A resource allocation system and method for allocating control of a multimedia resource between at least two computer programs residing on a multimedia client. A tune request data structure receives and stores requests for multimedia resources from the computer programs. A priority weighting schedule is associated with the tune request data structure for defining weighting factor to apply to pertinent characteristics of the request. A find dominant request module determines a priority level to be assigned to each of the stored requests based on the priority weighting schedule. The dominant request is permitted to control the arbitrated multimedia resource.