An HDTV signal transmission system for sending a 10-bit-parallel YPbPr-format HDTV signal converted to ten C4 containers, and further to the SDH (a new synchronous digital network) STM-16 frame for transmission based on CCITT recommendations. The system includes a transmitter and receiver. The transmitter has time dividers for time-based dividing the HDTV signal into eight separated video signals, a C4 container device for multiplexing the eight separated video signals to ten C4 containers, and a STM-16 framing device for reformatting the ten C4 containers to the STM-16 frame. The receiver has an STM-16 deframing device for separating the ten C4 containers from the STM-16 frame, a C4 de-container device for demultiplexing the ten C4 containers to eight separated video signals, and time-division multiplexers for time-division multiplexing the separated video signals to the 10-bit-parallel YPbPr-format HDTV signal.