A method and apparatus providing channel management in a broadcast receiver. The method includes estimating an intensity and a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of broadcast signals received via a plurality of physical channels (PCT channels) in a channel memory mode, determining reception quality of the respective plurality of PCT channels, in consideration of both the estimated intensity and SNR of the broadcast signals, and assigning the plurality of PCT channels to a virtual channel (VCT channel) according to a predetermined rule with respect to a reception quality of the plurality of PCT channels.