Method and apparatus for a virtual online video channel

A system for providing a virtual online linear video channel, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory which stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• receive, at a manifest server, a request to play the virtual online linear video channel from a video player;
• establish a connection between the manifest server and the video player;
• identify a schedule for the virtual online linear video channel, wherein the schedule identifies a plurality of video sources comprising a live video stream and a pre-recorded video signal;
• and
• provide, using the connection, a manifest file to the video player, the manifest file corresponding to the schedule for the virtual online linear video channel and identifying a first location of the live video stream and a second location of the prerecorded video signal, the live video stream and the prerecorded video signal to be retrieved by the video player to produce the virtual online linear video channel, wherein the virtual online linear video channel is presented to a user of the video player.

A non-transitory computer readable medium encoding instructions that, in response to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, at a manifest server, a request to play the virtual online linear video channel from a video player;
• establishing a connection between the manifest server and the video player;
• identifying a schedule for the virtual online linear video channel, wherein the schedule identifies a plurality of video sources comprising a live video stream and a pre-recorded video signal;
• and
• providing, using the connection, a manifest file to the video player, the manifest file corresponding to the schedule for the virtual online linear video channel and identifying a first location of the live video stream and a second location of the prerecorded video signal, the live video stream and the prerecorded video signal to be retrieved by the video player to produce the virtual online linear video channel, wherein the virtual online linear video channel is presented to a user of the video player.