1. A system for communicating programming and local content data that are to be inserted into a local content space in a programming data stream at a predetermined time, the system comprising: means for transmitting the programming and the local content data to a set-top box in a house of a user; means, in the set-top box, for storing a predetermined portion of the local content data based on predetermined criteria; means, in the set-top box, for identifying a local content space in the programming; means, in the set-top box, for selecting a particular piece of local content from the storing means to insert into the local content space in the programming based on a plurality of predetermined preferences; means for retrieving said selected piece of local content from said storage means; and means for inserting said selected piece of local content into said programming data stream at said local content space so that individualized local content specific to the user of the set-top box is inserted into the programming data stream.