Method and apparatus for network content download and recording

A consumer premises device in a content delivery network configured to enable a user to record and to view content, said device comprising:

• a processor;
• a storage device in data communication with said processor;
• a network interface in data communication with said processor, said network interface being configured to:
• receive data indicating availability of content for purchase;
• transmit a request to purchase said content;
• and
• in response to said request to purchase, receive said content, said content being received on a first distribution channel as a content stream for display to said user, and on a second distribution channel as a non-viewable disk image;
• and
• a recording device in data communication with at least one of said processor and storage device, said recording device being adapted to record said disk image to a digital video medium.

A network headend apparatus for delivering content to a plurality of user devices via a content delivery network, said headend entity comprising:

• a first interface for receiving content in first and second formats;
• a second interface for providing content in said first and second formats to said plurality of user devices on first and second distribution channels respectively, said first format comprising an immediately viewable format, and said second format comprising a non-immediately useable disk image;
• and
• a processor configured to run at least one computer program thereon, said at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which when executed,
• provide, substantially in response to a request to purchase said content from one of a plurality of consumer devices, said content to said one of said plurality of consumer devices in both said first and said second formats;
• wherein said one of said plurality of consumer devices is configured to:
• cause display of said content in said first format;
• and
• to record said content in said second format to a digital video medium.

A method of providing content over a content delivery network, said method comprising:

• providing a viewable form of said content via a first distribution channel;
• providing a disk image for generating a digital video disk (DVD) of said content via a second distribution channel;
• and
• wherein said content is provided in said viewable form contemporaneously with the theatrical release of said content, and
• wherein said acts of providing said first and second forms of said content are linked via a purchase transaction such that the purchase of said disk image for generating a digital video disk (DVD) of said content causes both said acts of providing.

A method of providing content to a plurality of consumer devices in a content distribution network, comprising:

• enabling one or more of said plurality of consumer devices to purchase said content;
• providing, in response to said purchase, said content in two formats, a first format comprising a video stream of said content provided directly to said one or more of said plurality of client devices over a first delivery channel, and a second physical medium containing a second format comprising a disk image of said content provided over a second delivery channel;
• and
• wherein said content is provided as said video stream contemporaneously with the theatrical release date of said content;
• wherein said content is provided on said physical medium on a date subsequent to said theatrical release date;
• and
• wherein said acts of providing said first and second forms of said content are linked via a purchase transaction such that the purchase of said content in said physical medium form causes said act of providing said content as said video stream.