Method and apparatus for sharing viewing preferences

A method of sharing viewing preference information between a first user and at least one second user, comprising the steps of:

• receiving first user viewer preference information in a second user device, the first viewer preference information characterizing media programs selected by the first user comprising the steps of
• accepting a second user selection of at least one first user designated to transmit first user viewer preference information;
• receiving the first user viewer preference information from the designated first user;
• and
• storing the received first viewer preference information in a memory of the second user device.

An apparatus for sharing viewer preferences information between a first user and at least one second user, comprising:

• means for storing first user viewer preference information characterizing media programs selected by the first user in a memory of a first user device;
• means for transmitting at least a portion of the first user viewer preference information to a second user for storage in a memory of a second user device;
• means for receiving the transmitted portion of the first user viewer preference information, the means for receiving the transmitted portion of the first viewer preference information comprising
• means for accepting a second user selection of at least one first user designated to transmit first user viewer preference information;
• means for receiving the first user viewer preference information from the designated first user;
• and
• means for storing the received portion of the viewer preference information in the memory of the second user device.

A program storage device, readable by a computer, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps of sharing viewer preference information between a first user and at least one second user, the method steps comprising the steps of:

• storing first user viewer preference information characterizing media programs selected by the first user in a memory of a first user device;
• transmitting at least a portion of the first user viewer preference information to a second user for storage in a memory of a second user device;
• receiving the transmitted portion of the first user viewer preference information, comprising the steps of
• accepting a second user selection of at least one first user designated to transmit first user viewer preference information;
• receiving the first user viewer preference information from the designated first user;
• and
• storing the received portion of the viewer preference information in the memory of the second user device.