Method for managing time hops when playing back a multimedia content

A management entity for managing time hops when playing back a multimedia content item received by a playback device via a communication network, the management entity comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon which when executed by the processor configure the management entity to:
• obtain a plurality of broadcast channels for a same content item, respective broadcast times of the content item for the plurality of broadcast channels being spaced in time,
• during rendering of the content item via a channel, called first channel, receive a time hop command for a time hop in the content item, which brings about:
• selecting a broadcast channel of the plurality of broadcast channels, called second channel, different from the first channel, wherein the plurality of broadcast channels comprises intermediate broadcast channels having respective broadcast times in between the broadcast times of the first channel and the second channel;
• during a hop from the first to the second channel, rendering images broadcast on broadcast channels belonging to said intermediate broadcast channels, the images being rendered from successive ones of the intermediate broadcast channels in a direction of the hop.

A non-transitory computer readable data medium on which at least one series of program code instructions has been stored for executing a management method when the series of program code instructions are executed by a processor of a management entity, the management method comprising:

• managing time hops when playing back a multimedia content item received by a playback device via a communication network, the managing comprising:
• obtaining a plurality of broadcast channels for a same content item, respective broadcast times of the content item for the plurality of broadcast channels being spaced in time;
• and
• during rendering of the content item via a channel, called first channel, of the plurality of broadcast channels, receiving a time hop command for a time hop in the content item, wherein receipt of the time hop command brings about:
• selecting a broadcast channel of the plurality of broadcast channels, called second channel, different from the first channel, wherein the plurality of broadcast channels comprises intermediate broadcast channels having respective broadcast times in between the broadcast times of the first channel and the second channel;
• and
• during a hop from the first to the second channel, rendering images broadcast on broadcast channels belonging to said intermediate broadcast channels, the images being rendered from successive ones of the intermediate broadcast channels in a direction of the hop.