DIGITAL VIDEO TAPE RECORDER FOR DIGITAL HDTV

A digital video tape record/playback apparatus (Fig. 10) for processing a high definition television signal includes provision for controlling the occurrence of high priority (HP) image information. Such information is selectively recorded at normal speed in tape tracks within predetermined regions (HP1-HP5) so as to appear along a tape head scanning path associated with predetermined tape playback speeds greater than normal (e.g., 20x normal). Input high priority data cells may be recorded or duplicated for recording in the predetermined tape regions in other than received order. In either case, the input datastream is massaged to produce a viewable image in a fast playback mode. In an illustrated system for receiving an MPEG coded datastream, an output datastream at greater than normal playback speed comprises either intracoded I-frame data cells only, or a whole Group of Pictures (GOP).