Universal remote control device database is updated through television video blanking interval (TV VBI) or sub-picture signal processing. As relayed through TV receiver, remote control database(s) is placed in VBI or sub-picture of video signal of specialized program. Data is decoded by VBI slicer or controller (e.g., MPEG decoder), then extracted and stored temporarily in memory. Upon request, data is transmitted via infra-red (IR) or radio-frequency (RF) emitter to learning remote control device, which downloads data to update remote programming protocol.