A cable television system (400) includes a transmitter (200) for generating a digital optical signal (204) and a receiver (300) for receiving said digital optical signal and converting it to an analog signal. The transmitter (200) includes a processor (238) for processing inputs and generating a gain/loss parameter which is applied via a gain/loss amplifier (250) to an incoming analog signal (232). The modified digital signal received by the digital optical receiver (300) decodes the applied gain/loss parameter at a converter (325) and applies the information to the output analog signal via a gain/loss amplifier (330).