A method for downloading contents by a download control apparatus which includes a receiving unit, the method including the steps of: the receiving unit (410, 500) receiving 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 the receiving unit (410, 500) downloading the contents from the location indicated by the content location information; characterized in that said download control apparatus further comprises an update check unit and a difference update unit, wherein the method includes the steps of: the update check unit (420, 550, 600, 700) holding the download control meta information (120, 800) and checking whether the download control meta information in the location indicated by the meta information location information has been updated only in a case where said update checking information indicating whether checking of update is performed or not indicates to perform the checking; and the difference update unit (420, 550, 1100, 1300) allowing 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. the receiving unit (410, 500) receiving 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 the receiving unit (410, 500) downloading the contents from the location indicated by the content location information; characterized in that said download control apparatus further comprises an update check unit and a difference update unit, wherein the method includes the steps of: the update check unit (420, 550, 600, 700) holding the download control meta information (120, 800) and checking whether the download control meta information in the location indicated by the meta information location information has been updated only in a case where said update checking information indicating whether checking of update is performed or not indicates to perform the checking; and the difference update unit (420, 550, 1100, 1300) allowing 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. the update check unit (420, 550, 600, 700) holding the download control meta information (120, 800) and checking whether the download control meta information in the location indicated by the meta information location information has been updated only in a case where said update checking information indicating whether checking of update is performed or not indicates to perform the checking; and the difference update unit (420, 550, 1100, 1300) allowing 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.