US 8,713,592 B2 · Self-service channel marketplace

Abstract

A content hosting system allows content providers to create channels of video content and make them available to users in a marketplace. Users can search or browse for channels of interest, and selectively subscribe to channels. Users can also pay for the right to view premium videos in each channel. The system ranks channels according to the value provided. Generally, users will seek out and subscribe to the highest ranked channels that provide the greatest value. The ranking function allows different providers to compete for the subscriptions of users. Providers can observe their channel's reception in the market by analyzing rankings and usage statistics to adjust channels to maximize channel performance. The system operator can also create bundled channels containing videos from multiple providers, and the resulting subscription revenue can be distributed to the various providers of the videos in the channel.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A computer implemented method for promoting subscription video channels provided on a content hosting computer system to subscribers over a network, the method comprising:

providing at the content hosting computer system a plurality of subscription channels, each subscription channel including a plurality of videos controlled by a provider, and having a subscription price and a plurality of subscribers;
providing the subscribers access over the network to the videos at the content hosting computer system in a subscription channel responsive to receiving over the network a payment of the subscription price for the subscription channel from the subscriber;
monitoring, over a period of time, a subscriber churn rate of each subscription channel, the subscriber churn rate based on amounts of time subscribers are maintaining their subscriptions to the subscription channel;
determining, by the content hosting computer system, a channel value for each subscription channel based upon a combination of the subscription price and the subscriber churn rate of the subscription channel;
ranking, by the content hosting computer system, the subscription channels based upon their respective channel values;
and
presenting by the content hosting computer system and over the network the ranked subscription channels to a subscriber.

4 more elements

A computer implemented method for generating a bundled channel provided on a content hosting computer system to subscribers over a network, the method comprising:

providing, at the content hosting computer system, a plurality of subscription channels, each subscription channel including a plurality of videos controlled by a provider and having a subscription price and a plurality of subscribers;
providing the subscribers access over the network to the videos at the content hosting computer system in a subscription channel responsive to receiving over the network a payment of the subscription price for the subscription channel from the subscriber;
monitoring, over a period of time, a subscriber churn rate of each subscription channel, the subscriber churn rate based on amounts of time subscribers are maintaining their subscriptions to the subscription channel;
determining, by the content hosting computer system, a channel value for each subscription channel based upon a combination of the subscription price and the subscriber churn rate of the subscription channel;
creating, by the content hosting computer system, the bundled channel comprising the plurality of bundled videos.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Self-service channel marketplace

Life of this patent

Self-service channel marketplace

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20