11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the updated functionality characteristic causes a plurality of television program listings displayed on the display screen to change in response to a user input.
9. A system for allowing an operator to update a functionality characteristic of an interactive television program guide implemented on a user television equipment, the system comprising: an operator server for remotely supplying a markup language document to the interactive television program guide implemented on the user television equipment; and a client processor for i) updating the functionality characteristic of the interactive television program guide based on the markup language document, and ii) for generating a program guide display screen on the user television equipment having the functionality characteristic of the interactive television program guide as updated based on the markup language document.