To mix video signals of plural channels in time division and record these
video signals onto a recording medium, as well as to select and transmit
the video signal of a specific channel to a terminal device at a remote
location, there is a video signal switching unit for mixing the video
signals of the plural channels in time division; a first video signal
compressing unit for compressing the mixed video signals from the video
signal switching unit; a unit for recording the video signal compressed
by the first video signal compressing unit into the recording medium;
second video signal compressing units for selecting a channel from the
mixed video signals and compressing the video signals with a
compressibility higher than that of the first video signal compressing
unit; and a unit for transmitting the video signal compressed by the
second video signal compressing unit to a remote location.