Importance

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Abstract

A method of providing video content is disclosed that includes receiving video content associated with a television stream from a video source at a server of a video distribution network. The method also includes sending a primary multicast video stream corresponding to the video content to a video distribution network entity via an Internet Protocol (IP) network. The primary multicast video stream is associated with a first bandwidth. Further, the method includes sending a secondary multicast video stream to the video distribution network entity via the IP network. The secondary multicast video stream is associated with a second bandwidth. The primary multicast video stream and the secondary multicast video stream are accessible to a set-top box device via the video distribution network entity in response to a channel change request that indicates the television stream. In addition, the frames of the secondary multicast video stream may be delayed with respect to their counterparts in the primary multicast video stream. This insures that, after sufficient buffering of frames of the primary multicast video stream, when the set-top box device switches from the secondary multicast video stream to the primary multicast video stream there will be no noticeable time shift.

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First Claim