General electronic program information described on a general level and
individual electronic program information described on an individual
level are prepared according to electronic program information of a
channel service of a broadcast service provider for each channel service
according to electronic program information degree of detail setting
information. The electronic program information degree of detail setting
information indicates a degree of detail for the contents of the
individual electronic program information described on an individual
level and a degree of detail for contents of the general electronic
program information described on a general level. The general level
corresponds to a low degree of detail, and the individual level
corresponds to a high degree of detail. One piece of individual
electronic program information of a particular channel service and pieces
of general electronic program information of channel services, other than
the particular channel service, are multiplexed and transmitted to each
viewer. Accordingly, the general electronic program information and the
individual electronic program information can be transmitted while
effectively using a data transmission band.