<p>V-Chip is encoded in the Extended Data Services (XDS) that is part EIA-608 captions. How it is actually transported in/with the video depends the signal type and medium.</p>

<ul>
<li><strong>Analog:</strong> Encoded with the captions on line 21 field 2.</li>
<li><strong>SD SDI:</strong> Probably also on line 21 field 2.</li>
<li><strong>HD SDI:</strong> On <a href="https://www.smpte.org/sites/default/files/section.../2014_July_Closed_Captioning.pptx" rel="nofollow noreferrer">line 9</a> of the HANC encoded as per SMPTE ST 334.</li>
<li><strong>ATSC over the air:</strong> In the <a href="https://evertz.com/resources/eia_608_708_cc.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">DTVCC transport channel</a>.</li>
<li><strong>In a file:</strong> <a href="http://bento.cdn.pbs.org/hostedbento-prod/filer_public/2013/04/18/kudrle_cc_ancillarydata_v03.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">It depends on the wrapper</a>.</li>
</ul>

<p>It can be decoded in software. However, I don't know of any tools that aren't part of something larger, like transcoding, that can do it. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-14T17:08:24.357Z
Looks like tools like `mediaInfo` can show it from a `.ts` file.
angel_30
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-11T01:31:45.847Z
2019-01-11T01:31:45.847Z
Michael Liebman
<p>I'm trying to retrieve and decode V-chip data from my TV streams (NTSC/ATSC digital streams). Apparently these data are embedded somewhere in the stream itself, but I have no clue how they are embedded inside, if they are inside visual frames, or a different hidden channel.</p>

<p>How are they embedded in the stream? And how can I retireve these data? Is there a software tool to get those signals? I need to do this programmatically in code.</p>

<video><streaming><video-capture><broadcasting><decoding>
Retrieve and decode V-Chip data from an aired digital TV stream
angel_30
# Retrieve and decode V-Chip data from an aired digital TV stream

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-01-10)

I'm trying to retrieve and decode V-chip data from my TV streams (NTSC/ATSC digital streams). Apparently these data are embedded somewhere in the stream itself, but I have no clue how they are embedded inside, if they are inside visual frames, or a different hidden channel.

How are they embedded in the stream? And how can I retireve these data? Is there a software tool to get those signals? I need to do this programmatically in code.

**Tags:** video, streaming, video-capture, broadcasting, decoding


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-01-11. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

V-Chip is encoded in the Extended Data Services (XDS) that is part EIA-608 captions. How it is actually transported in/with the video depends the signal type and medium.

* **Analog:** Encoded with the captions on line 21 field 2.
* **SD SDI:** Probably also on line 21 field 2.
* **HD SDI:** On [line 9](https://www.smpte.org/sites/default/files/section.../2014_July_Closed_Captioning.pptx) of the HANC encoded as per SMPTE ST 334.
* **ATSC over the air:** In the [DTVCC transport channel](https://evertz.com/resources/eia_608_708_cc.pdf).
* **In a file:** [It depends on the wrapper](http://bento.cdn.pbs.org/hostedbento-prod/filer_public/2013/04/18/kudrle_cc_ancillarydata_v03.pdf).

It can be decoded in software. However, I don't know of any tools that aren't part of something larger, like transcoding, that can do it.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Looks like tools like `mediaInfo` can show it from a `.ts` file.  

---

