Abstract: An improved pay TV method and apparatus is disclosed, characterized in that the program to be broadcast is encoded to effect electrical inversion of selected groups of lines of the program, thereby to scramble and disguise the video and audio signals. Simultaneously with the encoding of the program, a card is marked with programming, subscriber and area/month identifying information, which card is transmitted to the subscriber. During the actual broadcasting of the program, the subscriber inserts his card into a punch/reader in the subscriber box unit that is connected with his television receiver. When the subscriber selects a program for paid viewing, his subscriber card is punched, and decoder means operable by information contained on the subscriber's card serve to electrically reinvert those lines which were initially inverted by the encoder means, whereby the program is unscrambled for unimpaired viewing, and the sound is made audible.