An apparatus for playing a picture information recording medium having a program area on which are recorded graphic subcodes in a coded information signal, wherein said graphic subcodes include picture information occupying at least one signal source channel in a signal source channel group of N channels wherein N is a natural number greater than 1, said medium having a lead-in area on which identification code information of said at least one signal source channel of said graphic subcodes recorded in said program area is recorded, said apparatus comprising:
- pickup means for reading signals recorded on said lead-in and program areas of said recording medium and generating a pickup output signal;
- coded information signal demodulating means for demodulating said coded information signal from said pickup output signal;
- graphic subcodes demodulating means for demodulating said graphic subcodes from an output signal of the coded information demodulating means;
- generating means for generating a picture signal corresponding to said graphic subcodes from an output signal of said graphic subcodes demodulating means;
- display means for displaying said identification code information;
- and
- mixing means for mixing with a video format signal said picture signal corresponding to the graphic subcodes occupying a signal source channel designated by a picture channel command for designating one signal source channel in said signal source channel group.