Abstract: An improved data inserter for inserting data into selected lines, including the vertical blanking interval, of a television or video signal. The data inserter includes a parallel interface for receiving data and a digital signal processor (DSP) for controlling the insertion of that data. A dual port memory structure is used to temporarily store data to be inserted. The dual port memory is associated with and connected to an autobuffer unit. Each video signal received by the inserter is provided to a switch which is also coupled to the autobuffer unit so that the switch may receive data stored in the dual port memory devices. When a selected line in a given video signal is detected by the DSP, it triggers the respective autobuffer unit which, in turn, transfers the data out of the dual port memory to the respective switch for insertion into the selected line of the video signal.