Method for authorizing limited programming distribution

摘要

A method and system are provided for distributing programming. A first set of program segments is transmitted according to a schedule of programming. A second set of program segments is stored on a server, with at least one of the first set of program segments having a counterpart in the second set of program segments. User authorizations to program segments on the server are maintained. Such user authorizations may include a record of the number of times a user has previously been given program control over a particular program segment from the server and a limit on the number of times the user is authorized to have program control over the particular program segment from the server. A request from the user for program control over the particular program segment is detected and a determination is made whether to grant program control over that program segment in accordance with the user authorizations.