A system of encoding an original binary digital video signal comprised of a plurality of first 8-bit words having an absolute value and a digital sum variation, to produce an encoded binary digital video signal, converts each first 8-bit word into a second 8-bit word also having an absolute value and a digital sum variation such that, with respect to predetermined groups of correlative first 8-bit words, that is, first 8-bit words having absolute values which are close to each other, second 8-bit words corresponding to the first 8-bit words in each respective group have the same digital sum variation; and then inverts every alternate m second 8-bit words, where m=1, 2, 3 . . . , to form the encoded binary digital video signal with substantially reduced DC content while maintaining the same recording bit rate.