Distribution system, reception apparatus, and methods for transitioning to new services

A method for receiving a plurality of first services from a plurality of different broadcast providers on a first single wireless radio frequency (RF) broadcast channel, the method comprising:

• receiving, by circuitry of a reception apparatus, a selection of one of the plurality of first services from the plurality of different broadcast providers, the plurality of first services from the plurality of different broadcast providers being broadcast on the first single wireless RF broadcast channel allocated to a first broadcast provider of the plurality of different broadcast providers,
• tuning, by the circuitry, to the first single wireless RF broadcast channel allocated to the first broadcast provider,
• receiving at least two of the plurality of first services being originally broadcast on the first single wireless RF broadcast channel allocated to the first broadcast provider, each of the at least two of the plurality of first services being identified by a first major virtual channel number identifying the first service provider and a different minor virtual channel number,
• decoding, by the circuitry, the selected one of the plurality of first services broadcast on the tuned first single wireless RF broadcast channel, and
• outputting the selected one of the plurality of first services for display, wherein
• the selected one of the plurality of first services is identified by a second major virtual channel number identifying a second service broadcast provider of the plurality of different broadcast providers and a second minor virtual channel number, and
• wherein the first major virtual channel number is different from the second major virtual channel number, and
• wherein the method further comprises receiving a second service, which is a same service as one of the plurality of first services but with a different format, from a wireless RF broadcast channel different from the single wireless RF broadcast channel.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for receiving a plurality of first services from a plurality of different broadcast providers on a first single wireless radio frequency (RF) broadcast channel, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the computer, a selection of one of the plurality of first services from the plurality of different broadcast providers, the plurality of first services from the plurality of different broadcast providers being broadcast on the first single wireless RF broadcast channel allocated to a first broadcast provider of the plurality of different broadcast providers,
• tuning, by the computer, to the first single wireless RF broadcast channel allocated to the first broadcast provider,
• receiving at least two of the plurality of first services being originally broadcast on the first single wireless RF broadcast channel allocated to the first broadcast provider, each of the at least two of the plurality of first services being identified by a first major virtual channel number identifying the first service provider and a different minor virtual channel number,
• decoding, by the computer, the selected one of the plurality of first services broadcast on the tuned first single wireless RF broadcast channel, and
• outputting the selected one of the plurality of first services for display, wherein
• the selected one of the plurality of first services is identified by a second major virtual channel number identifying a second service broadcast provider of the plurality of different broadcast providers and a second minor virtual channel number, and
• wherein the first major virtual channel number is different from the second major virtual channel number, and
• wherein the method further comprises receiving a second service, which is a same service as one of the plurality of first services but with a different format, from a wireless RF broadcast channel different from the single wireless RF broadcast channel.

A transmitter comprising:

• circuitry configured to
• transmit a plurality of first services from a plurality of different broadcast providers, the plurality of first services from the plurality of different broadcast providers being broadcast on a first single wireless radio frequency (RF) broadcast channel allocated to a first broadcast provider of the plurality of different broadcast providers, wherein
• at least two of the plurality of first services being originally broadcast on the first single wireless RF broadcast channel allocated to the first broadcast provider, each of the at least two of the plurality of first services being identified by a first major virtual channel number identifying the first service provider and a different minor virtual channel number,
• one of the plurality of first services is identified by a second major virtual channel number identifies a second service broadcast provider of the plurality of different broadcast providers and a second minor virtual channel number, and
• the first major virtual channel number is different from the second major virtual channel number, and
• transmit a second service, which is a same service as one of the plurality of first services but with a different format, via a wireless RF broadcast channel different from the single wireless RF broadcast channel.

A transmission method comprising:

• transmitting a plurality of first services from a plurality of different broadcast providers, the plurality of first services from the plurality of different broadcast providers being broadcast on a first single wireless radio frequency (RF) broadcast channel allocated to a first broadcast provider of the plurality of different broadcast providers, wherein
• at least two of the plurality of first services being originally broadcast on the first single wireless RF broadcast channel allocated to the first broadcast provider, each of the at least two of the plurality of first services being identified by a first major virtual channel number identifying the first service provider and a different minor virtual channel number,
• one of the plurality of first services is identified by a second major virtual channel number identifies a second service broadcast provider of the plurality of different broadcast providers and a second minor virtual channel number, and
• the first major virtual channel number is different from the second major virtual channel number, and
• transmit a second service, which is a same service as one of the plurality of first services but with a different format, via a wireless RF broadcast channel different from the single wireless RF broadcast channel.