To convert a broadcast signal so as to initiate playback as speedily as possible at a receiving side when re-distributing a multiplexed broadcast signal.

In the case that TS packets are input to a partial TS buffer TS in the order shown in Fig.5A, for example, PAT and PMT that are present in TS originally are permuted to partial TS PAT and PMT and the partial TS PAT and PMT are newly inserted just before a video sequence header. A readout position of the partial TS buffer 16 is then moved to just before the newly inserted partial TS PAT. With this movement, the TS packet being present before the readout position is discarded from the partial TS buffer 16. The present invention may be applicable, e.g., when re-distributing digital television broadcast.

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