58 storing for example one or more movie files 60 having embedded urls a url encode unit 62 is coupled to data storage device 58 and is operable to read each movie file 60 url encode unit 62 interprets movie file 60 and generate a video signal having encoded urls based upon movie file 60 url encode unit 62 encodes the urls by converting the embedded urls converted into digital information transmitted along with the video signal this encoding can be accomplished in a manner analogous to including closed captioned data with a video signal by encoding the url information within blanking lines at the top of each frame of the video signal url encode unit 62 provides the encoded video signal to video output terminals 64 distribution network 54 receives the video signal from video output terminals 64 and transmits the video signal to a plurality of decoding systems 56 distribution network 54 can be for example a cable network direct satellite network or direct transmission network the video signal from video output terminals 64 could also be recorded on a fixed storage media such as a vcr tape or video disk and the fixed storage media could be distributed rather than transmitting the video signal across a distribution network 54 in the embodiment of fig5 decoding system 56 includes a video receiver 66 which receives the video signal from distribution network 54 video receiver 66 then provides the video signal to url decode unit 68 url decode unit 68 is.