DIGITAL BROADCAST PROGRAM ORDERING

摘要

A method and a system for selecting and ordering broadcast programs (197) uses an electronic program guide (310) that may be broadcast to subscribers or posted on an Internet web site (10). The system allows national broadcasters (110) to provide one or more channels of pay-per view or subscription programming and to establish a mechanism for billing subscribers who access the programs. Subscribers may access the Internet (105) and send a program request to the web site (106). An authorization (196) is then forwarded to a billing center (194) and to a local broadcaster (114). The billing center (194) debits the subscriber's account, or prepares a bill. The local broadcaster (114) sends the authorization to the subscriber. The authorization (196) includes a program code and a terminal identifier (197) that permits the subscriber's television (170) or set top terminal (220) to decrypt and display the program (197).