Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique for transmitting both a video and a plurality of audio signals within a predetermined signal format which is compatible with a known signal format not normally used for television transmission. More particularly, the video signal is sampled at a first multiple of the video subcarrier frequency. The digitized video signal and associated video mode status bits are then multiplexed with the plurality of digitized audio signals into an N-bit frame format using a second multiple of the video subcarrier frequency which is less than the line frequency of the known signal format. The N-bit frames are then sectioned into Y-bit subframes and multiplexed with auxiliary and monitoring bit information comprising, for example, frame location bits for the Y-bit subframes using a third multiple of the video subcarrier frequency to generate a system signal format which is compatible with the known signal format.