A method for transmitting an HD television signal from a source location to a destination location comprising the steps of: (a) at a source location, receiving a source HD television signal from a video source at an HD data rate; (b)(i) compressing said HD television signal at said HD data rate to create a compressed HD television signal having an SD data rate, wherein said HD television signal and said compressed HD television signal are digital signals; (b)(ii) converting in a first converter said compressed HD television signal to an optical signal; (b)(iii) carrying said optical signal across a fiber optic link to a second converter; (b)(iv) converting in the second converter said optical signal back to said compressed HD television signal; (c)(i) transmitting said compressed HD television signal from said source location to a first network point-of-presence comprising a first label edge router; (c)(ii) at the first network point-of-presence receiving by an SDI switch the compressed HD television signal; (d) at the first network point-of-presence, converting, by a first video gateway arranged to communicate with said SDI switch, said compressed HD television signal into TCP/IP packets. formatted for transmission via an MPLS network; (e) transmitting said data over said MPLS network to a second network point-of-presence comprising a second label edge router; (f) at the second network point-of-presence converting, by a second video gateway, said data into said compressed HD television signal; (g) decompressing said compressed HD television signal into a destination HD television signal at said HD data rate; and (h) delivering said destination HD television signal at a destination location. wherein step (d) includes the substep of: (d) (i) tagging said TCP/IP packets with a label in said first label edge router, said label defining a route between said first network point-of-presence and said second network point-of-presence, wherein said route is defined and reserved according to a schedule prior to performing step (a). (a) at a source location, receiving a source HD television signal from a video source at an HD data rate; (b)(i) compressing said HD television signal at said HD data rate to create a compressed HD television signal having an SD data rate, wherein said HD television signal and said compressed HD television signal are digital signals; (b)(ii) converting in a first converter said compressed HD television signal to an optical signal; (b)(iii) carrying said optical signal across a fiber optic link to a second converter; (b)(iv) converting in the second converter said optical signal back to said compressed HD television signal; (c)(i) transmitting said compressed HD television signal from said source location to a first network point-of-presence comprising a first label edge router; (c)(ii) at the first network point-of-presence receiving by an SDI switch the compressed HD television signal; (d) at the first network point-of-presence, converting, by a first video gateway arranged to communicate with said SDI switch, said compressed HD television signal into TCP/IP packets. formatted for transmission via an MPLS network; (e) transmitting said data over said MPLS network to a second network point-of-presence comprising a second label edge router; (f) at the second network point-of-presence converting, by a second video gateway, said data into said compressed HD television signal; (g) decompressing said compressed HD television signal into a destination HD television signal at said HD data rate; and (h) delivering said destination HD television signal at a destination location. (d) (i) tagging said TCP/IP packets with a label in said first label edge router, said label defining a route between said first network point-of-presence and said second network point-of-presence, wherein said route is defined and reserved according to a schedule prior to performing step (a).