Techniques to create, generate, and deliver customized interactive program
guide (custom-IPG). In one method, selections indicative of a set of channels to
be included in the custom-IPG are received. In response, one or more custom-IPG
screens having included therein the set of selected channels are rendered at a
head end. The custom-IPG screens can be formed as subsets of the regular IPG screens,
or as new screens. The rendered custom-IPG screens are provided from the head end
to a set top terminal upon receiving a viewer request for the custom-IPG. Command
indicative of a particular location at which to overlay the custom-IPG screens
may also be received. In this case, the custom-IPG screens are re-rendered at the
indicated location. The custom-IPG screens can be overlaid on a video sequence
provided on a particular channel, which can be the channel currently being viewed,
the channel used to carry regular program guide, or a channel that is independent
of the channels used to carry regular programming and program guide. For example,
either the custom or regular IPG can be provided on the program guide channel,
depending on the viewer's selection.
