Combined digital audio/video on demand and broadcast distribution system

An in-flight entertainment system for providing content to one or more passengers on an aircraft comprising:

• a. one or more media servers for storing predetermined content data;
• b. one or more control sets through which a passenger receives content data;
• c. one or more zone bridge units each coupled to a first predetermined number of control sets thereby forming zones within the aircraft;
• d. a routing device coupled to the media servers and to a second predetermined number of the control sets through selected zone bridge units, thereby forming a first audio path for routing audio content from the media servers to the second predetermined number of control sets;
• and
• e. a system interface unit coupled to all of the control sets through the zone bridge units and configured for interfacing to existing systems on the aircraft including a PA system, thereby forming a second audio path for routing audio content from the system interface unit to the control sets.

A passenger audio distribution system for distributing audio content to one or more passengers on an aircraft, comprising:

• a. a first means for storing audio content;
• b. a plurality of means for accessing audio content, each for use by passengers for accessing the audio content, the plurality of means for accessing audio content coupled within a first network;
• c. first means for routing audio content coupled to the first means for storing audio content within a second network, and to a first predetermined number of the plurality of means for accessing audio content for routing audio content between the first means for storing audio content and the first predetermined number of the plurality of means for accessing audio content, over the first and second networks, thereby forming a first audio path for routing audio content from the first means for storing audio content to the first predetermined number of the plurality of means for accessing audio content;
• and
• d. second means for routing audio content coupled to the plurality of means for accessing audio content and to a means for addressing passengers, thereby forming a second audio path for routing audio content from the second means for routing audio content to the plurality of means for accessing audio content.