Client is connected to a selected program serving site via a communication
network. The program serving site includes a database storing plural
types of contents having various different characters and can supply a
program file defining a reproducing sequence of a plurality of contents
including those of different characters. The client includes a plurality
of types of reproduction engines which are capable of reproducing the
contents of the respective characters. The client receives a program file
from the program serving site and also receives, from the database of the
site, contents specified by the received program file. For reproduction
of a desired program file, the client reproduces the individual contents
in a reproducing sequence defined by the program file, using any one of
the reproduction engines which corresponds to the type of each content to
be reproduced. The program progression can be fast-forwarded or
fast-reversed by fast-forwarding or fast-rewinding a currently-reproduced
content. Contents meeting a search condition specified by the client are
searched for and retrieved from the program serving site, and a new
program file including the retrieved contents is created. The client can
edit the program file, display information pertaining to the
currently-reproduced content and select and purchase any desired content.