Method and apparatus for managing provision of media programs directly from content providers

A system for receiving a media program of a plurality of media programs by a user device directly from a selected content provider of a plurality of content providers via a content provider playback application executed by the user device, the content provider playback application provided and maintained by the content provider of the media program, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory, the memory communicatively coupled to the processor and storing processor instructions for performing steps comprising the steps of:
• transmitting a registration request having registration information from a user device in a subscription management service, the registration request to subscribe the user to the selected content provider providing the media program;
• receiving program guide information of the plurality of media programs including the media program from the subscription management service to the user device for presentation by the user device, the program guide information received after brokering, by a subscription management service, between the user device and the content provider to subscribe the user to the selected content provider providing the media program, the brokering including determining if the user is subscribed to the selected content provider;
• if the user is not subscribed to the selected content provider, subscribing the user to the selected content provider;
• and transmitting payment for the subscription of the user from the subscription management service to the selected content provider and billing the user for the subscription to the selected content provider;
• transmitting a playback request from a program guide presented by the user device using the program guide information, the playback request comprising a user selection of the media program from the selected content provider for presentation exclusively by the content provider playback application executed by the user device, the content provider playback application provided to the user device and maintained by the selected content provider of the media program;
• and
• enabling presentation of the media program from the selected content provider by the content provider playback application executed by the user device.

An apparatus for receiving a media program of a plurality of media programs directly from a selected content provider of a plurality of content providers via a content provider playback application executed by the user device, the content provider playback application provided and maintained by the content provider of the media program, comprising:

• means for transmitting a registration request having registration information in a subscription management service, the registration request to subscribe the user to the selected content provider providing the media program;
• means for receiving program guide information of the plurality of media programs including the media program from the subscription management service to the user device for presentation, the program guide information received after brokering, by a subscription management service, between a user device and the content provider to subscribe the user to the selected content provider providing the media program, the brokering including determining if the user is subscribed to the selected content provider;
• if the user is not subscribed to the selected content provider, subscribing the user to the selected content provider;
• and transmitting payment for the subscription of the user from the subscription management service to the selected content provider and billing the user for the subscription to the selected content provider;
• means for transmitting a playback request from a program guide presented by the user device using the program guide information, the playback request comprising a user selection of the media program from the selected content provider for presentation exclusively by the content provider playback application executed by the user device, the content provider playback application provided to the user device and maintained by the selected content provider of the media program;
• and
• means for presenting the media program from the selected content provider by the content provider playback application executed by the user device.