Apparatus for and method of providing media programmes and advertising content to consumers

摘要

A system for supplying media provided by one or more suppliers to a number of consumers across a network through an intermediary comprises a supplier unit adapted to supply to the intermediary a "supply offer" price indicative of the price that the supplier is offering to supply a combination of media content and/or advertisements to consumers connected to the network and a consumer unit which is adapted to provide to the intermediary a "consume offer" price indicative of the price that the consumer is prepared to pay for a selection of media and advertisement. The intermediary is adapted to establish an auction between the supplier making "supply offers" and the consumer making "consume offers" to establish agreed transactions between a supplier and a consumer. A method of supplying media is also disclosed.