Reproducing characteristics of an audio sound are controlled by an audio
controller 8 and reproducing characteristics of a video image are
controlled by a video controller 11. Whether or not a viewpoint of the
user is directed to a display 13 side of a television receiver is
detected by a viewpoint detector 14. On the basis of a detection signal
from the viewpoint detector 14, a discriminating unit 15 discriminates
which of a normal monitoring state, a "while watching" state, and the
"concentration" state the present state corresponds to, and generates a
control signal to control the reproducing characteristics so as to be
adaptive to the state. If it is determined that the present state changes
from the "while watching" state to the "concentration" state, a sound
volume is reduced and the reproducing characteristics are automatically
switched so as not to obstruct the concentration.