the inquiry is answered in the negative the sequence proceeds to step s 4 to set the video switch circuit 6 in the first state and turn on the audio switch circuit 7 consequently an audio signal is fed to the crt 8 to display images of the currently selected program on the screen of the crt 8 and an audio signal is fed to the speaker 9 for the speaker 9 to deliver the sound of the current program permitting the user to view the program on the other hand if the inquiry of step s 3 is answered in the affirmative step s 5 follows to set the video switch circuit 6 in the second state permitting the control circuit 1 to deliver a notifying frame signal to the circuit 6 and to turn off the audio switch circuit 7 as a result the notifying frame signal is fed to the crt 8 which shows that viewing is prohibited on its screen 81 as seen in fig5 and the delivery of the audio signal to the speaker 9 is discontinued for the speaker 9 to cease outputting the sound of the program making it impossible to view the program next with reference to fig3 a detailed description will be given of a rating information setting cancellation procedure which is a feature of the present invention this procedure is executed repeatedly in a predetermined control cycle when the power supply switch of the television receiver is turned on with reference to fig3 an inquiry is first made in step s 1 as to whether the setting key has been depressed when the user depresses the setting key to set rating information an affirmative answer is given in this step and the sequence.