Abstract: A compatible television system which provides means for encoding two video sources of color television picture information, comprising an independent or stereoscopic pair of real-time images, is disclosed. A first video source provides a first video signal, and a second video source provides a second video signal in time synchronism with the first video signal.The encoding process provides a composite video signal such that a standard television receiver will render the imagery corresponding to the first video source. A non-standard television receiver, i.e., one with means for decoding the second video signal, will render the imagery corresponding to the second video source and/or the imagery corresponding to the first video source. The means for rendering the imagery corresponding to the first video source is provided by a standard video channel as in the standard television receiver, and requires no decoder.