Abstract: An apparatus and method is described for transmitting, receiving and communicating program data signals which are combined with digital data signals. Preferably, the present invention compresses 30 digital audio signals, multiplexes them with title, track, artist, record label, year, etc., program information, and transmits the combined signals via satellite to a receiving station. The receiving station demultiplexes the signals and sends them via a cable distribution system to a subscriber's digital music tuner. This tuner further demultiplexes and decodes the signals so that the digital audio signals may be converted to analog and output for listening, while the corresponding data signals are communicated to the subscriber. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the program data signals are transmitted to a remote control receiver where they are displayed. The system described in the present invention may be used for transmitting video, software or games with program data to subscribers.

Abstract: The quality of sound delivered to a subscriber viewing a channel which has been scrambled using sync suppression scrambling, particularly when the program is being transmitted with stereo sound, is improved by processing the aural component of the TV signal at the head end of the system prior to transmission over the cable or other communication link to the subscribers. The amplitude of the aural signal is reduced so as to compensate for the increase in amplitude which occurs when the composite TV signal is descrambled by restoring the amplitude of the suppressed synchronizing signals thereof. No changes are required in the existing subscriber equipment and the subscribers may continue to use the descramblers supplied to them without any modification thereof. Noises, such as are perceived as a "buzz" like sound, and loss of stereo separation of the aural signal upon descrambling are avoided.