Broadcast content to HTTP client conversion

A client converter, comprising:

• a content receiver configured to receive video content as an input of broadcast content data streams from a content distribution system;
• a memory and processor system to implement a content manager that is configured to:
• join a current content data stream of the input of broadcast content data streams;
• initiate a determination of an access point in the current content data stream from which to begin converting the current content data stream to unicast HTTP data;
• receive, during the determination of the access point, the current content data stream and a previous content data stream of the broadcast content data streams;
• convert the current content data stream to unicast HTTP data from the determined access point;
• initiate an HTTP server to communicate the unicast HTTP data to a client device for playback of the video content;
• download an initial duration of the video content from a server device that maintains the initial duration of the video content;
• and
• initiate the HTTP server to communicate the initial duration of the video content to the client device prior to communicating the unicast HTTP data that is converted from the current content data stream.

A client device, comprising:

• a media player configured to playback video content;
• an HTTP server configured to communicate the video content to the media player as unicast HTTP data;
• a client converter configured to receive the video content as an input of broadcast content data streams from a content distribution system;
• and
• a content manager configured to:
• join a current content data stream of the input of broadcast content data streams,
• initiate a determination of an access point in the content data stream from which to begin converting the current content data stream to the unicast HTTP data,
• receive, during the determination of the access point, the current content data stream and a previous content data stream of the broadcast content data streams;
• convert the current content data stream to the unicast HTTP data from the determined access point,
• download an initial duration of the video content from a server device that maintains the initial duration of the video content, and
• initiate the HTTP server to communicate the initial duration of the video content to the client device prior to communicating the unicast HTTP data that is converted from the current content data stream.