Text subtitle streams are reproduced based on register values contained in one or more player status registers included in a player. A SubPlayItem, which designates at least one text subtitle stream and is included in a PlayList recorded on a recording medium, is read. A first register value specifying one of the at least one text subtitle stream is stored in a first player status register included in the player. Next, a second register contained in a second player status register included in the player is read to determine whether the player is capable of decoding text subtitle streams. If the player's decoding capability is indicated, the text subtitle stream specified by the first register value is decoded.