one or more channels in a multi - channel cable television distribution system is used for the transmission of interactive television signals in the form of packetized digital information from the cable system headend to subscribers . a converter at each subscriber location is connected between the cable system and the subscriber &# 39 ; s television receiver . such converter contains a receiver for the itv channels . control packets in the itv signals are addressed to individual converters to enable the receipt of one or more virtual channels by a converter . the converter decodes and expands the packetized digital information in such enabled channels and generates a conventional video signal , which is transmitted to the subscriber &# 39 ; s television receiver on one of the channels used for the itv signal from the headend , replacing the packetized digital information . the remaining channels from the cable system are forwarded to such television receiver unaltered . thus , all cable - ready features of the subscriber &# 39 ; s television receiver are usable . in alternate embodiments of the invention , the video signal generated by the converter is derived from one or more sources . examples of such sources are an additional receiver adapted to receive a conventional television signal from the cable system and local text or symbol generators .