The present invention is suitable for use in a communications system that downloads applications over a broadcast file system (BFS). An application services interface (ASI) provides the BFS an application file including a configuration file and an image file that are stored in a service manager in set-tops. Additionally, the ASI provides the BFS a content file that is included in the application file. The provided content file is separated into service files, where each service file is associated with a particular service. When a set-top requests a service, the associated service file is subsequently loaded onto the set-top. Alternatively, a service file is stored in memory until such time as another service is requested, which at that point the older service file is removed from memory to allow space for the newly requested service file.