A download control apparatus for downloading contents, said apparatus comprises: a receiving unit (410, 500) being adapted to receive download control meta information including download execution information and download control information, the download execution information being used to download a plurality of contents, and includes identification information of the contents to be downloaded and content location information indicating location of the contents, the download control information describing the contents of the download control meta information itself, and includes update checking information indicating whether or not there is an update in the download control meta information, and includes meta information location information indicating location of the download control meta information, and to download the contents from the location indicated by the content location information; characterized in that the download control information further includes expiration information indicating a time limit for checking whether or not the download control meta information is updated; wherein said download control apparatus further comprises: an update check unit (420, 550, 600, 700) being adapted to hold the download control meta information (120, 800), and being adapted both to refer to the expiration time information to determine whether or not to check that the download control meta information is updated by whether or not the time limit has passed, and to check whether or not the download control meta information in the location indicated by the meta information location information has been updated based on said determination, only in a case where said update checking information indicating whether checking of update is performed or not indicates to perform the checking; and a difference update unit (420, 550, 1100, 1300) being adapted to allow the receiving unit to download contents which is identified by the identification information and which is newly added or changed only in a case where the download control meta information is updated. a receiving unit (410, 500) being adapted to receive download control meta information including download execution information and download control information, the download execution information being used to download a plurality of contents, and includes identification information of the contents to be downloaded and content location information indicating location of the contents, the download control information describing the contents of the download control meta information itself, and includes update checking information indicating whether or not there is an update in the download control meta information, and includes meta information location information indicating location of the download control meta information, and to download the contents from the location indicated by the content location information; an update check unit (420, 550, 600, 700) being adapted to hold the download control meta information (120, 800), and being adapted both to refer to the expiration time information to determine whether or not to check that the download control meta information is updated by whether or not the time limit has passed, and to check whether or not the download control meta information in the location indicated by the meta information location information has been updated based on said determination, only in a case where said update checking information indicating whether checking of update is performed or not indicates to perform the checking; and a difference update unit (420, 550, 1100, 1300) being adapted to allow the receiving unit to download contents which is identified by the identification information and which is newly added or changed only in a case where the download control meta information is updated.