METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR GENERATING AND PROVIDING PROGRAM GUIDES AND CONTENT

20230101680

18/062720

December 07, 2022

Systems and methods are configured to manage streaming video content. A first time length specification for a content pod is accessed. If a determination is made that a response to a request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the content pod includes ancillary content of insufficient duration to populate the first time length of the content pod, the content pod time length is reduced. Ancillary content items associated with the response to the request are streamed to a user device as part of a streaming channel comprising primary content having scheduled start times. A primary content item, having a scheduled start time, is streamed to the user device after the items of ancillary content, and earlier than the scheduled start time of the item of primary content.

1. A system configured to dynamically control streaming of content for channels of linear, scheduled content, the system comprising: a network interface; at least one processing device; non-transitory memory storing programmatic code that when executed by the at least one processing device, cause the system to perform operations comprising: access a specification of a first time length of a first ancillary content pod, wherein ancillary content used to populate the first ancillary content pod is configured to be displayed between items of primary content, the items of primary content comprising video content, wherein the items of primary content are associated with corresponding scheduled start play times; transmit a first request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod; determine whether a response to the first request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod includes ancillary content of sufficient duration to populate the first time length of the first ancillary content pod; at least partly in response to determining that the response to the first request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod is insufficient to populate the first time length of the first ancillary content pod: reduce the first time length of the first ancillary content pod by a first time period; cause items of ancillary content associated with the response to the first request for ancillary content to be streamed to a first user device; cause an item of primary content, associated with a corresponding scheduled start time, to be streamed immediately after the items of ancillary content associated with the response to the first request for ancillary content are streamed to the first user device, and earlier than the corresponding scheduled start time of the item of primary content; determine respective extension time lengths for one or more ancillary content pods scheduled to be played after the first ancillary content pod; extend the respective time lengths of the one or more ancillary content pods scheduled to be played after the first ancillary content pod by respective extension time lengths; cause the one or more ancillary content pods extended by respective extension time lengths to be populated with ancillary content; and cause the ancillary content used to populate the one or more ancillary content pods extended by respective extension time lengths, to be streamed to the first user device.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, the operations further comprising: access an ancillary content load specification associated with at least a first channel comprising primary content having scheduled start times; use the ancillary content load specification to determine a time length of one or more ancillary content pods for display between segments of at least a first item of primary content; store timing positioning information for the one or more ancillary content pods with respect to the first item of primary content; detect that a second user device has begun streaming the first item of primary content after a scheduled start time of the first item of primary content; and at least partly in response to detecting that the second user device has begun streaming the first item of primary content after the scheduled start time of the first item of primary content and the accessed ancillary content load specification, reduce a time length of at least one ancillary content pod.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, the operations further comprising: transmit a second request for ancillary content of the duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod, wherein the second request includes one or more variables different than variables included in the first request, wherein the variables included in the second request are associated with one or more characteristics of a set of users including at least a second user; determine whether a response to the second request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod includes ancillary content of sufficient duration to populate the first time length of the first ancillary content pod; at least partly in response to determining that the response to the request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod is sufficient to populate the first time length of the first ancillary content pod: cause items of ancillary content associated with the response to the second request for ancillary content to be streamed to a second user device; and cause the item of primary content, associated with the corresponding scheduled start time, to be streamed after the items of ancillary content associated with the response to the second request for ancillary content are streamed to the second user device, and at the corresponding scheduled start time of the item of primary content.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, the operations further comprising: detect that a second user is accessing, during a first session, a first channel comprising a first plurality of items of primary content associated with respective scheduled start times; determine that a first item of primary content is to be streamed to a second user device earlier by a first amount than a scheduled start time for the first item of primary content; cause a drift value corresponding to the first amount to be stored; detect that the second user has accessed, during the first session at a first time, a second channel comprising a second plurality of items of primary content associated with respective scheduled start times; detect that the second user has returned to accessing, during the first session at a second time, the first channel; determine a difference between the first time and the second time; access the stored drift value; based at least in part: on the accessed drift value, and the determined difference between the first time and the second time, determine what content is to be streamed to the second user device.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, the operations further comprising: detect that a second user device is accessing a first channel comprising a first plurality of items of primary content associated with respective scheduled start times; detect that the second user device has accessed a second channel comprising a second plurality of items of primary content associated with respective scheduled start times; detect that the second user device has returned to accessing the first channel at a first time; determine that a first item of content is scheduled to be played in the first channel beginning prior to and ending after when the second user has returned to accessing the first channel at the first time; and at least partly in response to determining that the first item of content is scheduled to be played in the first channel beginning prior to and ending after when the second user has returned to accessing the first channel at the first time, cause the first item of content to be played by the second user device from the beginning of the first item of content.

6. The system as defined in claim 1, the operations further comprising: detect that a second user device is accessing, during a first session, a first channel comprising a first plurality of items of primary content associated with respective scheduled start times; detect that the second user device has accessed, during the first session, a second channel comprising a second plurality of items of primary content associated with respective scheduled start times; detect that the second user device has returned to accessing, during the first session, the first channel at a first time; determine that an item of content is scheduled to be played beginning prior to and ending after when the second user has returned to accessing, during the first session, the first channel at the first time; and at least partly in response to determining that a first item of content is scheduled to be played in the first channel beginning prior to and ending after when the second user has returned to accessing, during the first session, the first channel at the first time, cause a second item of content to be played by the second user device instead of the first item of content.

7. The system as defined in claim 1, the operations further comprising: detect that a second user device is accessing, during a first session, a first channel comprising a first plurality of items of primary content associated with respective previously scheduled start times; determine that a first item of primary content is to be streamed to the second user device earlier by a drift period than a scheduled start time for the first item of primary content; cause a drift value corresponding to the drift period to be stored; detect an upcoming anchor event in the first channel; and at least partly in response to detecting the upcoming anchor event in the first channel, cause backfill content to be streamed to the second user device prior to the upcoming anchor event, to thereby reduce the drift period and to cause a viewing experience of the second user with respect to at least one item of content to be synchronized to a previously scheduled start time of the at least item of content.

8. The system as defined in claim 1, the operations further comprising: detect that a second user is accessing, during a first session, a first channel comprising a first plurality of items of primary content associated with respective previously scheduled start times; determine that a first item of primary content is to be streamed to a second user device earlier by a drift period than a scheduled start time for the first item of primary content; cause a drift value corresponding to the drift period to be generated; access a maximum drift specification; and at least partly in response to a comparison of the drift value and the maximum drift specification, cause a viewing experience of the second user with respect to at least one item of content to be synchronized to a previously scheduled start time of the at least item of content.

9. The system as defined in claim 1, the operations further comprising: identify a first plurality of users that share at least a first characteristic; assign the first plurality of users that share at least the first characteristic to first cohort; identify a second plurality of users that share at least a second characteristic; assign the second plurality of users that share at least the second characteristic to second cohort; stream content of a first channel to at least one device of a user assigned to the first cohort, the first channel including a second ancillary content pod having a first designated length; stream content of the first channel to at least one device of a user assigned to the second cohort, the first channel including the second ancillary content pod having the first designated length; cause the second ancillary content pod to be populated with a first set of ancillary content having a first length for at least one user assigned to the first cohort, the first length less than the first designated length; cause the second ancillary content pod to be populated with a second set of ancillary content having a second length for at least one user assigned to the second cohort, the second length less than the first designated length; store a first drift value corresponding to a difference between the first designated length and the first length; store a second drift value corresponding to a difference between the first designated length and the second length; cause a first item of primary content to be streamed in the first channel at a first adjusted time to at least one device of a user assigned to the first cohort, the first adjusted time earlier than a scheduled start time for the first item of primary content, the first adjusted time determined using at least the first drift value; and cause the first item of primary content to be streamed in the first channel at a second adjusted time to at least one device of a user assigned to the second cohort, the second adjusted time earlier than the scheduled start time for the first item of primary content, the second adjusted time determined using at least the second drift value.

10. A computer implemented method, the method comprising: accessing a specification of a first time length of a first ancillary content pod, wherein ancillary content used to populate the first ancillary content pod is configured to be displayed between items of primary content, the items of primary content comprising video content, wherein the items of primary content are associated with corresponding scheduled start play times; transmitting a first request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod; determining whether a response to the first request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod includes ancillary content of sufficient duration to populate the first time length of the first ancillary content pod; at least partly in response to determining that the response to the first request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod is insufficient to populate the first time length of the first ancillary content pod: reducing the first time length of the first ancillary content pod by a first time period; enabling items of ancillary content associated with the response to the first request for ancillary content to be streamed to a first user device; enabling an item of primary content, associated with a corresponding scheduled start time, to be streamed after the items of ancillary content associated with the response to the first request for ancillary content are streamed to the first user device, and earlier than the corresponding scheduled start time of the item of primary content; determining respective extension time lengths for one or more ancillary content pods scheduled to be played after the first ancillary content pod; extending the respective time lengths of the one or more ancillary content pods scheduled to be played after the first ancillary content pod by respective extension time lengths; enabling the one or more ancillary content pods extended by respective extension time lengths to be populated with ancillary content; and enabling the ancillary content used to populate the one or more ancillary content pods extended by respective extension time lengths, to be streamed to the first user device.

11. The method as defined in claim 10, the method further comprising: accessing an ancillary content load specification associated with at least a first channel comprising primary content having scheduled start times; using the ancillary content load specification to determine a time length of one or more ancillary content pods for display between segments of at least a first item of primary content; storing timing positioning information for the one or more ancillary content pods with respect to the first item of primary content; detecting that a second user device has begun streaming the first item of primary content after a scheduled start time of the first item of primary content; and at least partly in response to detecting that the second user device has begun streaming the first item of primary content after the scheduled start time of the first item of primary content and the accessed ancillary content load specification, reducing a time length of at least one ancillary content pod.

12. The method as defined in claim 10, the method further comprising: transmitting a second request for ancillary content of the duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod, wherein the second request includes one or more variables different than variables included in the first request, wherein the variables included in the second request are associated with one or more characteristics of a set of users including at least a second user; determining whether a response to the second request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod includes ancillary content of sufficient duration to populate the first time length of the first ancillary content pod; at least partly in response to determining that the response to the request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod is sufficient to populate the first time length of the first ancillary content pod: enabling items of ancillary content associated with the response to the second request for ancillary content to be streamed to a second user device; and enabling the item of primary content, associated with the corresponding scheduled start time, to be streamed after the items of ancillary content associated with the response to the second request for ancillary content are streamed to the second user device, and at the corresponding scheduled start time of the item of primary content.

13. The method as defined in claim 10, the method further comprising: detecting that a second user is accessing a first channel comprising a first plurality of items of primary content associated with respective scheduled start times; determining that a first item of primary content is to be streamed to a second user device earlier by a first amount than a scheduled start time for the first item of primary content; enabling a drift value corresponding to the first amount to be stored; detecting that the second user has accessed, at a first time, a second channel comprising a second plurality of items of primary content associated with respective scheduled start times; detecting that the second user has returned to accessing, at a second time, the first channel; determining a difference between the first time and the second time; accessing the stored drift value; based at least in part: on the accessed drift value, and the determined difference between the first time and the second time, determining what content is to be streamed to the second user device.

14. The method as defined in claim 10, the method further comprising: detecting that a second user device is accessing a first channel comprising a first plurality of items of primary content associated with respective scheduled start times; detecting that the second user device has accessed a second channel comprising a second plurality of items of primary content associated with respective scheduled start times; detecting that the second user device has returned to accessing the first channel at a first time; determining that a first item of content is scheduled to be played in the first channel beginning prior to and ending after when the second user has returned to accessing the first channel at the first time; and at least partly in response to determining that the first item of content is scheduled to be played in the first channel beginning prior to and ending after when the second user has returned to accessing the first channel at the first time, enabling the first item of content to be played by the second user device from the beginning of the first item of content.

15. The method as defined in claim 10, the method further comprising: detecting that a second user device is accessing a first channel comprising a first plurality of items of primary content associated with respective scheduled start times; detecting that the second user device has accessed a second channel comprising a second plurality of items of primary content associated with respective scheduled start times; detecting that the second user device has returned to accessing the first channel at a first time; determining that an item of content is scheduled to be played beginning prior to and ending after when the second user has returned to accessing the first channel at the first time; and at least partly in response to determining that a first item of content is scheduled to be played in the first channel beginning prior to and ending after when the second user has returned to accessing the first channel at the first time, enabling a second item of content to be played by the second user device instead of the first item of content.

16. The method as defined in claim 10, the method further comprising: detecting that a second user device is accessing a first channel comprising a first plurality of items of primary content associated with respective previously scheduled start times; determining that a first item of primary content is to be streamed to the second user device earlier by a drift period than a scheduled start time for the first item of primary content; enabling a drift value corresponding to the drift period to be stored; detecting an upcoming anchor event in the first channel; and at least partly in response to detecting the upcoming anchor event in the first channel, enabling backfill content to be streamed to the second user device prior to the upcoming anchor event.

17. The method as defined in claim 10, the method further comprising: detecting that a second user is accessing a first channel comprising a first plurality of items of primary content associated with respective previously scheduled start times; determining that a first item of primary content is to be streamed to a second user device earlier by a drift period than a scheduled start time for the first item of primary content; enabling a drift value corresponding to the drift period to be generated; accessing a maximum drift specification; and at least partly in response to a comparison of the drift value and the maximum drift specification, enabling a viewing experience of the second user with respect to at least one item of content to be synchronized to a previously scheduled start time of the at least item of content.

18. The method as defined in claim 10, the method further comprising: identifying a first plurality of users that share at least a first characteristic; assigning the first plurality of users that share at least the first characteristic to first cohort; identifying a second plurality of users that share at least a second characteristic; assigning the second plurality of users that share at least the second characteristic to second cohort; enabling content of a first channel to be streamed to at least one device of a user assigned to the first cohort, the first channel including a second ancillary content pod having a first designated length; enabling content of the first channel to be streamed to at least one device of a user assigned to the second cohort, the first channel including the second ancillary content pod having the first designated length; enabling the second ancillary content pod to be populated with a first set of ancillary content having a first length for at least one user assigned to the first cohort, the first length less than the first designated length; enabling the second ancillary content pod to be populated with a second set of ancillary content having a second length for at least one user assigned to the second cohort, the second length less than the first designated length; generating a first drift value corresponding to a difference between the first designated length and the first length; generating a second drift value corresponding to a difference between the first designated length and the second length; enabling a first item of primary content to be streamed in the first channel at a first adjusted time to at least one device of a user assigned to the first cohort, the first adjusted time earlier than a scheduled start time for the first item of primary content, the first adjusted time determined using at least the first drift value; and enabling the first item of primary content to be streamed in the first channel at a second adjusted time to at least one device of a user assigned to the second cohort, the second adjusted time earlier than the scheduled start time for the first item of primary content, the second adjusted time determined using at least the second drift value.

19. Non-transitory memory that stores programmatic code that when executed by at least one processing device, cause the at least one processing device to perform operations comprising: access a specification of a first time length of a first ancillary content pod, wherein ancillary content used to populate the first ancillary content pod is configured to be displayed between items of primary content, the items of primary content comprising video content, wherein the items of primary content are associated with corresponding scheduled start play times; provide a first request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod; determine whether a response to the first request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod includes ancillary content of sufficient duration to populate the first time length of the first ancillary content pod; at least partly in response to determining that the response to the first request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod is insufficient to populate the first time length of the first ancillary content pod: adjust the first time length of the first ancillary content pod by a first time period; enable items of ancillary content associated with the response to the first request for ancillary content to be streamed to a first user device; enable an item of primary content, associated with a corresponding scheduled start time, to be streamed after the items of ancillary content associated with the response to the first request for ancillary content are streamed to the first user device, and earlier than the corresponding scheduled start time of the item of primary content; determine respective extension time lengths for one or more ancillary content pods scheduled to be played after the first ancillary content pod; adjust the respective time lengths of the one or more ancillary content pods scheduled to be played after the first ancillary content pod by respective extension time lengths; and enable the one or more ancillary content pods extended by respective extension time lengths to be populated with ancillary content; and enable the ancillary content used to populate the one or more ancillary content pods extended by respective extension time lengths, to be streamed to the first user device.

20. The non-transitory memory as defined in claim 19, the operations further comprising: accessing an ancillary content load specification associated with at least a first channel comprising primary content having scheduled start times; using the ancillary content load specification to determine a time length of one or more ancillary content pods for display between segments of at least a first item of primary content; storing timing positioning information for the one or more ancillary content pods with respect to the first item of primary content; detecting that a second user device has begun streaming the first item of primary content after a scheduled start time of the first item of primary content; and at least partly in response to detecting that the second user device has begun streaming the first item of primary content after the scheduled start time of the first item of primary content and the accessed ancillary content load specification, reducing a time length of at least one ancillary content pod.

21. The non-transitory memory as defined in claim 19, the operations further comprising: transmit a second request for ancillary content of the duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod, wherein the second request includes one or more variables different than variables included in the first request, wherein the variables included in the second request are associated with one or more characteristics of a set of users including at least a second user; determine whether a response to the second request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod includes ancillary content of sufficient duration to populate the first time length of the first ancillary content pod; at least partly in response to determining that the response to the request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod is sufficient to populate the first time length of the first ancillary content pod: enable items of ancillary content associated with the response to the second request for ancillary content to be streamed to a second user device; enable the item of primary content, associated with the corresponding scheduled start time, to be streamed after the items of ancillary content associated with the response to the second request for ancillary content are streamed to the second user device, and at the corresponding scheduled start time of the item of primary content.

22. The non-transitory memory as defined in claim 19, the operations further comprising: detect that a second user is accessing a first channel comprising a first plurality of items of primary content associated with respective scheduled start times; determine that a first item of primary content is to be streamed to a second user device earlier by a first amount than a scheduled start time for the first item of primary content; enable a drift value corresponding to the first amount to be stored; detect that the second user has accessed, at a first time, a second channel comprising a second plurality of items of primary content associated with respective scheduled start times; detect that the second user has returned to accessing, at a second time, the first channel; determine a difference between the first time and the second time; access the stored drift value; based at least in part: on the accessed drift value, and the determined difference between the first time and the second time, determining what content is to be streamed to the second user device.

23. The non-transitory memory as defined in claim 19, the operations further comprising: detect that a second user device is accessing a first channel comprising a first plurality of items of primary content associated with respective scheduled start times; detect that the second user device has accessed a second channel comprising a second plurality of items of primary content associated with respective scheduled start times; detect that the second user device has returned to accessing the first channel at a first time; determine that a first item of content is scheduled to be played in the first channel beginning prior to and ending after when the second user has returned to accessing the first channel at the first time; at least partly in response to determining that the first item of content is scheduled to be played in the first channel beginning prior to and ending after when the second user has returned to accessing the first channel at the first time, enable the first item of content to be played by the second user device from the beginning of the first item of content.

24. The non-transitory memory as defined in claim 19, the operations further comprising: detect that a second user device is accessing a first channel comprising a first plurality of items of primary content associated with respective scheduled start times; detect that the second user device has accessed a second channel comprising a second plurality of items of primary content associated with respective scheduled start times; detecting that the second user device has returned to accessing the first channel at a first time; determine that an item of content is scheduled to be played beginning prior to and ending after when the second user has returned to accessing the first channel at the first time; at least partly in response to determining that a first item of content is scheduled to be played in the first channel beginning prior to and ending after when the second user has returned to accessing the first channel at the first time, enable a second item of content to be played by the second user device instead of the first item of content.

25. The non-transitory memory as defined in claim 19, the operations further comprising: detect that a second user device is accessing a first channel comprising a first plurality of items of primary content associated with respective previously scheduled start times; determine that a first item of primary content is to be streamed to the second user device earlier by a drift period than a scheduled start time for the first item of primary content; enable a drift value corresponding to the drift period to be stored; detect an upcoming anchor event in the first channel; and at least partly in response to detecting the upcoming anchor event in the first channel, enabling backfill content to be streamed to the second user device prior to the upcoming anchor event.

26. The non-transitory memory as defined in claim 19, the operations further comprising: detect that a second user is accessing a first channel comprising a first plurality of items of primary content associated with respective previously scheduled start times; determine that a first item of primary content is to be streamed to a second user device earlier by a drift period than a scheduled start time for the first item of primary content; enable a drift value corresponding to the drift period to be generated; access a maximum drift specification; and at least partly in response to a comparison of the drift value and the maximum drift specification, enable a viewing experience of the second user with respect to at least one item of content to be synchronized to a previously scheduled start time of the at least item of content.

27. The non-transitory memory as defined in claim 19, the operations further comprising: identify a first plurality of users that share at least a first characteristic; assign the first plurality of users that share at least the first characteristic to first cohort; identify a second plurality of users that share at least a second characteristic; assign the second plurality of users that share at least the second characteristic to second cohort; enable content of a first channel to be streamed to at least one device of a user assigned to the first cohort, the first channel including a second ancillary content pod having a first designated length; enable content of the first channel to be streamed to at least one device of a user assigned to the second cohort, the first channel including the second ancillary content pod having the first designated length; enable the second ancillary content pod to be populated with a first set of ancillary content having a first length for at least one user assigned to the first cohort, the first length less than the first designated length; enable the second ancillary content pod to be populated with a second set of ancillary content having a second length for at least one user assigned to the second cohort, the second length less than the first designated length; generate a first drift value corresponding to a difference between the first designated length and the first length; generate a second drift value corresponding to a difference between the first designated length and the second length; enable a first item of primary content to be streamed in the first channel at a first adjusted time to at least one device of a user assigned to the first cohort, the first adjusted time earlier than a scheduled start time for the first item of primary content, the first adjusted time determined using at least the first drift value; and enabling the first item of primary content to be streamed in the first channel at a second adjusted time to at least one device of a user assigned to the second cohort, the second adjusted time earlier than the scheduled start time for the first item of primary content, the second adjusted time determined using at least the second drift value.

28. A system configured to dynamically control streaming of content, the system comprising: a network interface; at least one processing device; non-transitory memory storing programmatic code that when executed by the at least one processing device, cause the system to perform operations comprising: access a specification of a first time length of a first ancillary content pod, wherein ancillary content used to populate the first ancillary content pod is configured to be displayed between items of primary content, the items of primary content comprising video content, wherein the items of primary content are associated with corresponding scheduled start play times; transmit a first request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod; determine whether a response to the first request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod includes ancillary content corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod; at least partly in response to determining that the response to the first request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod is longer than the first time length of the first ancillary content pod: extend the first time length of the first ancillary content pod by a first time period; cause items of ancillary content associated with the response to the first request for ancillary content to be streamed to a first user device; cause an item of primary content, associated with a corresponding scheduled start time, to be streamed immediately after the items of ancillary content associated with the response to the first request for ancillary content are streamed to the first user device, and later than the corresponding scheduled start time of the item of primary content; determine respective reduction time lengths for one or more ancillary content pods scheduled to be played after the first ancillary content pod; reduce the respective time lengths of the one or more ancillary content pods scheduled to be played after the first ancillary content pod by respective reduction time lengths; cause the one or more ancillary content pods reduced by respective reduction time lengths to be populated with ancillary content; and cause the ancillary content used to populate the one or more ancillary content pods reduced by respective reduction time lengths, to be streamed to the first user device.

29. The system as defined in claim 28, the operations further comprising: access an ancillary content load specification associated with at least a first channel comprising primary content having scheduled start times; use the ancillary content load specification to determine a time length of one or more ancillary content pods for display between segments of at least a first item of primary content; store timing positioning information for the one or more ancillary content pods with respect to the first item of primary content; detect that a second user device has begun streaming the first item of primary content after a scheduled start time of the first item of primary content; and at least partly in response to detecting that the second user device has begun streaming the first item of primary content after the scheduled start time of the first item of primary content and the accessed ancillary content load specification, reduce a time length of at least one ancillary content pod.

30. The system as defined in claim 28, the operations further comprising: transmit a second request for ancillary content of the duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod, wherein the second request includes one or more variables different than variables included in the first request, wherein the variables included in the second request are associated with one or more characteristics of a set of users including at least a second user; determine whether a response to the second request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod includes ancillary content corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod; at least partly in response to determining that the response to the request for ancillary content of a duration corresponding to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod corresponds to the first time length of the first ancillary content pod: cause items of ancillary content associated with the response to the second request for ancillary content to be streamed to a second user device; and cause the item of primary content, associated with the corresponding scheduled start time, to be streamed after the items of ancillary content associated with the response to the second request for ancillary content are streamed to the second user device, and at the corresponding scheduled start time of the item of primary content.

04; 04; 04

edspap.20230101680