In an embodiment, a content array represents media content available from a media server. The content array, sent by a media server in response to a request, lists content program objects that represent media content to be available from the media server. The media server receives a message for altering a transcoding priority of the selected content program object that represents media content not previously transcoded by the media server, and sends a return code for indicating whether the transcoding priority was successfully altered in response to the message. In a further embodiment, a media server system includes a transcoding queue with references to a plurality of content program objects that include an object method for altering a transcoding priority, and includes a transcoder configured to transcode media content associated with the content program objects according to the transcoding priority of each content program object of the transcoding queue.