Media program with selectable sub-segments

摘要

A media program for play on a media player to produce an audio-visual stream perceivable by a user is disclosed. The media program comprises a primary program configured for streaming play on the media player. The primary program is divisible into a continuous sequence of segments defining a timeline. The media program also includes a plurality of sub-segments separate from the primary program. Each of the sub-segments is configured for streaming play on the media player. The media program also includes a plurality of links (indicators or signals) in the primary program. Each link is configured to be played for a predetermined period of the timeline and not at other periods of the timeline. The media program is configured to cause the media player to interrupt the primary program and play a predetermined one of the plurality of sub-segments when a predetermined interruption command of the media player is activated by the user while a link associated with the predetermined one of the plurality of sub-segments is being played. Two or more of the plurality of links may be configured to be played simultaneously during the primary program, each associated with a different one of the plurality of sub-segments. Each of the plurality of links may include information descriptive of a sub-segment associated with the each link, such as a brief written description that may be configured to appear in the black bar of a letterbox display. Methods and systems for producing and playing the media program are also disclosed.