A method and apparatus for determining an image compression format of a 3-dimensional television (3DTV). The method may include encoding a high-quality image and transmitting the encoded high-quality image through a first channel, determining an image compression format in which a resolution of the encoded low-quality image is higher than or equal to a reference value in comparison to the high-quality image, and encoding the low-quality image according to the determined image compression format and transmitting the encoded low-quality image through a second channel.