An IRD (Integrated Receiver-Decoder) causes SmartFile information of a D-VHS (Digital-Video Home System) to be read so as to operate the D-VHS on the basis of the SmartFile information. The IRD instructs the D-VHS to record a program, extracts content information and relevant information from a broadcast signal received by an antenna, and outputs the content information and relevant information to the D-VHS. The D-VHS records the input content information and relevant information in accordance with an instruction from the IRD. Furthermore, the IRD causes the recorded relevant information to be read from the D-VHS and displays it on a monitor, selects a program on the basis of the displayed relevant information, and sends an instruction for playing back the selected program to the D-VHS. The D-VHS plays back the content information in accordance with this playback instruction.