Abstract: A system and method for transferring video programs from a first location to a remote location provides for communication of the programs over selected commercial telephone networks. The program signals are digitized, compressed, and stored at the first location, and transferred to the remote location on request of a viewer. Due to the compression of the program, the time required for electronically transferring the program to the remote location is much less than the viewing time for such program. The compressed program is reconstructed at the remote location for viewing on available video display devices.