Method and apparatus for using long FEC codes in a content distribution system is described. One aspect of the invention relates to encoding frames of content. Each frame is partitioned into un-coded bits and bits to be encoded. For each frame, an FEC code is applied to the bits to be encoded to generate a codeword. Groups of bits from the codeword are divided among a plurality of channels. Symbols formed from the groups of bits and the un-coded bits are mapped to a constellation for each of the plurality of channels. The symbols are modulated across a respective plurality of bonded channels for transmission.