A method for addressing terminals for receiving television programs subject to charge includes dividing the terminals into respective groups, each group having a respective group address. A respective identifier is assigned to each of the terminals of a group, each identifier being a respective binary vector. A data word and the respective group address of a first group is sent so as to address predetermined terminals of the first group. The data word is generated by logically combining the respective binary vectors of the terminals of the first group with a further binary vector, the further binary vector indicating the predetermined terminals.