This invention enables people from the at-home viewing or listening
audience of any television or radio broadcast to talk with each other to
discuss the program's content on the telephone at any time before, during
or after a show. In addition to discussion forums based on broadcast and
print media content, the system provides premium priced telephone access
to people with specific expertise, e.g., sports stars, politicians and a
host of other specialists. Income is earned on a per-minute or flat-rate
basis and billed to the caller primarily via credit card or their phone
bill. Revenue can be derived from the sale of advertisement, e.g.,
mentions of the sponsor over the telephone during the initial greeting
and within conferences, as well as from the licensing of the service to
media networks as a value added service.