System and method for scheduling news stories based upon voting by viewers/listeners

Abstract

The method, computer program and system enable a broadcaster to provide real-time questions to a remote audience and to receive real-time feedback from that audience. The method comprises broadcasting a performance and an index of selectable subjects that may be included in the performance to an audience, receiving audience votes for the selectable subjects, tabulating the votes for the selectable subjects, and scheduling the selectable subjects within the broadcast performance based upon the tabulated votes. Feedback from viewers can be received, tabulated and utilized for programming decisions while a performance or presentation is still in progress. In order to improve accessibility and participation in the voting process, preferably the viewer/listener feedback is accommodated through a number of communications media, such as through a telephone call by a viewer/listener to a special number, a smart cable box, or a web-based index.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.