A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for
modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider
and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the
television stations regardless of their geographic location and other
user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement
even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the
advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved
from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement.In one aspect,
the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement
in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule
information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a
second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule
information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a
modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a
screen.