Abstract: The apparatus may be embodied as a self-contained unit associated with the television set or integrated into the television set. The control is basically in two functions, one which is set for programming the availability of use of the television set at predetermined time intervals of the day, and the other which is set for controlling total usage of the television set over a given period such as a 24-hour period. In the preferred embodiment the two functions are set and repeated automatically every day. In another version different settings are allowed for both control functions for weekdays and weekends. In still another version each day of the week may be set separately with regard to both control functions.