JP2006100949A - Program table video signal generating apparatus, program table video control apparatus, and television receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program table video signal generating apparatus and a program table video control apparatus for realizing an EPG system whereby broadcast contents in a plurality of channels can intuitionally and easily be grasped only at a glance, and to provide a television receiver provided with the program table video control apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The program guide table signal generating apparatus, the program table video control apparatus, and the television receiver provided with the program table video control apparatus are disclosed, and the program table video signal generating apparatus generates a video signal of a program table including a plurality of program contents display columns wherein each channel and a broadcast time band in television broadcast are cross-referenced and into each of which corresponding to programs broadcast at present an image based on the video signal of each channel program is inserted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a program guide video control apparatus that generates a video signal of a program guide of a television broadcast program and displays the video on a display means, and a television receiver including the program guide video, and particularly to each of a plurality of channels currently being broadcast. A program guide video signal generating device, a program guide video control device, and a program guide video control device, which allow a viewer to easily grasp the contents of a program of each channel currently being broadcast, The present invention relates to a television receiver.

In recent years, multi-channel broadcasting using digital signals, such as CATV broadcasting and satellite broadcasting, is rapidly spreading, and the number of channels that can be received in each home is dramatically increasing.
Conventionally, a viewer selects a program by sequentially viewing the video of each channel while changing (selecting) the channel to be displayed on the monitor of the television receiver while referring to the program column published in the newspaper or the like. It was done by checking. However, such a method is very inconvenient because it takes time for the viewer to select a desired channel from among the channels whose numbers have increased recently. Therefore, in recent television receivers, a broadcast signal in which information on a broadcast time zone (hereinafter referred to as EPG information) on a plurality of channels is broadcast from the present to the future from the present, A so-called EPG (Electric Program Guide) system is adopted in which the EPG information is extracted and displayed on a display unit (display or the like) of a television receiver.

In such a system, for example, information on the contents of programs broadcast from the present to the future on each of a plurality of channels in the gap (Vertical Blanking Interval) of radio waves (broadcast signals) transmitted from each broadcast station, An EPG signal representing information related to a broadcast time zone, information related to a broadcast channel, etc. (EPG information) is superimposed.
Then, when a predetermined program guide display operation is performed by a remote controller or the like in a television receiver or recording apparatus to which a broadcast signal including such EPG information is input (received), the EPG information is extracted from the broadcast signal. , It is displayed on the display unit as video of the program guide. The viewer grasps the contents of the program visually from the displayed program guide and selects a channel.
A television receiver (television receiver) capable of displaying such a program guide is known, for example, in Patent Document 1.

Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for creating a program table in which a preview image (still image) of a program included in the EPG information is inserted and displaying it on a display unit of a television receiver. . In the electronic program guide (EPG) display control apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, the monitor screen (display unit) is divided into a plurality of areas, and the genre table of the program and the broadcast scheduled program are respectively divided into the divided areas. A table in which titles correspond to scheduled broadcast days and broadcast times, a preview image of a program corresponding to the title selected by the viewer among the broadcast scheduled programs shown in the table, and the like are displayed.
JP-A-9-154076 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-247565

However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the program content display column in the program table is based on text display (for example, description of the program content in text, the name of the performer of the program, etc.), and the viewer is broadcast. There is a problem that it is difficult to intuitively imagine the contents of a program.
In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, the program title, the broadcast time zone, the preview image, and the like are displayed only on the selected specific channel. However, there is a problem that it is impossible to grasp at a glance what kind of program is being broadcast and what kind of program is currently being broadcast on each channel.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to generate a program table video that realizes an EPG system that allows intuitively and easily grasping broadcast contents in a plurality of channels with a glance. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus, a program guide video control apparatus, and a television receiver including the apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is applied to a program guide video control apparatus for generating a video signal of a program guide of a television broadcast program and displaying the video on a display means, a television receiver equipped with the program guide video control apparatus, and the like. A program guide video signal generating device, wherein the program guide is a program guide in which a plurality of program content display fields associated with each channel and broadcast time zone in television broadcasting are arranged, and corresponds to a program currently being broadcast. It is configured as a program video signal generating device that generates a video signal of the program guide in which an image based on a video signal of a program of each channel is inserted in a program content display column.
As a result, the contents of each channel can be listed in a general program table format (a plurality of program content display fields associated with the identification information of each channel and the broadcast time zone are arranged). It is possible to easily grasp the entire contents of programs currently being broadcast and programs to be broadcast in the future.
Here, the case where the image inserted in the program display column matched with the broadcast time zone to which the present time belongs is a real-time moving image. Thereby, in particular, in the display column corresponding to the currently broadcast program, the moving image (real-time video) of the program is displayed, so that the broadcast content can be easily and intuitively grasped.
In addition, when a program information signal representing program information used for generating a program guide video signal is acquired from a server on the Internet via a communication line, or when the program information signal is superimposed on a television broadcast signal, A case of having a configuration for extracting and acquiring from a television broadcast signal is also conceivable.

  The present invention can also be understood as a program guide video control device that generates a video signal of a program guide for a television broadcast program and displays the video on a display means. That is, a video signal of a program of a plurality of channels is extracted in parallel from a television broadcast signal including a video signal of a program of a plurality of channels, and a program information signal (a so-called program information signal indicating program contents related to the contents of the broadcast program and its broadcast time zone) EPG signal) is obtained, and a plurality of program content display fields associated with the identification information (channel number, etc.) of each channel and the broadcast time zone are arranged to correspond to the currently broadcast program (the current time belongs) The program content display column (in the broadcast time zone) is configured to generate a video signal of a program guide in which a video (a video of a program currently being broadcast) based on the video signal extracted from the television broadcast signal is inserted. Is.

Here, it is conceivable as an example that the program information signal is included in the broadcast signal, and the program information signal is extracted and acquired from the broadcast signal.
As a result, the broadcast signal and the program information signal can be acquired through a common input (reception) path (for example, an antenna and a tuner) and separated from the broadcast signal via a network such as the Internet. Compared to the case where the program information signal is acquired by a route, the configuration is simple. On the other hand, the program information signal may be acquired from a server on the Internet through a communication line.
When the program information (EPG information) includes a program preview image (still image), a program other than the currently broadcast program in the program table (a program in a time zone other than the time zone to which the current time belongs) For the program content display column corresponding to, it is also conceivable to generate a video signal of a program guide in which the program preview image is inserted.
As a result, the content of the program content display column (display column corresponding to a program not currently being broadcast) that cannot be displayed as an image based on the video signal of the program such as a moving image (real-time video) is also displayed as text information. Instead, it is possible to grasp the contents of the program more intuitively and easily.

By the way, in the limited display area of the display unit, when the program table is configured by arranging the program content display columns associated with each channel and the broadcast time zone, the whole picture can be easily grasped, while the program content display is performed. The size of each column will inevitably be small.
For this reason, for example, a function for selecting any one of the program content display fields in accordance with an external operation input is provided, and a video signal for generating an enlarged display of the display content in the selected program content display field is generated. For example, the visibility is improved and it is still preferable.

According to the present invention, for a program that is currently being broadcast, it is possible to display on the display section video of a program table in which an image based on the video signal of each of a plurality of channels is inserted in the program content display field. The contents of the program can be grasped intuitively and easily.
In addition, since the program table is composed of a plurality of program content display columns associated with each channel and the broadcast time zone, the real-time video of each channel currently being broadcast and each channel scheduled for future broadcast The contents of the program can be listed, and the entire contents of the program contents in each channel can be easily grasped just by looking at the program table.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the present invention can be understood. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a television receiver X provided with a program guide video control apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an example of a program guide display screen in the television receiver X. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of a program guide display screen in the television receiver X, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an enlarged display screen of a program content display column in the television receiver X.

  A program guide video control apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 generates a video signal of a program guide of a television broadcast program, and outputs the video to a video output unit 12 (display means or the like). 1), and is roughly constituted by a tuner 2, an EPG extraction circuit 3, a detection circuit 4, a program guide video signal generation unit 5, and the like. One tuner 2 and one detection circuit 4 are provided for each of all channels (hereinafter referred to as all channels) received by the receiving antenna 1.

The receiving antenna 1 connected to the tuner 2 receives a television broadcast signal on which a video signal for a plurality of channels and an audio signal synchronized with the video are superimposed. The TV broadcast signal includes text information such as the title, genre, and performer name of each program broadcast from the present to the future in each of the plurality of channels received by the receiving antenna 1, and in some cases Program information including information representing program content including a preview image representing a typical scene of the program (hereinafter referred to as program content information), time information regarding the broadcast time zone of each program, and channel information regarding the broadcast channel Is also included in the program information signal (EPG signal).
Each of the tuners 2 receives the television broadcast signals for a plurality of channels received by the receiving antenna 1, and each selects one of a plurality of channels (the all channels) (1 from the television broadcast signals). The signal for the channel is extracted). Normally, each broadcast signal transmitted from a specific station includes the program information signal in all the channels. Accordingly, each of the signals for one channel extracted by the tuner 2 includes the program information signal in all the channels.
Here, it is assumed that which of the plurality of channels (the all channels) each tuner 2 selects is predetermined.

The EPG extraction circuit 3 inputs a signal of a channel selected by one of the tuners 2 (a signal for one channel extracted from the television broadcast signal), and extracts (acquires) the program information signal from the signal. Example).
Each of the detection circuits 4 extracts the video signal and the audio signal from each channel signal selected (extracted) by the tuner 2. As described above, the detection circuit 4 is assigned to each of the received channels one by one, and the video signals and audio signals of programs of a plurality of channels (all channels) are received by the plurality of detection circuits 4. Extracted in parallel.
In the program guide video signal generation unit 5, based on the program information, for all the channels (a plurality of channels), there is a program content display column associated with a channel name (an example of identification information) and a broadcast time zone. A video signal (hereinafter referred to as a program guide video signal) for displaying a plurality of arranged program guides (television broadcast signals) is generated.

The television receiver X shown in FIG. 1 includes an audio processing circuit 6, an audio output unit 7, an input unit 8, a control circuit 9, three switch circuits 10a, 10b, 10c, a video processing circuit 11, a video output unit 12 (an example of display means), and the like.
The audio processing circuit 6 performs predetermined processing (volume adjustment processing, equalization processing according to the characteristics of the audio output unit 7, surround processing, etc.) on the audio signal extracted by the detection circuit 4. .
The audio output unit 7 is means for outputting the audio signal such as a speaker.
The input unit 8 is a general term for a receiving unit for receiving an operation signal of the television receiver A by a remote controller or operation switches provided on the outer surface of the television receiver A, for example.
The control circuit 9 includes an MPU and its peripheral devices such as ROM and RAM, and performs overall control of the television receiver A by executing a control program stored in advance in the ROM. . For example, when an output sound volume adjustment operation is input through the input unit 8, the control circuit 9 controls the sound processing circuit 6 in accordance with the operation, thereby adjusting the output sound.

The switch circuit 10a is configured to output a video of a channel (hereinafter referred to as an output channel) to be output through the video output unit 12 among the video signals for all the channels extracted (detected) by each of the detection circuits 4. This is a circuit that selects a signal and transmits the selected video signal to the video processing circuit 11 described later. Similarly, the switch circuit 10b selects the audio signal of the output channel from the audio signals for all the channels extracted (detected) by each of the detection circuits 4, and transmits the selected audio signal to the audio processing circuit 6. Circuit.
The output channel is selected in accordance with an operation signal for channel selection by the remote controller or the like input to the control circuit 9 through the input unit 8 and is set (stored) in the control circuit 9. The control circuit 9 controls the switch circuits 10a and 10b according to the setting contents of the output channel, thereby causing the switch circuits 10a and 10b to select the video signal and audio signal of the output channel, respectively. Hereinafter, the video signal of the output channel is referred to as an output channel video signal in distinction from the program guide video signal generated by the program guide video signal generation unit 5.
The video processing circuit 11 performs predetermined processing on the output channel video signal (for example, separation of horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from the video signal, generation of a clock signal phase-synchronized with the synchronization signal, luminance signal from the video signal, and Color signal separation, predetermined image quality improvement processing, etc.).
The video output unit 12 is a means for outputting the video signal (program guide video signal, output channel video signal), and is a liquid crystal display, for example.
The switch circuit 10c is a circuit that selects one of the program guide video signal and the output channel video signal and outputs (displays) it to the video output unit 12.

A television receiver X including a program guide video control device A according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a normal mode in which the output channel video signal is output from the video output unit 12, and the program guide video signal generation unit. 5 is output from the video output unit 12 and has a function of switching to a program guide display mode in which, for example, a program guide as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed.
When an operation input for switching between the normal mode and the program guide display mode is made through the input unit 8, the control circuit 9 controls the switch circuit 10c, and the switch circuit 10c controls the video output unit 12. The output video signal (the program guide video signal or the output channel video signal) is switched. At this time, the audio processing circuit 6 is also controlled by the control circuit 9, and output of the audio signal is prohibited (that is, muted).

The generation of the program guide video signal by the program guide video signal generator 5 will be described below.
The program guide video signal generation unit 5 receives the program information signal extracted by the EPG extraction circuit 3 and the video signal of each channel extracted by each of the detection circuits 4. Based on this, the program guide video signal is generated.
As described above, the program information signal includes the program content information including the text information such as the title, genre, and performer name of each program broadcast from the present to the future, the preview image, and the time related to the broadcast time zone. It represents the program information including information and channel information related to the broadcast channel, and the program guide video signal generation unit 5 reads the information from the program information signal.

2 and 3 are diagrams showing an example of a program guide by the program guide video signal generation unit 5. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the program table displays a plurality of program contents associated with channel identification information column 13 arranged in the horizontal direction and broadcast time zone information columns 14a and 14b arranged in the vertical direction. Columns 15a and 15b are arranged.
The channel identification information column 13 displays the names of each of the plurality of channels in the broadcast signal (an example of identification information for each channel), and the broadcast time zone information display columns 14a and 14b each include the current time. The time zone (broadcasting time zone) after the time zone is displayed in increments of 30 minutes, for example. The uppermost broadcasting time zone information display column 14a is a time zone display column to which the current time belongs, and the lower broadcasting time zone display column 14b is a time zone display column after that. .
Thus, the viewer can identify which channel and which broadcast time zone each of the program content display fields 15a and 15b corresponds to.

The program content display column 15a at the top is a column for displaying the content of each channel program (the program corresponding to the broadcast time zone to which the current time belongs) currently being broadcast, and the program at the lower level. The content display column 15b is a column for displaying the content of each program of each channel scheduled to be broadcast in the future (other than the program currently being broadcast).
The program guide video signal generator 5 transmits video signals in each of a plurality of channels detected (extracted) by each of the detection circuits 4 (multiple video signal extracting means) in real time. Then, the program guide video signal generation unit 5 generates reduced moving images (real-time videos) adjusted in size according to the sizes of the program content display fields 15a based on the video signals, respectively. The program guide video signal for outputting the video of the program guide inserted in the corresponding portion of the program content display column 15a in the uppermost row is generated.
As a result, in the program table, the contents of each currently broadcasted program are displayed as a real-time video (an example of an image) based on the video signal of the program of each channel. It is possible to grasp.

On the other hand, real-time video cannot be acquired for programs other than programs currently being broadcast (hereinafter referred to as broadcast scheduled programs). Accordingly, the program guide video signal generation unit 5 displays the program guide video signal so that the program content information read from the program information signal is displayed in the program content display column 15b corresponding to the broadcast scheduled program. Is generated.
At that time, the program guide video signal generation unit 5 determines whether or not each of the program content display fields 15b of the broadcast-scheduled program includes a preview image of a program corresponding to the program content information. If it is included, the program guide video signal for displaying the program guide inserted in the program content display column 15b corresponding to the notice image is generated. If not included, the program title, genre, etc. The program guide video signal for displaying the program guide inserted in the program content display column 15b corresponding to the text information is generated.
Further, when the program content information corresponding to the program content display column 15b of the broadcast-scheduled program does not exist (there is no text information), the fact that the information does not exist or its broadcast time zone (for example, “6: 30 to 7:00 ”etc.) generates the program guide video signal displayed in the program content display column 15b.

  As described above, the video (real-time video) based on the video signal of the currently broadcast program and the text information or the preview image related to the broadcast-scheduled program are respectively displayed in the corresponding program content display columns 15a and 15b. The program guide video signal of the inserted program guide is generated, and the video of the program guide is displayed from the video display section 12 as shown in FIGS. Such a program table is, for example, at the time of switching of the broadcast time zone shown in each of the broadcast time zone information display fields 14a and 14b (in the example of FIGS. 2 and 3, 6:00, 6:30, 7:00). Etc. every 30 minutes).

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the program guide video signal generation unit 5 generates the program guide video signal for displaying the cursor 16 on the screen of the program guide. In the program guide display mode, the cursor 16 moves up, down, left, and right within the screen of the program guide according to an operation input of a cursor movement key provided on a remote controller or the like.
That is, the control circuit 9 calculates the display position (display coordinates) of the cursor 16 in accordance with the operation input information of the cursor movement key acquired through the input unit 8, and the program guide video signal generation unit 5 performs the control. The program guide video signal is generated so that the cursor 16 is displayed at the display position of the cursor 6 acquired from the circuit 9.
Further, when a predetermined selection confirmation operation input is made through the input unit 8 in a state where the cursor 16 is over any of the program content display fields 15a and 15b, the program guide video signal generation unit 5 It is recognized that the program content display fields 15a and 15b on which the cursor 16 overlaps are selected. Here, the input unit 8, the control circuit 9, and the program guide video signal generation unit 5 are examples of the program content display column selection means.

In the program guide display mode, when it is recognized that any one of the program content display fields 15a of the currently broadcast program is selected, the program guide video signal generating unit 5 selects the selected program content display field 15a. The control circuit 9 sets the notified channel as the output channel, and the video signal and audio signal of the output channel are selected. The switch circuits 10a and 10b are controlled. Further, by controlling the switch circuit 10c, the video signal of the output channel is output from the video output unit 12, and the program guide display mode is switched to the normal mode.
On the other hand, in the program guide display mode, when it is recognized that one of the program content display fields 15b of the scheduled broadcast program (other than the program being broadcast) is selected, the program guide video signal generation unit 5 selects The program guide video signal is generated so that the displayed content of the program content display field 15b is enlarged, and the signal is output to the video output unit 12 through the switch circuit 10c. At that time, information other than the display content of the selected program content display column 15b (title, genre, text information of performers, time information, etc.) is also displayed superimposed on or added to the enlarged display portion. The program guide video signal may be generated. FIG. 4 is an example of an enlarged display screen of the program content display field 15b.
Of course, the program content display column 15a of the currently broadcast program can be configured to be enlarged and displayed in the same manner.
Thereby, the visibility of the display content in each said program content display column can be improved. Note that the state in which the program content display field is enlarged is canceled when a predetermined release operation input is made through the input unit 8, and the original program table is displayed (FIG. 2 or FIG. 3). Can be switched to.

In the above-described embodiment, the program content display field 15b of the broadcast-scheduled program is supplemented only for programs in which the preview image is preferentially displayed and the preview image is not included in the program content information. Text information (title, genre, performer name, etc.) is used, but what information (title, genre, performer, broadcast time, etc.) when the preview image does not exist (or always) It is also conceivable to provide a function that allows the user to set whether to display the program table in advance by a predetermined operation input through the input unit 8, a function that enables selection when displaying the program guide, and the like.
For example, the program guide display mode is further changed to a preview image display mode (a mode for displaying the preview image in the program content display field 15b) and a text display mode (text information based on the program information or the like is displayed in the program content display field 15b). The display mode can be switched by an operation input through the input unit 8 in which mode (preliminary image display mode, text display mode) the video of the program guide is displayed. .
In addition, it may be possible to display such information (for example, “No Picture” or the like) in the program content display column 15b of the program for which the preview image does not exist.

In the above-described embodiment, it is assumed that a video signal of a program table in which a moving image (real-time video) created based on the video signal of each channel is inserted in the program content display column currently being broadcast is generated. Instead of the moving image, an embodiment in which a video signal of the program table in which a still image generated from the video signal is inserted in a corresponding program content display column is also conceivable. Further, whether to display the moving image or the still image may be set and selected by an operation input by a viewer.
Further, the EPG signal is not necessarily extracted (acquired) from the television broadcast signal as in the above-described embodiment, and a connection terminal for connecting a communication line or the like is connected to the EPG extraction circuit 3 (see FIG. 1). An example of program information acquisition means), and the EPG signal (program information signal) is acquired from a server on the Internet, for example, via the communication line (so-called i-EPG is used) Is also possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the program guide video signal generation device and the program guide video signal control device according to the present invention are applied to a television receiver has been described. However, for example, a video device (video playback / recording device) It is also possible to apply. In that case, the video apparatus, when the above-described program guide display mode is selected and the program guide is displayed, allows one of the programs displayed in the content display column of the program guide to be viewed by the viewer. It is desirable to have a function of selecting, a function of reserving and recording a program selected by the viewer, and the like.

The schematic block diagram of the television receiver X provided with the program guide image | video control apparatus A which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the display screen of the program schedule in the television receiver. The figure which shows another example of the display screen of the program schedule in the television receiver. The figure which shows an example of the enlarged display screen of the program content display column in the television receiver.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Reception antenna 2 ... Tuner 3 ... EPG extraction circuit 4 ... Detection circuit 5 ... Program guide image signal generation part 6 ... Audio | voice processing circuit 7 ... Audio | voice output part 8 ... Input part 9 ... Control circuit 10a, 10b, 10c ... Switch circuit DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Video processing circuit 12 ... Video output part 13 ... Channel identification information column 14a, 14b ... Broadcast time zone information display column 15a, 15b ... Program content display column

Claims (10)

A program guide video signal generating device for generating a video signal of a program guide of a television broadcast program,
A program table in which a plurality of program content display fields associated with each channel and broadcast time zone in television broadcasting are arranged, and the video of the program of each channel is displayed in the program content display field corresponding to the currently broadcast program An apparatus for generating a program guide video signal, comprising: generating a video signal of the program guide in which an image based on the signal is inserted.   2. The program guide video signal generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image inserted in the program content display column corresponding to the program currently being broadcast is a real-time moving image.   3. The program table video signal generation device according to claim 1, further comprising program information signal acquisition means for acquiring a program information signal representing program information related to the contents of a broadcast program and its broadcast time zone via a communication line.   3. The program table video signal generation device according to claim 1, further comprising program information signal acquisition means for extracting and acquiring a program information signal representing program information related to the contents of the broadcast program and its broadcast time zone from the broadcast signal. . A program guide video control device for generating a video signal of a program guide of a television broadcast program and displaying the video on a display means,
A plurality of video signal extracting means for extracting in parallel a video signal of a program of a plurality of channels from a television broadcast signal including a video signal of a program of a plurality of channels;
Program information signal acquisition means for acquiring a program information signal representing program information related to the content of the program broadcast by the television broadcast signal and its broadcast time zone;
Based on the program information, a program table in which a plurality of program content display fields associated with each channel and a broadcast time zone are arranged, and the program content display field corresponding to a currently broadcast program includes the program content display field. Program guide video signal generating means for generating a video signal of the program guide in which an image based on a video signal of a program of each channel extracted by a plurality of video signal extracting means is inserted;
A program guide video control apparatus comprising:   6. The program guide video control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the program information signal acquisition means extracts and acquires the program information signal included therein from the television broadcast signal.   6. The program guide video control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the program information signal acquisition means acquires the program information signal via a communication line.   The program guide video signal generating means generates a video signal of the program guide in which a program preview image included in the program information is inserted in the program content display column associated with a program other than the program currently being broadcast. The program guide video control apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7. Comprising program content display field selection means for selecting any program content display field from among the plurality of program content display fields in accordance with an operation input;
The said program guide video signal production | generation means produces | generates the video signal which expands and displays the display content in the said program content display column selected by the said program content display column selection means. Program guide video control device.   10. The program guide video control device according to claim 5, and display means for outputting a video signal of the program guide generated by the program guide video control device. TV receiver.

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