A method and an apparatus for improving digital video signal transmission over a long transmission line are disclosed. A simple equalization reference signal is generated and then combined with a digital video signal in the digital domain such that the transmission of the reference signal takes place at a predefined time period during the vertical blanking interval of the video signal. The combined signal is then converted into an analog video transport signal, which analog signal is then transmitted over the long transmission line to a downstream video receiver. The equalization reference signal is extracted and used at the video receiver to restore the analog video signal which in turn is converted back to digital video signal.