User customizable advanced closed caption capbilities are provided using existing closed caption information contained in a television signal. The invention allows the user to override the closed caption presentation format as selected by the originator (e.g., programmer or broadcaster), in order to select alternate presentation attributes based on the user's preference. Closed caption information is extracted (e.g., by a closed caption processor from a television signal, which television signal also contains corresponding audiovisual programming. The processor determines whether one or more user selected attributes have been set. At least one user selected attribute is applied to at least a portion of the closed caption information via a closed caption driver. The closed caption information is displayed via a display driver and graphics processor on a display device in accordance with the user selected attributes via a graphical overlay on top of the audiovisual programming.