Scalable encoding and decoding of high-resolution progressive video.

High-resolution, progressive format video signals (on C3100) having high frame rates may be encoded by a base layer encoder (C3140) and an enhancement layer encoder (C3180) to provide two kinds of encoded video signals which share a common output channel (C3260). These encoded video signals are received at an input (C3270) of a video receiver which may use one or both of the two kinds of encoded video signal. Relatively lower performance high-definition televisions may thus receive video signals from higher performance transmitters and produce satisfactory pictures. Higher performance HDTVs will be able to utilize the full performance capabilities of these video signals.