A software interface (26) is provided to enable television settop middleware (14) and operating system (OS) software (16) to control and interact with core settop system software (20) in a subscriber television terminal to facilitate the provision of desirable digital television services, including service acquisition (e.g., acquisition of a pay-per-view movie), system information management, settop configuration and control, return path for polling, download capability, and non-volatile memory management.