Patent ID: 8387095

Claim:
A broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: a reception unit configured to receive a digital broadcast signal; an acquisition unit configured to acquire broadcast program information about a plurality of channels from the digital broadcast signal; a communication unit configured to execute bidirectional communication with an external apparatus; a determination unit configured to determine whether the external apparatus is capable of transmitting the broadcast program information; and a control unit configured to set the broadcast receiving apparatus in a first acquisition mode when the determination unit determines that the external apparatus is capable of transmitting the broadcast program information, and to set the broadcast receiving apparatus in a second acquisition mode when the determination unit determines that the external apparatus is not capable of transmitting the broadcast program information, wherein, in the first acquisition mode, the acquisition unit does not acquire the broadcast program information from the digital broadcast signal even if the acquisition unit is capable of acquiring the broadcast program information from the digital broadcast signal, the control unit requests the external apparatus to transmit the broadcast program information, and acquires the broadcast program information from the external apparatus, and wherein, in the second acquisition mode, the acquisition unit acquires the broadcast program information from the digital broadcast signal.