Method and apparatus for advertising at the sub-asset level

A method of providing advertising opportunities within media assets at a sub-asset level, the method comprising:

• creating an ontology for classifying media according to a subject matter of the media content;
• segmenting the media assets into media segments as a function of subject matter in accordance with the ontology and classifying the segments within the ontology;
• and
• enabling advertisers to search the media segments within the ontology for media segments pertaining to a specific subject matter.

A computer readable medium, storing computer-executable instructions for performing the following:

• providing an ontology for classifying media according to a subject matter of the media content;
• segmenting the media assets into media segments as a function of subject matter and classifying the segments within the ontology;
• and
• enabling advertisers to search the media segments within the ontology for media segments pertaining to a specific subject matter.

A video program method, comprising:

• segmenting, by a computing device, a video, audio, or audiovisual program into a plurality of time segments;
• assigning one or more different ontological classifications to different ones of the time segments;
• storing, in a database, information identifying the time segments and corresponding ontological classifications;
• and
• enabling an ontological search through the database to identify program time segments matching input criteria.