A content distribution system inhibits execution of processing which is unnecessary for streams having specific structures. The content distribution system includes a distribution server and a playback apparatus. The distribution server transmits a program stream and a program state flag associated with the program stream that indicates whether or not program content corresponding to the program stream is constituted of only 3D video. The playback apparatus determines, prior to decoding the program stream, whether or not the program state flag indicates that the program content is constituted of only 3D video, and when determining that the program content is constituted of only 3D video, decodes the program stream and performs control so as to play back the program stream as 3D video without determining whether or not each frame included in the program stream is a 3D video frame.