A joint subscriber management system includes a joint subscriber
management unit for acting as a surrogate in performing a registration
activity for enabling a receiver to receive a broadcast and/or an
electronic commerce transaction. A reception unit receives a
reception-limiting identification number of the receiver for receiving a
specific broadcast, a broadcaster identification number of at least one
broadcaster of a plurality of broadcasters, and registrant information
concerning registration of a user allocated to the reception-limiting
identification number. A generation unit generates a joint management
identification number corresponding to the received reception-limiting
identification number. A recording unit records the reception-limiting
identification number, the joint management identification number, and
the registrant information in a registrant information table in
correspondence with one another. A management/operation unit acts as a
surrogate in member management and the electronic commerce transaction in
accordance with the registrant information table.