Identifying instances of media programming available from different content sources

A method executable by a processing system to identify instances of a desired media program available within a media distribution system, the method comprising:

• searching, by the processing system, a first listing of media programming available from a first content source using search criteria indicative of the desired media program to identify a first instance of the desired media program available from the first content source;
• obtaining, by the processing system, a target program identifier associated with the desired media program from the first instance;
• identifying, by the processing system, a second instance of the desired media program in a second listing of media programming available from a second content source using the target program identifier, the second content source being different from the first content source;
• and
• providing, by the processing system, a combined search result that indicates availability of the desired media program from the first content source and the second content source.

A method of identifying instances of media programming available within a media distribution system, the method comprising:

• obtaining a first media data object corresponding to a first media program available from a first content source in the media distribution system;
• formatting the first media data object to include a first identifier to associate the first media data object with the first media program;
• searching media programming available from a second content source in the media distribution system using search criteria indicative of the first media program to identify a second media data object corresponding to the first media program available from the second content source, the second media data object having the first identifier associated therewith;
• in response to identifying the second media data object based on the search criteria:
• obtaining the first identifier from the second media data object;
• and
• identifying the first media data object from media programming available from the first content source using the first identifier;
• and
• providing a combined search result that indicates availability of the first media program from the first content source and the second content source.