Methods and systems for enabling software and firmware downloads to high definition television appliances

The present invention enables software and firmware downloads to high definition television (HDTV) appliances via a television terminal. A download control message received at the terminal may comprise: (i) a first version identifier identifying a version of an available software or firmware download; (ii) a first type identifier identifying a particular type of HDTV appliance for which the download is intended; and (iii) a download object containing the software or firmware to be downloaded. The terminal obtains a second type identifier from the HDTV appliance that identifies a type of the HDTV appliance. If the type identifiers correspond, the terminal obtains a second version identifier from the HDTV appliance, which identifies a current version of software or firmware of the HDTV appliance. If the version identifiers do not correspond, the terminal may pass the download object to the HDTV appliance.