Abstract: A color television receiver includes a color picture tube having three electron guns including cathodes and heaters therefor, respectively, and an automatic cutoff adjusting circuit for adding a reference voltage signal substantially at a black level to a luminance signal during an interval beginning substantially at the end of a vertical blanking period, and for detecting cathode currents flowing toward the cathodes during the above-described interval to control cathode voltages for the cathodes for keeping the cathode currents at a predetermined level by way of feedback of voltages proportional to the cathode currents. There is provided a circuit for applying a positive voltage to each of the heaters during the above-described interval to reduce a potential difference between the heater and corresponding one of the cathodes to thereby lower a leakage current flowing between the cathode and the heater.