Media user interfaces using metadata from different sources

A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions associated with an interactive guide for television programming which, when executed by a processor, perform the steps of:

• displaying a plurality of selection items corresponding to a plurality of media items in at least one of a plurality of hierarchical levels and asymmetrically such that said plurality of selection items are not arranged in a symmetrical rectangular format including:
• a first subset of said selection items rendered on a display region as selection items at a first hierarchical level;
• and
• a second subset of said selection items rendered on said display region as selection items at a second hierarchical level;
• and
• transitioning between said first hierarchical level and said second hierarchical level using a zoom function by progressively scaling and displaying at least one of said first subset of selection items to provide a visual impression of movement of said at least one of said first subset of selection items toward an observer,
• wherein said first and second hierarchical levels respectively correspond to different magnification levels,
• wherein at least one of said selection items is displayed at both said first hierarchical level and said second hierarchical level, and further wherein said at least one of said selection items is displayed at said second hierarchical level with a visual characteristic, other than a change in magnification, that differs from the manner in which said at least one of said selection items was displayed at said first hierarchical level, and
• wherein said plurality of selection items are dynamically populated such that at least one of said plurality of selection items vary over time.

A method comprising:

• displaying a plurality of selection items corresponding to a plurality of media items in at least one of a plurality of hierarchical levels and asymmetrically such that said plurality of selection items are not arranged in a symmetrical rectangular format including:
• a first subset of said selection items rendered on a display region as selection items at a first hierarchical level;
• and
• a second subset of said selection items rendered on said display region as selection items at a second hierarchical level;
• and
• transitioning between said first hierarchical level and said second hierarchical level using a zoom function by progressively scaling and displaying at least one of said first subset of selection items to provide a visual impression of movement of said at least one of said first subset of selection items toward an observer,
• wherein said first and second hierarchical levels respectively correspond to different magnification levels,
• wherein at least one of said selection items is displayed at both said first hierarchical level and said second hierarchical level, and further wherein said at least one of said selection items is displayed at said second hierarchical level with a visual characteristic, other than a change in magnification, that differs from the manner in which said at least one of said selection items was displayed at said first hierarchical level, and
• wherein said plurality of selection items are dynamically populated such that at least one of said plurality of selection items vary over time.