A data providing system is capable of providing metadata or supplementary data generated in a predetermined area to a different area. Metadata related to broadcast programs are transmitted from a first broadcast receiver/recorder to a server via a network. The server registers the metadata transmitted from the first broadcast receiver/recorder in its program database, specifies a broadcast program on the basis of data for specifying the broadcast program transmitted from a second broadcast receiver/recorder, retrieves the metadata related to the specified broadcast program, and transmits the retrieved metadata to the second broadcast receiver/recorder, whereby the metadata are distributed from the server to the second broadcast receiver/recorder via the network.