An optical receiver for hybrid SCM video distribution systems that distribute AM, QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) and FM TV signals simultaneously is investigated. We propose a novel receiver configuration called the Frequency Division type Receiver (FDR) with consists of a photo detector, filter, and multiple preamplifiers. The receiver is compared with existing receivers in terms of optical sensitivity, distortion characteristics, and configuration simplicity. We clarify that the newly developed FDR type receiver is most suitable for hybrid SCM video distribution systems.