A broadcast system, method and apparatus providing content on demand. In
one embodiment, the disclosed broadcast system includes a server that
broadcasts meta-data to a plurality of clients. The meta-data describes a
plurality of data files that are to be broadcast or potentially broadcast
later by the server. Each client receives the broadcasted meta-data from
the server and updates and maintains a local meta-data table and a
content rating table. Based on the meta-data, previous access habits of
the user and optional user classifications, the client system selectively
receives and/or stores the data files that are later broadcast by the
server. In one embodiment, the client systems transmit back to the server
ratings of each one of the data files described by the meta-data based on
the user's previously accessed data files and optional user
classifications. The server then determines the data files to be
broadcast and the broadcast schedule based on the ratings received from
the clients.