System and method for transmitting audio or video data using multiple levels of protection

A data transmission and distribution system that includes a series of payloads, where each of the payloads is formed from bits of audio or video information, and where different levels of protection are applied to different sets of bits in each payload. The system divides the bits associated with each payload into high priority bits and low priority bits and forms a group of check bits for each payload by applying an error correction algorithm to the high priority bits in the payload. The system also forms each payload from a first set of the high priority bits, the check bits, the low priority bits and a redundant set of the high priority bits and the check bits and transmits the payloads formed from the first set of the high priority bits, the check bits, the low priority bits and the redundant set of the high priority bits and the check bits.