Manipulating unused portions of a video display

A method for processing a video program and display information to show on a video display, the method comprising:

• specifying, at a first location, the display information;
• transmitting the video program and the display information to a second location geographically away from the first location;
• and
• processing the video program and the display information at the second location to create video data indicative of a stream of output video images, wherein:
• the video data is configured such that each image of the stream of output video images, when shown on the video display, comprises:
• a portion in which the video program is shown, and
• one or more unused portions, the one or more unused portions comprising one or more portions of the image located outside the portion in which the video program is shown, and
• the display information is used to determine what is displayed on at least one of the one or more unused portions when the video program is shown on the video display.

A video distribution system that distributes a stream of images comprising a video program and visual information, the video distribution system comprising:

• a distribution point configured to transmit the video program and display information;
• a video converter remote from the distribution point and configured to:
• receive the transmitted video program and display information from the distribution point,
• format the video program such that there are one or more unused portions of a video display when the video program is shown on the video display, the one or more unused portions comprising one or more portions of the video display located outside a portion of the video display in which the video program is shown, and
• use the display information to determine the visual information to display on at least one of the one or more unused portions of the video display when the video program is shown on the video display.

A method for processing a video program having a first aspect ratio different from a second aspect ratio of a display, the method comprising steps of:

• specifying, at a first location, video conversion information for each of a stream of images comprising the video program, wherein:
• the video conversion information dynamically changes across the stream of images;
• the video conversion information can be used to modify display of the video program over time for the display,
• the video conversion information comprises first manipulation information and second manipulation information,
• the first manipulation information specifies transformations relevant to a first portion of the video program comprising a first subset of the stream of images, and
• the second manipulation information specifies transformations relevant to a second portion of the video program comprising a second subset of the stream of images, the second subset different from the first subset;
• transmitting the conversion information and the stream of images of the video program having the first aspect ratio to a second location geographically away from the first location;
• and
• transmitting display information used to determine what is displayed on at least one of the one or more unused portions of a display when the video program is shown on the display.