Abstract: A method is provided for parsing closed captioning data (or other types of like embedded data, such as extended service data) encoded according to one of at least three syntaxes. An encoded video signal is received which is hierarchically organized into picture sections of a picture layer. Each picture section contains an encoded picture and at least one corresponding user data section. A beginning of a sequence of bits of the user data section is identified within one of the picture sections. If the identified sequence of bits contains either undefined data or closed captioning data encoded according to either a specific first syntax or closed captioning data encoded according to a specific second syntax, but not closed captioning data encoded according to any other syntax, then the following steps are performed. A byte is extracted from a beginning of the sequence representing a user data length. A byte is also extracted following the user data length byte in the sequence, which represents a user data type.