Communications systems often use networks including separately located transmitters and exciters for signal transmission as part of a single frequency network. A method is described that includes receiving (610) a broadcast signal stream containing a data packet and a synchronization timing packet, the synchronization timing packet containing signal transmission delay parameters provided to at least two transmitters, identifying (630) a synchronization interval in the broadcast signal stream, and determining (640) a transmission time for the data packet in the broadcast signal stream based on the signal transmission delay parameters and a time position of the packet with respect to the synchronization interval. An apparatus includes a multiplexer (110) that generates a transport stream containing a data packet and a synchronization timing packet, an exciter (118a-n), that identifies a synchronization interval in the broadcast signal stream and an antenna (120a-n), transmits a broadcast signal based on the synchronization timing packet and the synchronization interval.