A store-and-forward architecture which stores and distributes information programs to subscribers on demand includes: information warehouses which archive information programs from multiple service vendors and dispense information programs in segments to central offices in high speed bursts; central offices which manages subscriber's request for service and buffers segments of information programs for delivery to subscribers in real-time under the subscriber's interactive control; and customer premises equipment where a subscriber's requests and control signals for interactive play-out of information program are generated and information programs are received for the subscriber's use.