A metadata providing apparatus receives a first request for requesting metadata representing a broadcast schedule of a first program to be promoted in the first receiving device. A request ID is issued to the first request, and the first request and the associated request ID are stored. A request response including the request ID is sent to the first request. When the second receiving device receives a second request requesting metadata corresponding to the request ID after metadata has been prepared in the second storing device, the relevant metadata is searched for and sent.