A system and method for creating a virtual media channel including video,
audio, multimedia, or other data, at or near the point of reception by
end users remotely controls an operation of an end user receiving device.
The present invention remotely controls an input source selection at the
end user receiving device in a coordinated manner. These input sources
may include terrestrial digital broadcast stations, direct broadcast
satellites, other broadband data networks, data stored at the end user
receiving device, internet content, multimedia files, and other programs
or programming. By synchronizing the delivery of programs and programming
from various sources and by remotely controlling the input source
selection of the end user receiving device, the present invention
provides for highly efficient integration of local and national broadcast
signals, programs or programming available on other broadband networks,
and programs and programming stored at the end user's receiving device.
In particular, the present invention provides for the dynamic integration
of programming originating from multiple sources, including integration
of locally-originated programming with the programming of national
program networks delivered by direct broadcast satellite providers or
other satellite systems on a market-by-market basis. The present
invention further provides for the direct addressing of individual end
user receiving devices, allowing the creation of virtual channels of
programming or other data that is unique to each end user or to certain
classes of end users.