PURPOSE: To obtain properly only a required picture in the video printer without viewing from the first to the end of a television program.

CONSTITUTION: An index code detector 15 detects an index code superimposed on a television signal. When the index code is detected, a main CPU 16 controls that a picture on which the index code is superimposed is stored in a frame memory 5 and allows a mechanism section 7 to print out the picture. Thus, only a required picture is properly obtained without viewing from the start to the end of a television program.