Systems and methods for improved audience measuring

• US 20020056087A1
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Published: 05/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Berezowski, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,578,403 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/63 for services of sales data processing systems or methods specially adapted for electronic commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 : Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

Abstract

Systems and methods for measuring audience information of programs are described. Systems and methods for providing audience information to users of interactive television applications are described.

Claims

1. A method for measuring audience information based on playbacks of a recorded program comprising:

receiving an indication of a playback of the recorded program; and

updating audience information for the recorded program.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the recorded program is an audio program.

3. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the recorded program is a television program.

4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the recorded program is a pay-per-view program.

5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the recorded program is a video-on-demand program.

6. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the recorded program is a near-video-on-video program.

7. The method defined in claim 1 wherein updating audience information comprises updating an audience size.

8. The method defined in claim 1 wherein updating audience information comprises updating a market share of the recorded program.

9. The method defined in claim 1 wherein updating audience information comprises updating audience information based on the number of times a user played back the recorded program.

10. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an indication for a user-identified action, wherein such action controls how the recorded program is played back;

executing the user-identified action in response to receiving the indication; and

updating audience information based on the user-identified action.

11. The method defined in claim 10 wherein the user-identified action comprises actions selected from the group consisting of fast-forward, rewind, stop, pause, record, and play.

12. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

distributing audience information to at least one user of an interactive television application; and

providing the audience information to the at least one user.

13. The method defined in claim 12 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide.

14. The method defined in claim 12 wherein providing the audience information comprises providing an interactive indicator that notifies the at least one user when audience information is available, wherein the interactive indicator comprises content selected from the group consisting of text, graphics, audio, video, and animation.

15. The method defined in claim 12 further comprising allowing the at least one user to compare programs based on audience information distributed to the at least one user for the programs.

16. The method defined in claim 12 wherein providing the audience information further comprises providing the audience information for a portion of the recorded program.

17. The method defined in claim 16 wherein the portion of the recorded program is a scene within the recorded program.

18. The method defined in claim 12 wherein providing the audience information further comprises providing the audience information for a genre of programs.

19. The method defined in claim 12 wherein providing the audience information further comprises providing the audience information for the recorded program based on a time slot.

20. The method defined in claim 12 wherein:

distributing audience information further comprises distributing to a plurality of users; and

the audience information is audience information for a subset of the plurality of users to the at least one user.

21. The method defined in claim 20 wherein the subset of the plurality of users is defined based on user demographics.

22. The method defined in claim 12 wherein providing the audience information further comprises providing the audience information to the at least one user in a flip display.

23. The method defined in claim 12 wherein providing the audience information further comprises providing the audience information to the at least one user in a browse display.

24. The method defined in claim 12 wherein providing the audience information further comprises providing the audience information to the at least one user in a program listings display.

25. The method defined in claim 1 wherein updating the audience information further comprises updating the audience information based on a user profile of a user from which the indication was received related to the playback of the recorded program.

26. The method defined in claim 1 wherein updating audience information further comprises calculating audience size for the recorded program.

27. The method defined in claim 26 wherein calculating the audience size comprises calculating the audience size based on assigning points to playback information.

28. The method defined in claim 26 wherein calculating the audience size further comprises accessing a table of grading information for assigning points to playback information.

30. The method defined in claim 29 wherein the program is an audio program.

31. The method defined in claim 29 wherein the program is a television program.

32. The method defined in claim 29 wherein the program is a pay-per-view program.

33. The method defined in claim 29 wherein the program is a video-on-demand program.

34. The method defined in claim 29 wherein the program is a near-video-on-video program.

35. The method defined in claim 29 wherein the providing the one or more program listings comprises providing an interactive indicator that notifies the at least one user when audience information is available, wherein the interactive indicator comprises content selected form the group consisting of text, graphics, audio, video, and animation.

36. The method defined in claim 29 further comprising allowing the user to compare programs based on audience information distributed to the user for the programs.

37. The method defined in claim 29 further comprising providing audience information for a portion of the program.

38. The method defined in claim 37 wherein the portion of the program is a scene within the program.

39. The method defined in claim 29 further comprising providing audience information for a genre of programs.

40. The method defined in claim 29 further comprising providing the audience information for the program based on a time slot.

41. The method defined in claim 29 further comprising:

distributing audience information to a plurality of users; and

providing audience information, wherein the audience information is provided for a subset of the plurality of users to the user.

42. The method defined in claim 41 wherein the subset of the plurality of users is defined based on user demographics.

43. The method defined in claim 29 further comprising providing audience information to the user in a flip display.

44. The method defined in claim 29 further comprising providing audience information to the user in a browse display.

45. The method defined in claim 29 further comprising providing audience information to the user in a program listings display.

46. The method defined in claim 29 further comprising updating audience information based on a user profile of the user from which the indication was received.

47. The method defined in claim 29 further comprising calculating audience size for the program.

48. The method defined in claim 47 wherein calculating the audience size comprises calculating the audience size based on assigning points to user actions.

49. The method defined in claim 47 wherein calculating the audience size further comprises accessing a table of grading information for assigning points to playback information for assigning points to playback information.

50. The method defined in claim 29 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide.

29. A method for providing audience information with program listings in an interactive television application comprising:

receiving an indication from a user that the user wishes to access one or more program listings; and

providing the one or more program listings in response to the indication, wherein at least one of the one or more program listings includes audience information for a program corresponding to a program listing.

51. A method for measuring audience information for an upcoming program in an interactive application comprising:

receiving an indication from a user to perform an action related to the upcoming program; and

updating audience information for the upcoming program.

52. The method defined in claim 51 wherein the upcoming program is an audio program.

53. The method defined in claim 51 wherein the upcoming program is a television program.

54. The method defined in claim 51 wherein the upcoming program is a pay-per-view program.

55. The method defined in claim 51 wherein the upcoming program is a video-on-demand program.

56. The method defined in claim 51 wherein the upcoming program is a near-video-on-video program.

57. The method defined in claim 51 wherein updating audience information comprises updating an audience size.

58. The method defined in claim 51 wherein updating audience information comprises updating a market share of the upcoming program.

59. The method defined in claim 51 further comprising providing audience information to the user.

60. The method defined in claim 59 wherein providing the audience information further comprises providing an interactive indicator, wherein the interactive indicator comprises content selected form the group consisting of text, graphics, audio, video, and animation.

61. The method defined in claim 59 further comprising allowing the user to compare programs based on audience information distributed to the user for the programs.

62. The method defined in claim 59 wherein providing the audience information further comprises providing the audience information for a portion of the upcoming program.

63. The method defined in claim 59 wherein the portion of the upcoming program is a scene within the upcoming program.

64. The method defined in claim 59 wherein providing the audience information further comprises providing the audience information for a genre of programs.

65. The method defined in claim 59 wherein providing the audience information further comprises providing the audience information for the upcoming program based on a time slot.

66. The method defined in claim 59 wherein providing the audience information further comprises providing the audience information for a subset of a plurality users to the user.

67. The method defined in claim 66 wherein the subset of the plurality of users is defined based on user demographics.

68. The method defined in claim 59 wherein providing the audience information further comprises providing the audience information to the user in a flip display.

69. The method defined in claim 59 wherein providing the audience information further comprises providing the audience information to the user in a browse display.

70. The method defined in claim 59 wherein providing the audience information further comprises providing the audience information to the user in a program listings display.

71. The method defined in claim 51 wherein updating audience information comprises updating the audience information based on the number of times the user performed an action related to the upcoming program.

72. The method defined in claim 51 wherein updating the audience information further comprises updating the audience information based on the number of times that the user viewed program information related to the upcoming program.

73. The method defined in claim 51 wherein updating the audience information further comprises updating the audience information based on the number of times that the user purchased the upcoming program.

74. The method defined in claim 51 wherein updating the audience information further comprises updating the audience information based on the number of times that the user set a reminder for the upcoming program.

75. The method defined in claim 51 wherein updating the audience information further comprises updating the audience information based on the number of times that the user scheduled to record the upcoming program.

76. The method defined in claim 51 wherein updating the audience information further comprises updating the audience information based on a user profile of the user from which the indication was received related to the upcoming program.

77. The method defined in claim 51 further comprising calculating audience size for the upcoming program.

78. The method defined in claim 77 wherein calculating the audience size comprises calculating the audience size based on assigning points to playback information.

79. The method defined in claim 77 wherein calculating the audience size further comprises accessing a table of grading information for assigning points to playback information.

80. A system for measuring audience information based on playbacks of a recorded program comprising:

means for receiving an indication of a playback of the recorded program; and

means for updating audience information for the recorded program.

81. The system defined in claim 80 wherein the recorded program is an audio program.

82. The system defined in claim 80 wherein the recorded program is a television program.

83. The system defined in claim 80 wherein the recorded program is a pay-per-view program.

84. The system defined in claim 80 wherein the recorded program is a video-on-demand program.

85. The system defined in claim 80 wherein the recorded program is a near-video-on-video program.

86. The system defined in claim 80 wherein the means for updating audience information comprises means for updating an audience size.

87. The system defined in claim 80 wherein the means for updating audience information comprises means for updating a market share of the recorded program.

88. The system defined in claim 80 wherein the means for updating audience information comprises means for updating audience information based on the number of times a user played back the recorded program.

89. The system defined in claim 80 further comprising:

means for receiving an indication for a user-identified action, wherein such action controls how the recorded program is played back;

means for executing the user-identified action in response to receiving the indication; and

means for updating audience information based on the user-identified action.

90. The system defined in claim 89 wherein the user-identified action comprises actions selected from the group consisting of fast-forward, rewind, stop, pause, record, and play.

91. The system defined in claim 80 further comprising:

means for distributing audience information to at least one user of an interactive television application; and

means for providing the audience information to the at least one user.

92. The system defined in claim 91 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide.

93. The system defined in claim 91 wherein the means for providing the audience information further comprises means for providing an interactive indicator, wherein the interactive indicator comprises content selected from the group consisting of text, graphics, audio, video, and animation.

94. The system defined in claim 91 further comprising means for allowing the at least one user to compare programs based on audience information distributed to the at least one user for the programs.

95. The system defined in claim 91 wherein the means for providing the audience information further comprises means for providing the audience information for a portion of the recorded program.

96. The system defined in claim 95 wherein the portion of the recorded program is a scene within the recorded program.

97. The system defined in claim 91 wherein the means for providing the audience information further comprises means for providing the audience information for a genre of programs.

98. The system defined in claim 91 wherein the means for providing the audience information further comprises means for providing the audience information for the recorded program based on a time slot.

99. The system defined in claim 91 wherein:

the means for distributing audience information further comprises means for distributing audience information to a subset of a plurality of users; and

the audience information is audience information for a subset of the plurality of users to the at least one user.

100. The system defined in claim 99 wherein the subset of the plurality of users is defined based on user demographics.

101. The system defined in claim 91 wherein the means for providing the audience information further comprises means for providing the audience information to the at least one user in a flip display.

102. The system defined in claim 91 wherein the means for providing the audience information further comprises means for providing the audience information to the at least one user in a browse display.

103. The system defined in claim 91 wherein the means for providing the audience information further comprises means for providing audience information to the at least one user in a program listings display.

104. The system defined in claim 80 wherein the means for updating the audience information further comprises means for updating the audience information based on a user profile of a user from which the indication was received related to the playback of the recorded program.

105. The system defined in claim 80 wherein the means for updating audience information further comprises means for calculating audience size for the recorded program.

106. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the means for calculating the audience size comprises means for calculating the audience size based on assigning points to playback information.

107. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the means for calculating the audience size further comprises means for accessing a table of grading information for assigning points to playback information.

108. A system for providing audience information with program listings in an interactive television application comprising:

means for receiving an indication from a user that the user wishes to access one or more program listings; and

means for providing the one or more program listings in response to the indication, wherein at least one of the one or more program listings includes audience information for a program corresponding to a program listing.

109. The system defined in claim 108 wherein the program is an audio program.

110. The system defined in claim 108 wherein the program is a television program.

111. The system defined in claim 108 wherein the program is a pay-per-view program.

112. The system defined in claim 108 wherein the program is a video-on-demand program.

113. The system defined in claim 108 wherein the program is a near-video-on-video program.

114. The system defined in claim 108 wherein the means for providing the one or more program listings comprises means for providing an interactive indicator that notifies the at least one user when audience information is available, wherein the interactive indicator comprises content selected form the group consisting of text, graphics, audio, video, and animation.

115. The system defined in claim 108 further comprising means for allowing the user to compare programs based on audience information distributed to the user for the programs.

116. The system defined in claim 108 further comprising means for providing audience information for a portion of the program.

117. The system defined in claim 116 wherein the portion of the program is a scene within the program.

118. The system defined in claim 108 further comprising means for providing audience information for a genre of programs.

119. The system defined in claim 108 further comprising means for providing the audience information for the program based on a time slot.

120. The system defined in claim 108 further comprising:

means for distributing audience information to a plurality of users; and

means for providing audience information, wherein the audience information is provided for a subset of the plurality of users to the user.

121. The system defined in claim 120 wherein the subset of the plurality of users is defined based on user demographics.

122. The system defined in claim 108 further comprising means for providing audience information to the user in a flip display.

123. The system defined in claim 108 further comprising means for providing audience information to the user in a browse display.

124. The system defined in claim 108 further comprising means for providing audience information to the user in a program listings display.

125. The system defined in claim 108 further comprising means for updating audience information based on a user profile of the user from which the indication was received.

126. The system defined in claim 108 further comprising means for calculating audience size for the program.

127. The system defined in claim 126 wherein the means for calculating the audience size comprises means for calculating the audience size based on assigning points to user actions.

128. The system defined in claim 126 wherein the means for calculating the audience size further comprises means for accessing a table of grading information for assigning points to playback information.

129. The system defined in claim 108 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide.

131. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the upcoming program is an audio program.

132. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the upcoming program is a television program.

133. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the upcoming program is a pay-per-view program.

134. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the upcoming program is a video-on-demand program.

135. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the upcoming program is a near-video-on-video program.

136. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the means for updating audience information comprises means for updating an audience size.

137. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the means for updating audience information comprises means for updating a market share of the upcoming program.

138. The system defined in claim 130 comprising means for providing audience information to the user.

139. The system defined in claim 138 wherein the means for providing the audience information further comprises means for providing an interactive indicator that notifies the at least one user when audience information is available, wherein the interactive indicator comprises content selected form the group consisting of text, graphics, audio, video, and animation.

140. The system defined in claim 138 further comprising means for allowing the user to compare programs based on audience information distributed to the user for the programs.

141. The system defined in claim 138 wherein the means for providing the audience information further comprises means for providing the audience information for a portion of the upcoming program.

142. The system defined in claim 138 wherein the portion of the upcoming program is a scene within the upcoming program.

143. The system defined in claim 138 wherein the means for providing the audience information further comprises means for providing the audience information for a genre of programs.

144. The system defined in claim 138 wherein the means for providing the audience information further comprises means for providing the audience information for the upcoming program based on a time slot.

145. The system defined in claim 138 wherein the means for providing audience information further comprises means for providing audience information for a subset of a plurality users to the user.

146. The system defined in claim 145 wherein the subset of the plurality of users is defined based on user demographics.

147. The system defined in claim 138 wherein the means for providing the audience information further comprises means for providing the audience information to the user in a flip display.

148. The system defined in claim 138 wherein the means for providing the audience information further comprises means for providing the audience information to the user in a browse display.

149. The system defined in claim 138 wherein the means for providing the audience information further comprises means for providing the audience information to the user in a program listings display.

150. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the means for updating the audience information further comprises means for updating the audience information based on the number of times the user performed an action related to the upcoming program.

151. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the means for updating the audience information further comprises means for updating the audience information based on the number of times that the user viewed program information related to the upcoming program.

152. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the means for updating the audience information further comprises means for updating the audience information based on the number of times that the user purchased the upcoming program.

153. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the means for updating the audience information further comprises means for updating the audience information based on the number of times that the user set a reminder for the upcoming program.

154. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the means for updating the audience information further comprises means for updating the audience information based on the number of times that the user scheduled to record the upcoming program.

155. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the means for updating the audience information further comprises means for updating the audience information based on a user profile of the user from which the indication was received related to the upcoming program.

156. The system defined in claim 130 further comprising means for calculating audience size for the upcoming program.

157. The system defined in claim 156 wherein the means for calculating the audience size comprises means for calculating the audience size based on assigning points to playback information.

158. The system defined in claim 156 wherein the means for calculating the audience size further comprises means for accessing a table of grading information for assigning points to playback information.

160. The system defined in claim 159 wherein the recorded program is an audio program.

161. The system defined in claim 159 wherein the recorded program is a television program.

162. The system defined in claim 159 wherein the recorded program is a pay-per-view program.

163. The system defined in claim 159 wherein the recorded program is a video-on-demand program.

164. The system defined in claim 159 wherein the recorded program is a near-video-on-video program.

165. The system defined in claim 159 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update an audience size for the recorded program.

166. The system defined in claim 159 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update a market share of the recorded program.

167. The system defined in claim 159 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update audience information based on the number of times a user played back the recorded program.

168. The system defined in claim 159 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to:

receive an indication for a user-identified action from the user input device, wherein such action controls how the recorded program is played back;

execute the user-identified action in response to receiving the indication; and

update audience information based on the user-identified action.

169. The system defined in claim 168 wherein the user-identified action comprises actions selected from the group consisting of fast-forward, rewind, stop, pause, record, and play.

170. The system defined in claim 159 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to:

distribute audience information to at least one user of an interactive television application; and

direct the display device to provide the audience information to the at least one user.

171. The system defined in claim 170 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide.

172. The system defined in claim 170 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide an interactive indicator, wherein the interactive indicator comprises content selected from the group consisting of text, graphics, audio, video, and animation.

173. The system defined in claim 170 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to allow the at least one user to compare programs based on audience information distributed to the at least one user for the programs.

174. The system defined in claim 170 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience information for a portion of the recorded program.

175. The system defined in claim 174 wherein the portion of the recorded program is a scene within the recorded program.

176. The system defined in claim 170 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience information for a genre of programs.

177. The system defined in claim 170 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience information for the recorded program based on a time slot.

178. The system defined in claim 170 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to:

distribute audience information to a plurality of users, wherein the audience information is audience information for a subset of the plurality of users.

179. The system defined in claim 178 wherein the subset of the plurality of users is defined based on user demographics.

180. The system defined in claim 170 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience information to the at least one user in a flip display.

181. The system defined in claim 170 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience information to the at least one user in a browse display.

182. The system defined in claim 170 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience information to the at least one user in a program listings display.

183. The system defined in claim 159 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update audience information based on a user profile of a user from which the indication was received related to the playback of the recorded program.

184. The system defined in claim 159 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to calculate audience size.

185. The system defined in claim 184 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to calculate the audience size based on assigning points to playback information.

186. The system defined in claim 184 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to access a table of grading information for assigning points to playback information.

188. The system defined in claim 187 wherein the program is an audio program.

189. The system defined in claim 187 wherein the program is a television program.

190. The system defined in claim 187 wherein the program is a pay-per-view program.

191. The system defined in claim 187 wherein the program is a video-on-demand program.

192. The system defined in claim 187 wherein the program is a near-video-on-video program.

193. The system defined in claim 187 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide an interactive indicator that notifies the at least one user when audience information is available, wherein the interactive indicator comprises content selected form the group consisting of text, graphics, audio, video, and animation.

194. The system defined in claim 187 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to allow the user to compare programs based on audience information distributed to the user for the programs.

195. The system defined in claim 187 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience information for a portion of the program.

196. The system defined in claim 195 wherein the portion of the program is a scene within the program.

197. The system defined in claim 187 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience information for a genre of programs.

198. The system defined in claim 187 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to provide the audience information for the program based on a time slot.

199. The system defined in claim 187 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to:

distribute audience information to a plurality of users; and

direct the display device to provide audience information, wherein the audience information is provided for a subset of the plurality of users to the user.

200. The system defined in claim 199 wherein the subset of the plurality of users is defined based on user demographics.

201. The system defined in claim 187 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience information to the user in a flip display.

202. The system defined in claim 187 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience information to the user in a browse display.

203. The system defined in claim 187 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience information to the user in a program listings display.

204. The system defined in claim 187 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update audience information based on a user profile of the user from which the indication was received.

205. The system defined in claim 187 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to calculate audience size for the program.

206. The system defined in claim 205 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to calculate the audience size based on assigning points to user actions.

207. The system defined in claim 205 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to access a table of grading information for assigning points to playback information.

208. The system defined in claim 187 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide.

130. A system for measuring audience information for an upcoming program in an interactive application comprising:

means for receiving an indication from a user to perform an action related to the upcoming program; and

means for updating audience information for the upcoming program.

159. A system for measuring audience information based on playbacks of a recorded program comprising:

a user input device;

a display device; and

an interactive television application implemented at least partially on control circuitry and programmed to;

receive an indication from the user input device of a playback of the recorded program; and

update audience information for the recorded program.

187. A system for providing audience information with program listings in an interactive television application comprising:

a user input device;

a display device; and

an interactive television application implemented at least partially on control circuitry and programmed to;

receive an indication from the user input device that a user wishes to access one or more program listings; and

direct the display device to provide the one or more program listings in response to the indication, wherein at least one of the one or more program listings includes audience information for a program corresponding to a program listing.

209. A system for measuring audience information for an upcoming program in an interactive television application comprising:

a user input device; and

an interactive television application implemented at least partially on control circuitry and programmed to;

receive an indication from the user input device to perform an action related to the upcoming program; and

update audience information for the upcoming program.

210. The system defined in claim 209 wherein the upcoming program is an audio program.

211. The system defined in claim 209 wherein the upcoming program is a television program.

212. The system defined in claim 209 wherein the upcoming program is a pay-per-view program.

213. The system defined in claim 209 wherein the upcoming program is a video-on-demand program.

214. The system defined in claim 209 wherein the upcoming program is a near-video-on-video program.

215. The system defined in claim 209 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update an audience size for the upcoming program.

216. The system defined in claim 209 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update a market share of the upcoming program.

217. The system defined in claim 209 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience information to the user.

218. The system defined in claim 217 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide an interactive indicator that notifies the at least one user when audience information is available, wherein the interactive indicator comprises content selected form the group consisting of text, graphics, audio, video, and animation.

219. The system defined in claim 217 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to allow the user to compare programs based on audience information distributed to the user for the programs.

220. The system defined in claim 217 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience information for a portion of the upcoming program.

221. The system defined in claim 217 wherein the portion of the upcoming program is a scene within the upcoming program.

222. The system defined in claim 217 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience information for a genre of programs.

223. The system defined in claim 217 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide the audience information for the upcoming program based on a time slot.

224. The system defined in claim 217 wherein wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience information for a subset of a plurality users to the user.

225. The system defined in claim 224 wherein the subset of the plurality of users is defined based on user demographics.

226. The system defined in claim 217 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience information to the user in a flip display.

227. The system defined in claim 217 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience information to the user in a browse display.

228. The system defined in claim 217 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience information to the user in a program listings display.

229. The system defined in claim 209 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update the audience information based on the number of times the user performed an action related to the upcoming program.

230. The system defined in claim 209 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update the audience information based on the number of times that the user viewed program information related to the upcoming program.

231. The system defined in claim 209 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update the audience information based on the number of times that the user purchased the upcoming program.

232. The system defined in claim 209 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update the audience information based on the number of times that the user set a reminder for the upcoming program.

233. The system defined in claim 209 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update the audience information based on the number of times that the user scheduled to record the upcoming program.

234. The system defined in claim 209 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update audience information based on a user profile of a user from which the indication was received related to the upcoming program.

235. The system defined in claim 209 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to calculate audience size for the upcoming program.

236. The system defined in claim 235 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to calculate the audience size based on assigning points to playback information.

237. The system defined in claim 235 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to access a table of grading information for assigning points to playback information.