This paper will detail one programmer's approach to digital, multichannel origination and transmission, and the technical implications of such highly processed signals to CATV reception and distribution. As a preparation to that discussion, the text will include an overview of digital compression and coding philosophies. 4:2:2,4:2:0, and 2:1:0 video sampling will be compared. Coding, storage, compression, filtering, decoding and distribution of compressed digital video signals will be described. Serial, and parallel studio interface standards will be explained. And finally, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, distribution protocols will be discussed with an emphasis on operational effects.