further comprising generating a presentation of a media listing that corresponds to the first category in response to a fourth user input. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 46  wherein media listings that correspond to the first category are stored on a remote server and are transmitted, via an Internet connection, to the user for presentation. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 46  further comprising generating a presentation of additional information about media listings that correspond to the first category, in response to a fifth user input. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the user profile is associated with a user account of a content provider associated with the user. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the second user input comprises rating the first media listing. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the first category is associated with a category of media listings that the user wishes to view at a later date. 
     
     
         56 . A system for personalizing an interactive media guide, the system comprising control circuitry configured to:
 generate for display on a display screen a plurality of profile graphics;   receive a first user input selecting a profile graphic of the plurality of profile graphics, wherein the profile graphic is associated with a user profile;   in response to the first user input, retrieve the user profile, wherein the user profile includes user preferences and content ratings specific to a user associated with the user profile;   generate for display, on the display screen, a plurality of categories in the user profile, wherein each of the plurality of categories includes a plurality of media listings that correspond to a respective category of the plurality of categories;   receive a second user input adding a user-selected first media listing to a user-selected first category of the plurality of categories;   in response to the second user input, update the user-selected first category to include the user-selected first media listing;   receive a third user input selecting the user-selected first category; and   in response to the third user input selecting the user-selected first category, generate for display, on the display screen, the first media listing in the first category.   
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive a user profile name and a user password in the first user input. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate a graphical representation of media listings that correspond to the first category selected in response to the third user input. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to access the interactive media guide via an Internet connection. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate a presentation of a media listing that corresponds to the first category in response to a fourth user input. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 56  wherein media listings that correspond to the first category are stored on a remote server and are transmitted, via an Internet connection, to the user for presentation. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate a presentation of additional information about media listings that correspond to the first category, in response to a fifth user input. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 56  wherein the user profile is associated with a user account of a content provider associated with the user. 
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 56  wherein the second user input comprises rating the first media listing. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 56  wherein the first category is associated with a category of media listings that the user wishes to view at a later date.