METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING A TELEVISION VIEWER PROFILE

A method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring television viewing activity to determine preferred categories of programming and preferred channels of a viewer. To facilitate viewer access to preferred programming, the display of an electronic program guide may be configured in accordance with the monitored viewing activity to provide fast access to the preferred programming. The monitored viewing activity may also be used to provide a lock-out feature to prevent or limit the viewing of specified channels or categories of programming, or to identify and provide information of interest from the internet. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a viewer may automatically circulate through his or her preferred programming, as determined by monitoring the viewing activity of that viewer.