Two-dimensional channel navigation techniques for use in a video
distribution system in which broadcast providers each transmit an anchor
channel. Some of the broadcast providers may transmit the anchor channel
as a single HDTV channel, while the others transmit a set of multiplexed
channels including an anchor channel and one or more associated multiplex
channels. A receiver which receives the anchor channels and any
associated multiplex channels generates an on-screen display which
indicates to a viewer the multiplex channels, if any, associated with a
currently-selected anchor channel. The on-screen display includes a
multiplex indicator with a series of icons, each of the icons
representing a particular one of the multiplex channels associated with
the currently-selected anchor channel. Each of the icons may be
configured to provide an indication of the program content which may be
found on the associated multiplex channel. The viewer presses channel
right or channel left keys on a remote control or other channel selection
device to sequence horizontally through the multiplex channels associated
with the selected anchor channel, and uses channel up and down keys to
sequence vertically through the anchor channels of the various broadcast
providers.