Systems and methods for displaying and recording control interface with television programs, video, advertising information and program scheduling information

A television system comprising:

• a display monitor having a screen;
• a tuner;
• a microprocessor configured to display television program listings in a first area of the screen and an advertisement in a second area of the screen;
• and
• means for linking an Internet website to the microprocessor to display one or more still images or video in the second area of the screen.

An interactive television system comprising:

• means for receiving a television signal that carries a plurality of channels of video programs;
• a display monitor for displaying said video programs, graphics and other viewable information;
• means for selecting one of the channels carried by said television signal for display of a video program on said display monitor;
• a memory in which multiple types of data are stored, including a data base of television scheduling data and a data base of advertising information;
• means for storing said data base of television scheduling data and said data base of advertising information in said memory;
• means for collecting viewer profile data;
• means for selecting a portion of the advertising information based on the viewer profile data;
• means for simultaneously formatting and displaying said television video program, said television scheduling data as an on screen electronic television program guide, and said selected portion of the advertising information on said display monitor;
• means for selecting one of the displayed program titles from display of said on screen electronic television program guide for display on said display monitor.

A method for customizing advertisements displayed on an EPG screen, the method comprising:

• storing television scheduling data in a memory, the television scheduling data representing listings of television programs telecast by a plurality of channels;
• storing advertisement data in the memory;
• collecting viewer profile data;
• selecting a portion of the advertisement data based on the viewer profile data;
• and
• displaying some of the program listings and the selected portion of the advertisement data on the EPG screen.