Method and system for pause ads

An apparatus that displays an ad, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• a timer;
• a storage medium that contains program content displayable via a display device;
• and
• a first software application that is configured to obtain a first ad and to cause program content, selected by a user and contained in the storage medium, to be passed to the display device,
• wherein, while the display device displays the user selected program content, the apparatus enters a pause mode in response to a first user action that comprises pressing a pause key and, upon entering the pause mode, the apparatus starts the timer and subsequently uses the timer to determine whether a time delay greater than zero seconds has elapsed,
• wherein, after the apparatus starts the timer but prior to the apparatus determining that the time delay has elapsed, the display device continues to display the user selected program content,
• wherein the user selected program content displayed by the display device during the time delay is paused, and
• wherein the apparatus determines that the time delay has elapsed and responsively causes the application to pass the first ad to the display device so that the display device displays the first ad instead of the user selected program content.