PURPOSE: To shorten the time required for searching a program, by installing a means which detects a program number in which no data are transmitted among plural program numbers, and jumping a program number having no data.

CONSTITUTION: Multiplex information from a video detecting circuit 12 is impressed upon a buffer memory 15 after it is parallel-converted at a sampling circuit 14. The buffer memory 15 detects existence of program data corresponding to each program number and, when the data exist, stores the data in a pattern memory 33 and, at the same time, writes a mark code in the memory section of the said program No. of a memory 41. On the other hand, when no data exist, writing of the mark code is not performed. In this way, when a program No. is inputted through a keyboard 40, existence of the data is confirmed by the memory 41 and the program number having no data are jumped. Thus the time required for searching programs can be shortened.