An improvement information generating unit (11) generates a plurality of
types of improvement information for improving the image quality of an
image (broadcast image) broadcast as a program. An integrating unit (12)
embeds one or more of the plurality of types of improvement information
generated by the improvement information generating unit (11) into the
broadcast image, thus integrating the improvement information with the
broadcast image, and outputs an integrated signal. The integrated signal
is transmitted via a transmitting unit (13). Thus, images of various
image qualities are provided.