A content preview of a content item is generated by extracting one or more clips from the content item, each clip is identified using a clipping point, a clip duration, a starting point, which is identified using the clipping point, and an ending point, which is identified using the clip's starting point and clipping duration. By way of a non-limiting example, shot boundaries are identified within the content item, the clip's starting point is identified to be the shot boundary before and closest to the clip's clipping point, the clip's ending point is identified to be the shot boundary after and closest to the clip's starting point plus clip duration. In a case that multiple clips are generated for the content preview, the clips are multiplexed to form the content preview. In a case that the content item comprises different types of content, such as audio and video content, the audio and video content is extracted from the content item for each clip, and synchronized to form the clip.