The application relates to an information transfer system, comprising a receiver (3) and a transmitter (1) for transferring an information signal to the receiver (3) via a transfer medium (2). The information signal comprises main data and sub data. The sub data comprises coded text lines having a plurality of character codes. The receiver is provided with a character display unit (10) for displaying characters corresponding with the character codes in the coded text lines. The number of character display positions is less than the number of character codes in the coded text line. The receiver is provided with display control means (9) for controlling the display of characters corresponding to the character codes included in the coded text line in dependence on serial control codes included in the coded text line. The system enables that significant parts of the text information available in the sub data can be shown on both a full multi-line display units for displaying full text lines and a 1-line display with a relative small number of digits. The invention is very suitable for systems with small sized receivers, such as e.g. portable players and car radios, and receivers wit a display on its remote controller, because there is not much space available for a display unit.