Video on demand methods and systems

A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

• receiving plural transmission channels;
• mapping the transmission channels to plural viewing channels having monikers that distinguish different programming;
• on certain of the plural viewing channels displaying broadcast programming;
• displaying an electronic programming guide comprising the plural viewing channels and at least one additional viewing channel comprising a channel associated with a user's viewing habits listed amongst the other viewing channels;
• and
• upon receiving a selection indication of the channel, displaying a list of locally recorded programs;
• wherein upon completion of viewing a selected locally recorded program, the selected locally recorded program is not deleted after viewing but is overwritten by a subsequent recording of a second broadcast program determined to correspond to the user's viewing habits, and wherein the selected locally recorded program is overwritten instead of another locally recorded program because the selected locally recorded program was already viewed.

A system for receiving a composite signal comprising plural transmission channels and providing entertainment, the system comprising:

• a display;
• a remote control;
• a digital processor;
• volatile and non-volatile memory;
• at least one network connection;
• and
• digital processor executable instructions for performing a method comprising, mapping the transmission channels to viewing channels comprising monikers that distinguish different programming, on certain of said viewing channels, providing broadcast programming channels, displaying an electronic programming guide having the viewing channels and at least one additional viewing channel comprising a channel listed amongst the other viewing channels the channel being associated with a user's viewing habits, displaying a list of locally stored programs upon receiving a selection of the channel, and upon completion of viewing a selected locally stored program, the selected locally stored program is not deleted, but is overwritten automatically when disk space is needed, wherein viewed locally stored programs are overwritten before non-viewed locally stored programs.

A system for receiving a composite signal comprising plural transmission channels and providing entertainment, the system comprising:

• a display;
• a remote control with a menu button;
• a digital processor;
• volatile and non-volatile memory;
• at least one network connection;
• and
• digital processor executable instructions for performing a method comprising, mapping the transmission channels to viewing channels comprising monikers that distinguish different programming, on certain of said viewing channels, providing broadcast programming channels, displaying an electronic programming guide having the viewing channels and at least one additional viewing channel comprising a channel listed amongst the other viewing channels the channel being associated with a user's viewing habits, monitoring viewing channels to determine at least one television program that should be automatically copied to the channel, if the display is not activated by the user to watch the at least one television program, then storing the at least one television program locally to the non-volatile memory if there is sufficient storage space in the non-volatile memory, displaying a list of locally stored programs upon receiving a selection of the channel, the list including the at least one television program, if stored, displaying a playback user interface control panel upon receiving indication that the menu button on the remote control has been pressed, and upon completion of viewing a selected locally stored program, the selected locally stored program is not deleted, but is overwritten when disk space is needed, wherein viewed locally stored programs are overwritten before non-viewed locally stored programs.

A method of presenting video entertainment comprising:

• receiving a composite signal comprising plural transmission channels;
• mapping the transmission channels to plural viewing channels wherein viewing channels have monikers that distinguish different programming;
• on certain of said viewing channels, providing broadcast programming channels;
• displaying an electronic programming guide including at least said plural viewing channels and at least one additional viewing channel comprising a channel associated with a user's viewing habits listed amongst the plural viewing channels;
• monitoring viewing channels to determine first and second television programs that should be automatically copied to the channel because they conform to the user's viewing habits, if the display is not activated by the user to watch the first and the second television programs;
• storing the first television program locally to the non-volatile memory if there is sufficient storage space in the non-volatile memory;
• after storing the first television program, storing the second television program locally to the non-volatile memory if there is sufficient storage space in the non-volatile memory;
• determining that the viewer has completed viewing the second television program;
• and
• overwriting the second television program automatically, if additional storage space is needed, even though the second television program is newer than the first television program.