An image display apparatus and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The image display apparatus includes a display, a user input interface for receiving a control signal from a remote controller and processing the received control signal, a network interface for transmitting or receiving data over a network, a controller for controlling a pointer on the display according to the control signal received from the remote controller, and a platform for controlling data transmission or reception over the network according to the control signal received from the remote controller. The platform includes an Operating System (OS) kernel and an application layer that runs on the OS kernel, and the application layer including an installable or deletable application downloaded over the network.