A packet formatter for use in a television receiver capable of receiving a dual bitstream signal comprising a standard stream compatible with the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) standard and a robust stream. The packet formatter comprises: 1) a first processing block capable of receiving the dual bitstream signal and removing therefrom header bits and parity bits associated with the robust stream to thereby produce a first output signal; and 2) a second processing block capable of receiving the first output signal and removing therefrom duplicate bits associated with the robust stream to thereby produce a second output signal that is output from a data path output of the packet formatter.