Systems and methods for using an interactive television program guide to access fantasy sports contests

• US 8,028,315 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Barber, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar; Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): Newlin; Timothy
• Application Number:
  US10/234,727
• Time in Patent Office: 3,315 Days
• Field of Search: 725/40, 725/47, 725/51, 725/61, 463/42
• US Class Current: 725/47
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/828 Managing virtual sport teams
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games

Abstract

Systems and methods for using an interactive television program guide application to access fantasy sports contests are presented. In some embodiments of the present invention, the interactive television program guide application may display information indicating to a user that one or more programs is related to a fantasy sports contest. In some embodiments of the present invention, the application may provide to the user a schedule of programs related to one or more fantasy sports contests in which the user participates. The application may provide additional features to fantasy sports contestants including automatic recording of programs related to a user'"'"'s fantasy sports contest, playback of highlight video clips for events that affect a user'"'"'s fantasy sports contest standing, and targeted advertisements for fantasy sports contests.

Claims

1. A method for using an interactive television program guide application to provide fantasy sports contest information to a user, the method comprising:

receiving a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

adding the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

determining with the interactive television program guide application that a program includes the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the program with the real-life sports player included in the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster; and

displaying, in response to determining that the program includes the real-life sports player, information indicating to the user that the program is related to the fantasy sports contest.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining that the program includes the real-life sports player comprises determining that the program relates to a real-life competition in which the real-life sports player participates.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining that the program includes the real-life sports player comprises determining that the program includes the real-life sports player on the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster in the fantasy sports contest.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying information comprises displaying information for the real-life sports player included in the program.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying information comprises displaying a program listing that includes an indicator, wherein the indicator indicates that the program is related to the fantasy sports contest.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the indicator is selected from the group consisting of an icon, text, a graphic, a color, and any combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving a user indication of the program listing; and

displaying to the user information for the real-life sports player included in the program.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving a user indication of the program listing; and

displaying to the user information that indicates the user'"'"'s performance in the fantasy sports contest.

9. A method for using an interactive television program guide application to provide fantasy sports contest information to a user, the method comprising:

receiving a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

adding the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

determining which programs include the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the program with the real-life sports player included in the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

providing to the user an opportunity to view a schedule of the programs that include the real-life sports player; and

displaying the schedule to the user in response to a user indication of the opportunity.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the programs relate to events that affect the performance of the user in the fantasy sports contest.

11. A method for using an interactive television program guide application to provide fantasy sports contest information to a user, the method comprising:

receiving a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

adding the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

determining with the interactive television program guide application that a program includes the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the program with the real-life sports player included in the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster; and

scheduling the program for automatic recording for the user.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein determining that the program includes the real-life sports player comprises determining that the program includes the real-life sports player that has been fictitiously added to the fantasy team roster of the user.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein determining that the program includes the real-life sports player comprises determining that the program relates to a real-life competition that affects the fantasy sports contest.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein scheduling the program for automatic recording comprises:

determining a number of real-life sports players included in the program, each of the real-life sports players a fictitious selection to the fantasy team roster of the user; and

determining whether to schedule the program for automatic recording based on the number.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing to the user the ability to define a record priority for programs related to the fantasy sports contest; and

determining whether to schedule the program for automatic recording based on the user-defined record priority.

16. A method for using an interactive television program guide application to provide fantasy sports contest information to a user, the method comprising:

receiving user selections associated with the fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

displaying an unobstructed view of a program;

determining that the program is related to a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates by comparing program data associated with the program to the user selections associated with the fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

determining with the interactive television program guide application that an event has occurred in the program if it is determined that the program is related to the fantasy sports contest in which the user participates; and

displaying, in response to the determination that the event has occurred, an overlay on top of the program, wherein the overlay includes fantasy sports contest information associated with the event.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the program includes a real-life player that affects the user'"'"'s standing in the fantasy sports contest.

18. The method of claim 17

wherein the event corresponds to an accumulation of a statistic by the real-life player, wherein the statistic affects the user'"'"'s performance in the fantasy sports contest.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein displaying information associated with the event comprises displaying information that indicates a number of fantasy sports points that the user has received as a result of the event.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

recording the event using a personal video recorder; and

providing to the user the ability to play back the event from the personal video recorder.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein recording the event comprises storing data that indicates a start of the event.

22. A method for using an interactive television program guide application to provide fantasy sports contest information to a user, the method comprising:

receiving a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

adding the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

providing to the user the ability to select a program for viewing;

determining that the program includes the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the program with the real-life sports player included in the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster; and

displaying, in response to user selection of the program and in response to determining that the program includes the real-life sports player, fantasy sports contest information associated with the real-life sports player in conjunction with video for the program.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the program includes the real-life sports player that affects the fantasy sports contest.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the program relates to a real-life competition that affects the fantasy sports contest.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein displaying fantasy sports contest information comprises displaying information that indicates a performance of the user in the fantasy sports contest.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the player is fictitiously added to the fantasy team roster of the user.

27. A method for using an interactive television program guide application to provide fantasy sports contest information to a user, the method comprising:

receiving a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

adding the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

displaying a plurality of program guide listings;

determining that one of the displayed plurality of program guide listings includes the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the one of the displayed plurality of program guide listings with the real-life sports player included in the fantasy sports roster;

displaying, in response to determining that the one of the displayed plurality of program guide listings includes the real life sports player, fantasy sports contest information associated with the real-life sports player.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein displaying information comprises displaying an advertisement for the fantasy sports contest.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein displaying information comprises displaying an advertisement for a fantasy sports contest when the fantasy sports contest is consistent with a maintained viewing history of a user.

30. An interactive television program guide application system operative to provide fantasy sports contest information to a user, the system comprising:

a display device; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

add the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

determine that a program includes the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the program with the real-life sports player included in the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster; and

direct the display device to display, in response to determining that the program includes the real-life sports player, information indicating to the user that the program is related to the fantasy sports contest.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine that the program relates to a real-life competition in which the real-life sports player participates.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine that the program includes the real-life sports player on the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster in the fantasy sports contest in which the user participates.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to direct the display device to display information for the real-life sports player included in the program.

34. The system of claim 30 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to direct the display device to display a program listing that includes an indicator, wherein the indicator indicates that the program is related to the fantasy sports contest.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the indicator is selected from the group consisting of an icon, text, a graphic, a color, and any combination thereof.

36. The system of claim 34 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a user indication of the program listing; and

direct the display device to display to the user information for the real-life player included in the program.

37. The system of claim 34 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a user indication of the program listing; and

direct the display device to display to the user information that indicates the user'"'"'s performance in the fantasy sports contest.

38. An interactive television program guide application system operative to provide fantasy sports contest information to a user, the system comprising:

a display device;

a user input device; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

add the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

determine which programs include the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the program with the real-life sports player included in the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

provide to the user an opportunity to view a schedule of the programs that include the real-life sports player that has been selected in the fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

receive from the user input device a user indication of the opportunity; and

direct a display device to display the schedule to the user.

39. The system of claim 38

wherein the programs relate to events that affect the performance of the user in the fantasy sports contest.

40. An interactive television program guide application system operative to provide fantasy sports contest information to a user, the system comprising:

control circuitry configured to;

receive a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

add the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

determine that a program includes the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the program with the real-life sports player included in the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster; and

schedule the program for automatic recording for the user.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine that the program includes the real-life sports player that has been fictitiously added to the fantasy team roster of the user.

42. The system of claim 40 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine that the program relates to a real-life competition that affects the fantasy sports contest.

43. The system of claim 40 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine a number of real-life sports players included in the program, each of the real-life sports players a fictitious selection to the fantasy team roster of the user; and

determine whether to schedule the program for automatic recording based on the number.

44. The system of claim 40 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

provide to the user the ability to define a record priority for programs related to the fantasy sports contest; and

determine whether to schedule the program for automatic recording based on the user-defined record priority.

45. An interactive television program guide application system operative to provide fantasy sports contest information to a user, the system comprising:

a display device; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive user selections associated with a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

display an unobstructed view of a program;

determine that the program is related to the fantasy sports contest in which the user participates by comparing program data associated with the program to the user selections associated with the fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

determine that an event has occurred in the program if it is determined that the program is related to the fantasy sports contest in which the user participates; and

direct the display device to display, in response to the determination that the event has occurred, an overlay on top of the program, wherein the overlay includes fantasy sports contest information associated with the event.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein the program includes the real-life player that affects the user'"'"'s standing in the fantasy sports contest.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein the event corresponds to an accumulation of a statistic by the real-life player, wherein the statistic affects the user'"'"'s performance in the fantasy sports contest.

48. The system of claim 45 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to direct the display device to display information that indicates a number of fantasy sports points that the user has received as a result of the event.

49. The system of claim 45 further comprising a memory device, wherein:

the control circuitry is further configured to;

direct the memory device to record the event; and

provide to the user the ability to play back the event from the memory device.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to direct the memory device to store data that indicates a start of the event.

51. An interactive television program guide application system operative to provide fantasy sports contest information to a user, the system comprising:

a display device;

a user input device; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

add the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

provide to the user the ability to select a program for viewing;

determine that the program includes the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the program with the real-life sports player included in the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster; and

direct the display device to display, in response to user selection of the program and in response to determining that the program includes the real-life sports player, fantasy sports contest information associated with the real-life sports player in conjunction with video for the program.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein the program includes the real-life sports player that affects the fantasy sports contest.

53. The system of claim 51 wherein the program relates to a real-life competition that affects the fantasy sports contest.

54. The system of claim 51 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to direct the display device to display fantasy sports contest information that indicates a performance of the user in the fantasy sports contest.

55. The system of claim 51 wherein the player is fictitiously added to the fantasy team roster of the user.

56. An interactive television program guide application system operative to provide fantasy sports contest information to a user, the system comprising:

a display device;

a user input device; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

add the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

display a plurality of program guide listings;

determine that one of the displayed plurality of program guide listings includes the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the one of the displayed plurality of program guide listings with the real-life sports player included in the fantasy sports roster; and

direct a display device to display, in response to determining that the one of the displayed plurality of program guide listings includes the real life sports player, fantasy sports contest information associated with the real-life sports player.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to direct the display device to display an advertisement for the fantasy sports contest.

58. The system of claim 56 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to direct the display device to displaying an advertisement for a fantasy sports contest when the fantasy sports contest is consistent with a maintained viewing history of a user.

59. An interactive television program guide application operative to provide fantasy sports contest information to a user, the system comprising:

means for receiving a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

means for adding the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

means for determining with the interactive television program guide application that a program includes the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the program with the real-life sports player included in the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster; and

means for displaying, in response to determining that the program includes the real-life sports player, information indicating to the user that the program is related to the fantasy sports contest.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein the means for determining that the program includes the real-life sports player comprises means for determining that the program relates to a real-life competition in which the real-life sports player participates.

61. The system of claim 59 wherein the means for determining that the program includes the real-life sports player comprises means for determining that the program includes the real-life sports player on the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster in the fantasy sports contest in which the user participates.

62. The system of claim 59 wherein the means for displaying information comprises means for displaying information indicating the real-life sports player is included in the program.

63. The system of claim 59 wherein the means for displaying information comprises means for displaying a program listing that includes an indicator, wherein the indicator indicates that the program is related to the fantasy sports contest.

64. The system of claim 63 wherein the indicator is selected from the group consisting of an icon, text, a graphic, a color, and any combination thereof.

65. The system of claim 63 further comprising:

means for receiving a user indication of the program listing; and

means for displaying to the user information for the real-life player included in the program.

66. The system of claim 63 further comprising:

means for receiving a user indication of the program listing; and

means for displaying to the user information that indicates the user'"'"'s performance in the fantasy sports contest.

67. An interactive television program guide application system operative to provide fantasy sports contest information to a user, the system comprising:

means for receiving a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

means for adding the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

means for determining which programs include the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the program with the real-life sports player included in the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

means for providing to the user an opportunity to view a schedule of the programs that include the real-life sports player that has been selected in the fantasy sports contest in which the user participates; and

means for displaying the schedule to the user in response to a user indication of the opportunity.

68. The system of claim 67 wherein the programs relate to events that affect the performance of the user in the fantasy sports contest.

69. An interactive television program guide application system operative to provide fantasy sports contest information to a user, the system comprising:

means for receiving a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

means for adding the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

means for determining with the interactive television program guide application that a program includes real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the program with the real-life sports player included in the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster; and

means for scheduling the program for automatic recording for the user.

70. The system of claim 69 wherein the means for determining that the program includes the real-life sports player comprises means for determining that the program includes the real-life sports player that has been fictitiously added to the fantasy team roster of the user.

71. The system of claim 69 wherein the means for determining that the program includes the real-life sports player comprises means for determining that the program relates to a real-life competition that affects the fantasy sports contest.

72. The system of claim 69 wherein the means for scheduling the program for automatic recording comprises:

means for determining a number of real-life sports players included in the program, each of the real-life sports players a fictitious selection to the fantasy team roster of the user; and

means for determining whether to schedule the program for automatic recording based on the number.

73. The system of claim 69 further comprising:

means for providing to the user the ability to define a record priority for programs related to the fantasy sports contest; and

means for determining whether to schedule the program for automatic recording based on the user-defined record priority.

74. An interactive television program guide application system operative to provide fantasy sports contest information to a user, the system comprising:

means for receiving user selections associated with a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

means for displaying an unobstructed view of a program;

means for determining that the program is related to the fantasy sports contest in which the user participates by comparing program data associated with the program to the user selections associated with the fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

means for determining with the interactive television program guide application that an event has occurred in the program if it is determined that the program is related to the fantasy sports contest in which the user participates; and

means for displaying, in response to the determination that the event has occurred, an overlay on top of the program, wherein the overlay includes fantasy sports contest information associated with the event.

75. The system of claim 74 wherein the program includes the real-life player that affects the user'"'"'s standing in the fantasy sports contest.

76. The system of claim 75 wherein the event corresponds to an accumulation of a statistic by the real-life player, wherein the statistic affects the user'"'"'s performance in the fantasy sports contest.

77. The system of claim 74 wherein the means for displaying information associated with the event comprises means for displaying information that indicates a number of fantasy sports points that the user has received as a result of the event.

78. The system of claim 74 further comprising:

means for recording the event using a personal video recorder; and

means for providing to the user the ability to play back the event from the personal video recorder.

79. The system of claim 78 wherein the means for recording the event comprises means for storing data that indicates a start of the event.

80. An interactive television program guide application system operative to provide fantasy sports contest information to a user, the system comprising:

means for receiving a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

means for adding the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

means for providing to the user the ability to select a program for viewing;

means for determining that the program includes the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the program with the real-life sports player included in the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster; and

means for displaying, in response to user selection of the program and in response to determining that the program includes the real-life sports player, fantasy sports contest information associated with the real-life sports player in conjunction with video for the program.

81. The system of claim 80 wherein the program includes the real-life sports player that affects the fantasy sports contest.

82. The system of claim 80 wherein the program relates to a real-life competition that affects the fantasy sports contest.

83. The system of claim 80 wherein the means for displaying fantasy sports contest information comprises means for displaying information that indicates a performance of the user in the fantasy sports contest.

84. The system of claim 80 wherein the player is fictitiously added to the fantasy team roster of the user.

85. An interactive television program guide application system operative to provide fantasy sports contest information to a user, the system comprising:

means for receiving a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

means for adding the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

means for displaying a plurality of program guide listings;

means for determining that one of the displayed plurality of program guide listings includes the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the one of the displayed plurality of program guide listings with the real-life sports player included in the fantasy sports roster; and

means for displaying, in response to determining that the one of the displayed plurality of program guide listings includes the real life sports player, fantasy sports contest information associated with the real-life sports player.

86. The system of claim 85 wherein the means for displaying information comprises means for displaying an advertisement for the fantasy sports contest.

87. The system of claim 85 wherein the means for displaying information comprises means for displaying an advertisement for a fantasy sports contest when the fantasy sports contest is consistent with a maintained viewing history of a user.

88. A non-transitory machine-readable medium for an interactive television program guide application, the machine-readable medium having machine program logic recorded thereon for:

receiving a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

adding the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

determining with the interactive television program guide application that a program includes the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the program with the real-life sports player included in the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster; and

displaying, in response to determining that the program includes the real-life sports player information indicating to the user that the program is related to the fantasy sports contest.

89. The a non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 88 wherein determining that the program includes the real-life sports player comprises determining that the program relates to a real-life competition in which the real-life sports player participates.

90. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 88 wherein determining that the program includes the real-life sports player comprises determining that the program includes the real-life sports player on the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster in the fantasy sports contest in which the user participates.

91. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 88 wherein displaying information comprises displaying information for the real-life sports player included in the program.

92. The machine-readable medium of claim 88 wherein displaying information comprises displaying a program listing that includes an indicator, wherein the indicator indicates that the program is related to the fantasy sports contest.

93. The non-traniomachine-readable medium of claim 92 wherein the indicator is selected from the group consisting of an icon, text, a graphic, a color, and any combination thereof.

94. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 92 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

receiving a user indication of the program listing; and

displaying to the user information for the real-life player included in the program.

95. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 92 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

receiving a user indication of the program listing; and

displaying to the user information that indicates the user'"'"'s performance in the fantasy sports contest.

96. A non-transitory machine-readable medium for an interactive television program guide application, the machine-readable medium having machine program logic recorded thereon for:

receiving a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

adding the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

determining which programs include the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the program with the real-life sports player included in the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

providing to the user an opportunity to view a schedule of the programs that include the real-life sports player that has been selected in the fantasy sports contest in which the user participates; and

displaying the schedule to the user in response to a user indication of the opportunity.

97. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 96 wherein the programs relate to events that affect the performance of the user in the fantasy sports contest.

98. A non-transitory machine-readable medium for an interactive television program guide application, the machine-readable medium having machine program logic recorded thereon for:

receiving a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

adding the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

determining with the interactive television program guide application that a program includes the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the program with the real-life sports player included in the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster; and

scheduling the program for automatic recording for the user.

99. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 98 wherein determining that the program includes the real-life sports player comprises determining that the program includes the real-life sports player that has been fictitiously added to the fantasy team roster of the user.

100. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 98 wherein determining that the program includes the real-life sports player comprises determining that the program relates to a real-life competition that affects the fantasy sports contest.

101. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 98 wherein scheduling the program for automatic recording comprises:

determining a number of real-life sports players included in the program, each of the real-life sports players a fictitious selection to the fantasy team roster of the user; and

determining whether to schedule the program for automatic recording based on the number.

102. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 98 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

providing to the user the ability to define a record priority for programs related to the fantasy sports contest; and

determining whether to schedule the program for automatic recording based on the user-defined record priority.

103. A non-transitory machine-readable medium for an interactive television program guide application, the machine-readable medium having machine program logic recorded thereon for:

receiving user selections associated with a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

displaying an unobstructed view of a program;

determining that the program is related to the fantasy sports contest in which the user participates by comparing program data associated with the program to the user selections associated with the fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

determining with the interactive television program guide application that an event has occurred in the program if it is determined that the program is related to the fantasy sports contest in which the user participates; and

displaying, in response to the determination that the event has occurred, an overlay on top of the program, wherein the overlay includes fantasy sports contest information associated with the event.

104. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 103 wherein the program includes the real-life player that affects the user'"'"'s standing in the fantasy sports contest.

105. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 104 wherein the event corresponds to an accumulation of a statistic by the real-life player, wherein the statistic affects the user'"'"'s performance in the fantasy sports contest.

106. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 103 wherein displaying information associated with the event comprises displaying information that indicates a number of fantasy sports points that the user has received as a result of the event.

107. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 103 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

recording the event using a personal video recorder; and

providing to the user the ability to play back the event from the personal video recorder.

108. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 107 wherein recording the event comprises storing data that indicates a start of the event.

109. A non-transitory machine-readable medium for an interactive television program guide application, the machine-readable medium having machine program logic recorded thereon for:

receiving a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

adding the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

providing to the user the ability to select a program for viewing;

determining that the program includes the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the program with the real-life sports player included in the user'"'"'s fantasy team roster; and

displaying, in response to user selection of the program and in response to determining that the program includes the real-life sports player, fantasy sports contest information associated with the real-life sports player in conjunction with video for the program.

110. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 109 wherein the program includes the real-life sports player that affects the fantasy sports contest.

111. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 109 wherein the program relates to a real-life competition that affects the fantasy sports contest.

112. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 109 wherein displaying fantasy sports contest information comprises displaying information that indicates a performance of the user in the fantasy sports contest.

113. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 109 wherein the player is fictitiously added to the fantasy team roster of the user.

114. A non-transitory machine-readable medium for an interactive television program guide application, the machine-readable medium having machine program logic recorded thereon for:

receiving a user selection of a real-life sports player associated a real-life sports team in a fantasy sports contest in which the user participates;

adding the real-life sports player to a user'"'"'s fantasy team roster;

displaying a plurality of program guide listings;

determining that one of the displayed plurality of program guide listings includes the real-life sports player by comparing program data associated with the one of the displayed plurality of program guide listings with the real-life sports player included in the fantasy sports roster; and

displaying, in response to determining that the one of the displayed plurality of program guide listings includes the real life sports player, fantasy sports contest information associated with the real-life sports player.

115. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 114 wherein displaying information comprises displaying an advertisement for the fantasy sports contest.

116. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 114 wherein displaying information comprises displaying an advertisement for a fantasy sports contest when the fantasy sports contest is consistent with a maintained viewing history of a user.