Methods and apparatus for the delivery of content in a network via a user premises gateway device in communication with one or more user devices. The gateway device receives content from an optical network (e.g., EPON), processes the content onto one or more communication channels, and delivers it to the user devices. In one variant, the gateway includes switching functionality to receive all available programs, or only a portion thereof, and providing specific ones on an as-needed basis to the user device(s) via the channels. Video on Demand (VOD) and pay-per-view (PPV) as well as other unicast services may also be provided by the gateway apparatus. A DOCSIS or other data channel, as well as a dedicated guide data channel, may be among the provided channels.