Context-based media program presentation methods and systems

A method comprising:

• detecting, by a computer-implemented media service system, an input command provided by a user to initiate a viewing session by way of a display screen in communication with a media content processing device that operates in accordance with a media service;
• identifying, by the computer-implemented media service system, a context within which the input command is provided by the user;
• selecting, by the computer-implemented media service system based on the identified context, a media program available by way of the media service and that is potentially of interest to the user;
• identifying, by the computer-implemented media service system based on the identified context, a set of recommended media programs available by way of the media service and related to the media program;
• directing, by the computer-implemented media service system, the media content processing device to concurrently present the media program and a set of selectable graphical objects representative of the set of recommended media programs by way of the display screen when the viewing session begins in response to the input command;
• detecting, by the computer-implemented media service system while the media content processing device is presenting the media program by way of the display screen, that an additional user enters a vicinity of the display screen;
• determining, by the computer-implemented media service system in response to the detecting that the additional user enters the vicinity of the display screen, whether the user has left the vicinity of the display screen;
• and
• if the determining indicates that the user has left the vicinity of the display screen
• selecting, by the computer-implemented media service system, an additional media program available by way of the media service and that is potentially of interest to the additional user, and
• automatically directing, by the computer-implemented media service system without receiving input from the additional user, the media content processing device to switch from presenting the media program by way of the display screen to presenting the additional media program by way of the display screen.

A system comprising:

• at least one physical computing device that:
• detects an input command provided by a user to initiate a viewing session by way of a display screen in communication with a media content processing device that operates in accordance with a media service,
• identifies a context within which the input command is provided by the user,
• selects, based on the identified context, a media program available by way of the media service and that is potentially of interest to the user,
• directs the media content processing device to present the media program by way of the display screen when the viewing session begins in response to the input command;
• detects, while the media content processing device is presenting the media program by way of the display screen, that an additional user enters a vicinity of the display screen;
• determines, in response to the detection of the additional user entering the vicinity of the display screen, whether the user has left the vicinity of the display screen;
• and
• if the determination indicates that the user has left the vicinity of the display screen
• selects an additional media program available by way of the media service and that is potentially of interest to the additional user, and
• automatically directs, without receiving input from the additional user, the media content processing device to switch from presenting the media program by way of the display screen to presenting the additional media program by way of the display screen.