PURPOSE: To provide a ROM encoding method which stores characters in a ROM incorporated in an on-screen display IC used in a VTR or a television.

CONSTITUTION: When binary information will be stored in the ROM in the IC, bar patterns with fixed-size binary information as a fundamental unit are determined in binary information to be subjected to ROM encoding, and classifications of bar patterns different from one another are obtained in entire binary information to be used, and addresses of respective patterns are designated, and thereafter, a ROM where designated addresses should be stored and a ROM where binary information of each pattern should be designated are constituted, and character information appearing on a TV screen is encoded. Thus, information is stored with a smaller capacity.