Abstract: A communications system having programmable, addressable receivers that receive, store, process and send digital and conventional video, audio and control signals for use in, among other things, a cable video network. Receivers in this system may receive conventional audio and composite video and digital data signals from sources such as a satellite transponder and video and audio from local sources. The digital data may be processed into textual video data by character generation techniques, as may be other digital dtat received from a local keyboard, local weather sensors or other digital data communications interfaces. The receivers may be addressed in units or groups for purposes of receiving individually, locally or regionally tailored text information and are typically controlled simultaneously from one control source.