Systems and methods of customized television programming over the internet

Abstract

A production facility receives program content from a plurality of broadcast feeds over the Internet. In an embodiment, the production facility comprises server on a computer network, such as the Internet. The server comprises computer programs configured to manipulate the audio and video data of the multiple program contents. At the production facility, the program content can be manipulated to produce a production. Program manipulation can comprise at least one of green screen technology, music, graphics, Foley, sound effects, voice over, advertising, or the like. The production is broadcast over the computer network to viewers, where the viewers receive the production. In an embodiment, the production is customized based on the viewers' input received while broadcasting. In other words, the production is customized in real time based at least in part on the interaction of the production with the viewers. In another embodiment, the viewers can further manipulate the program content of the production to create a new production, which can be broadcast over the customized programming system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of producing interactive television over the Internet comprising:
 receiving over the Internet with at least one server a plurality of media content from at least two or more content providers, wherein the at least two or more content providers are separate entities, and wherein the server is remotely located from the at least two or more content providers,   one or more of the plurality of media content comprising one or more of vided or audio data;   transmitting over the Internet, at least two portions of the plurality of media content from the at least two or more content providers from the server to multiple first viewer computers, the multiple first viewer computers remotely located from the server;   receiving at the server over the Internet, from the multiple first viewer computers that are remotely located from the server, first viewer input from the multiple first viewers of the at least two portions of the plurality of media content transmitted over the Internet, and tracking with the server which of the at least two portions of the plurality of media content receive input;   creating a viewer-customized media production by including the at least two portions of the plurality of media content based at least in part on the first viewer input; and   transmitting the viewer-customized media production to at least a second viewer computer that is remotely located from the multiple first viewer computers, wherein advertising is in the viewer-customized media production.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least two or more content providers own rights in the at least two portions of the plurality of media content. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising compensating the at least two or more content providers by providing a reward to the at least two or more content providers based at least in part on the usage of the at least two portions of the plurality of media content in the viewer-customized media production. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising compensating the at least two or more content providers by paying the at least two or more content providers a share of revenues associated with the viewer-customized media production. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a reward to either one or more of the multiple first viewers, or the second viewer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein transmitting the viewer-customized media production to the second viewer comprises sharing the viewer-customized media production with at least one other viewer connected to the Internet. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first viewer input further comprises at least one of a sharing, voting, editing, survey results, talent scouting, sharing the at least two portions of the plurality of media content, sharing the viewer-customized media production, recommending, critiquing, requesting similar programming, responding to advertising, pausing, rewinding, fast forwarding, blocking, and an Internet Protocol address of the viewer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , where the plurality of media content comprises at least one of streaming audio, streaming video, and streaming audio/video. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two portions of the plurality of media content in the viewer-customized media production comprises at least one of: live interaction of multiple feeds, editing, mixing, keying, adding sound effects, adding audio digital replacement (ADR), adding graphics, editing graphics, adding video, editing video, adding audio, editing audio, adding music, adding subtitles, adding animation, adding digital and analog special effects, using computer generated imagery, adding advertisements, creating new commentary, adding text, creating new soundtrack, color grading, compositing, digital compositing performing voice over, using keying technology, and using digital cinema technology. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second viewer edits the at least two portions of the plurality of media content in the viewer-customized media production to create a different viewer-customized media production. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second viewer comprises a node of a peer-to-peer network. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two portions of the plurality of media content is related to at least one of interactive TV, interactive advertising, interactive sales, interactive news, interactive music, interactive concert, interactive medicine, interactive lessons, interactive events, interactive lifestyle, interactive talk radio, interactive theater, medical consultations, interactive auctions, interactive retailers, interactive supermarket, interactive auto sales, interactive bank and finance transactions, interactive search engine, interactive gambling, interactive video gaming, interactive graphics, interactive construction, interactive mining, interactive transport, interactive boardroom, interactive court proceedings, interactive government sessions, interactive human resources, interactive entertainment, interactive telecommunications, interactive market research, interactive interior design, interactive hotels, interactive business to business, interactive communities, interactive veterinary science, interactive sports, interactive product development, interactive talent search, interactive futures, interactive productions, interactive translation, interactive blue screen, interactive education, and interactive health. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viewer-customized media production comprises the at least two portions of the plurality of media content for training or product up selling. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein either the one or more of the multiple first viewers, or the second viewer is rewarded for sharing the viewer-customized media production on at least a node of a peer-to-peer network. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein either one or more of the multiple first viewers, or the second viewer is rewarded for sharing the viewer-customized media production. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , rewarding one or more of the multiple first viewers when the one or more of the multiple first viewers manipulates the viewer-customized media production. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a bid from one or more of the multiple first viewers associated with manipulating the viewer-customized media production. 
     
     
         18 . An interactive television network comprising:
 plurality of media content provided by at least two or more content providers, wherein the at least two or more content providers are separate entities, and the plurality of media content received over the Internet, one or more of the plurality of media content comprising one or more video or audio data;   at least one server comprising computer hardware that receives the plurality of media content from the Internet, wherein the at least one server is remotely located from the at least two or more content providers;   wherein the at least one server transmits over the Internet at least two portions of the plurality of media content from at least two content providers to multiple first viewer computers, the multiple first viewer computers remotely located from the at least one server;   wherein the at least one server receives over the Internet from the multiple first viewer computers, first viewer input from the multiple first viewers of the at least two portions of the plurality of media content transmitted over the Internet;   wherein the server tracks which of the at least two portions of the plurality of media content receives input;   wherein the at least one server receives a viewer-customized media production that is created by including the at least two portions of the plurality of media content based at least in part on the first viewer input; and   wherein the at least one server transmits the viewer-customized media production to at least a second viewer computer that is remotely located from the multiple first viewer computers, wherein at least advertising is in the viewer-customized media production   
     
     
         19 . The interactive television network of  claim 18  wherein compensating the two or more content providers provides a reward to the two or more content providers based at least in part on the usage of the at least two portions of the plurality of media content in the viewer-customized media production. 
     
     
         20 . The interactive television network of  claim 18 , wherein either one or more of the multiple first viewers or the second viewer is rewarded for sharing the viewer-customized media production on at least a node of a peer-to-peer network. 
     
     
         21 . The interactive television network of  claim 18 , wherein one or more of the multiple first viewers are rewarded for sharing the viewer-customized media production. 
     
     
         22 . The interactive television network of  claim 18  further comprising providing a reward to either one or more of the multiple first viewers, or the second viewer. 
     
     
         23 . The interactive television network of  claim 18 , further comprising rewarding one or more of the multiple first viewers when the one or more first viewers manipulates the viewer-customized media production. 
     
     
         24 . The interactive television network of  claim 18 , further comprising receiving a bid from one or more of the multiple first viewers associated with manipulating the viewer-customized media production. 
     
     
         25 . The interactive television network of  claim 18  wherein the viewer-customized media production is created by further combining additional portions of the plurality of media content. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1  wherein creating the viewer-customized media production further comprising additional portions of the plurality of media content. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the advertising is inserted based on at least in part on interests of the second viewer. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising compensating the two or more content providers with a share of revenues from at least the advertising based at least in part on the usage of the at least two portions of the plurality of media content in the viewer-customized media production. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of media content comprises at least one of live interaction of multiple feeds, editing, mixing, keying, adding sound effects, adding audio digital replacement (ADR), adding graphics, editing graphics, adding video, editing video, adding audio, editing audio, adding music, adding subtitles, adding animation, adding digital and analog special effects, using computer generated imagery, adding advertisements, creating new commentary, adding text, creating new soundtrack, color grading, compositing, digital compositing performing voice over, using keying technology, using digital cinema technology, polling, voting, manipulating, voice over, photographs, text, screen capturing, subtitles, language translation, animation, digital and analog special effects, visual special effects, computer generated imagery (CGI), color grading, compositing, digital compositing, digital cinema technology, using keying technology, sound design, music, different languages, and commentary. 
     
     
         30 . The interactive television network of  claim 18  wherein the advertising is inserted based on at least in part on interests of the second viewer. 
     
     
         31 . The interactive television network of  claim 18  wherein the at least one server compensates the two or more content providers with a share of revenues from at least the advertising based at least in part on the usage of the at least two portions of the plurality of media content in the viewer-customized media production. 
     
     
         32 . The interactive television network of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of media content comprises at least one of live interaction of multiple feeds, editing, mixing, keying, adding sound effects, adding audio digital replacement (ADR), adding graphics, editing graphics, adding video, editing video, adding audio, editing audio, adding music, adding subtitles, adding animation, adding digital and analog special effects, using computer generated imagery, adding advertisements, creating new commentary, adding text, creating new soundtrack, color grading, compositing, digital compositing performing voice over, using keying technology, using digital cinema technology, polling, voting, manipulating, voice over, photographs, text, screen capturing, subtitles, language translation, animation, digital and analog special effects, visual special effects, computer generated imagery (CGI), color grading, compositing, digital compositing, digital cinema technology, using keying technology, sound design, music, different languages, and commentary.