Retrieve and decode V-Chip data from an aired digital TV stream I'm trying to retrieve and decode V-chip data from my TV streams (NTSC/ATSC digital streams). Apparently these data are embedded somewhere in the stream itself, but I have no clue how they are embedded inside, if they are inside visual frames, or a different hidden channel.

How are they embedded in the stream? And how can I retireve these data? Is there a software tool to get those signals? I need to do this programmatically in code.
V-Chip is encoded in the Extended Data Services (XDS) that is part EIA-608 captions. How it is actually transported in/with the video depends the signal type and medium.


Analog: Encoded with the captions on line 21 field 2.
SD SDI: Probably also on line 21 field 2.
HD SDI: On line 9 of the HANC encoded as per SMPTE ST 334.
ATSC over the air: In the DTVCC transport channel.
In a file: It depends on the wrapper.


It can be decoded in software. However, I don't know of any tools that aren't part of something larger, like transcoding, that can do it.