A broadcast receiver comprising: a channel table which stores receivable channels for each of a plurality of areas; channel switches to which receivable channels of an area in which said broadcast receiver is located are assigned; a receiving means (101, 102, 103) for receiving a broadcast signal of a channel which is designated by one of said channel switches; an instruction means for issuing an instruction to reassign receivable channels to said channel switches; characterized by a control means (107, 111) adapted to perform the following steps: a) searching (S511, S512, S513, S514), in response to the instruction, a first channel in which a broadcast signal can be received; b) confirming the first channel as receivable; c) specifying (S516, S519) areas of the plurality of areas as search areas that have the first channel stored in the channel table as a receivable channel; d) searching (S525-S529), among the channels stored in the channel table as a receivable channel for at least one of the search areas, for a second channel which is not confirmed as receivable and in which a broadcast signal can be received by said receiving means (101, 102, 103); e) confirming the second channel as receivable; f) updating the search areas by removing from the search areas an area not having the second channel stored as a receivable channel in the channel table; g) assigning (S534-S538), if the search areas comprise only one area, the receivable channels stored for the only one area to said channel switches; and h) repeating the steps d) to h), if the search areas comprise more than one area. a channel table which stores receivable channels for each of a plurality of areas; channel switches to which receivable channels of an area in which said broadcast receiver is located are assigned; a receiving means (101, 102, 103) for receiving a broadcast signal of a channel which is designated by one of said channel switches; an instruction means for issuing an instruction to reassign receivable channels to said channel switches; characterized by a control means (107, 111) adapted to perform the following steps: a) searching (S511, S512, S513, S514), in response to the instruction, a first channel in which a broadcast signal can be received; b) confirming the first channel as receivable; c) specifying (S516, S519) areas of the plurality of areas as search areas that have the first channel stored in the channel table as a receivable channel; d) searching (S525-S529), among the channels stored in the channel table as a receivable channel for at least one of the search areas, for a second channel which is not confirmed as receivable and in which a broadcast signal can be received by said receiving means (101, 102, 103); e) confirming the second channel as receivable; f) updating the search areas by removing from the search areas an area not having the second channel stored as a receivable channel in the channel table; g) assigning (S534-S538), if the search areas comprise only one area, the receivable channels stored for the only one area to said channel switches; and h) repeating the steps d) to h), if the search areas comprise more than one area. a) searching (S511, S512, S513, S514), in response to the instruction, a first channel in which a broadcast signal can be received; b) confirming the first channel as receivable; c) specifying (S516, S519) areas of the plurality of areas as search areas that have the first channel stored in the channel table as a receivable channel; d) searching (S525-S529), among the channels stored in the channel table as a receivable channel for at least one of the search areas, for a second channel which is not confirmed as receivable and in which a broadcast signal can be received by said receiving means (101, 102, 103); e) confirming the second channel as receivable; f) updating the search areas by removing from the search areas an area not having the second channel stored as a receivable channel in the channel table; g) assigning (S534-S538), if the search areas comprise only one area, the receivable channels stored for the only one area to said channel switches; and h) repeating the steps d) to h), if the search areas comprise more than one area.