6 for initiating such actions thus during the predetermined period in which the control image is displayed on the television display 4 so as to signify a particular event operation of the control button on the input unit 6 will cause the associated action to be initiated a record of what action is associated with what event is stored by the controller 18 and memory 20 such that the user need only consider using a single control button upon seeing a particular control image the user will know that the pre associated action will be initiated automatically upon depressing the control button of the input unit 6 the associated actions may be anything under the control of the controller 18 thus the control 18 could change the channel being viewed on the television display 4 could operate a video recorder or such like or could transmit signals via the modem 26 by way of example having set an event as the start of a particular television program the action could be to change channels to the appropriate channel for that program or to start operation of a video recorder to record that program it is envisaged that usually the action will not be taken unless the control button of the input unit 6 is depressed during the predetermined period in which the control image is displayed however it is also possible to arrange actions such that they will.