Methods for entertainment-programming distribution

Methods for entertainment-programming distribution are provided. A set of entertainment programs is transmitted in real time over a public network for display on user computers in communication with the public network and identified as subscribers to the set of entertainment programs. A notification signal is transmitted with at least one of the entertainment programs to identify that entertainment program as available for download. A request is received from one of the user computers over the public network to download that entertainment program. It is verified that the user computer is authorized to receive downloaded entertainment programs in accordance with a subscriber agreement. The identified entertainment program is then downloaded to the user computer.