To practice concurrently viewing and listening/picture recording of a plurality of channels (CH) and a plurality of reception processes and for a user to thereby view and listen (picture recording) a program desired by the user.

When viewing and listening "a program C" of a charge-free "CH4" using a contract management unit 2-1, a receiving unit 10-1 receives "the program C" of a charge-free "CH4" using the contract management unit 2-1 corresponding thereto. When beginning to view and listen "a program D" of a fee-based "CH1" assigned to the contract management unit 2-1, an available contract management unit 2-2 is allowed to be associated with a receiving unit 10-1 and then the contract management unit 2-1 is allowed to be associated with an available contract management unit 10-2. The receiving unit 10-1 receives "a program C" of the charge-free "CH4" using the contract management unit 2-2, while a receiving unit 10-2 receives "the program D" of a fee-based "CH1" using the contract management unit 2-1.

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