Method and apparatus for network content download and recording

A method of providing content via a content distribution network having at least a head-end server for distributing said content and a plurality of customer premises equipment (CPE) for receiving said content, said method comprising:

• making content available via said head-end server for media purchase only by said plurality of CPE over said network during a first time period;
• and
• making said content available via said head-end server for (i) said media purchase and viewing, or (ii) when said media purchase has occurred during said first time period, viewing only, by said plurality of CPE over said network during a second time period, said second period commencing subsequent to a termination of said first period;
• wherein during said second period said media purchase comprises causing provision of said content on a recordable medium to a user's premises;
• wherein said termination of said first time period corresponds to a commercial release of said content via at least one of a rental and/or retail distribution channel, said commercial release occurring prior to a third time period corresponding to an availability of said content via video-on-demand or pay-per-view;
• and
• wherein during said third period said content is available for each of:
• media purchase, viewing, provision of said content on a recordable medium, storage of said content at a storage apparatus at said user's premises, video-on-demand delivery, and pay-per-view delivery.

A method of providing content via a content distribution network having at least a head-end server for distributing said content and a plurality of customer premises equipment (CPE) for receiving said content, said method comprising:

• making content available via said head-end server for media purchase only by said plurality of CPE over said network during a first time period, said first time period corresponding to a time period before an availability of said content via video-on-demand or pay-per-view and before a commercial release of said content;
• and
• making said content available via said head-end server for (i) said media purchase and viewing, or (ii) when said purchase has occurred during said first time period, viewing only, by said plurality of CPE over said network during a second time period, said second period commencing subsequent to a termination of said first period and at least simultaneous to a commercial release of said content;
• wherein during said second period said media purchase comprises causing provision of said content on a recordable medium to a user's premises;
• wherein said second time period occurs prior to a third time period which corresponds to said availability of said content via video-on-demand or pay-per-view;
• and
• wherein during said third period said content is available for each of:
• media purchase, viewing, recording, video-on-demand delivery, and pay-per-view delivery.

A method of providing content via a content distribution network having at least a head-end server for distributing said content and a plurality of customer premises equipment (CPE) for receiving said content, said method comprising:

• making content available via said head-end server for pre-ordering only by said plurality of CPE over said network during a first time period, said first time period corresponding to a time period before a commercial release of said content via at least one of a rental and/or retail distribution channel, said network disabling features for downloading and/or viewing said content during said first time period;
• and
• making said content available via said head-end server for media purchase and viewing by said plurality of CPE over said network during a second time period, said second time period commencing subsequent to a termination of said first period;
• wherein during said second period, said media purchase comprises recording said content onto a storage medium at a user's premises serviced by said content distribution network;
• wherein said termination of said first time period corresponds to said commercial release of said content via at least one of said rental and/or retail distribution channel, said commercial release of said content occurring before a third time period which corresponds to said availability of said content via video-on-demand or pay-per-view;
• and
• wherein during said third period said content is available for each of:
• purchase, viewing, recording, video-on-demand, and pay-per-view.