If a user requests an output of synthetic speech, a broadcast receiving apparatus (10), when a control section (105) determines on the basis of the display state of the broadcast receiving apparatus (10) that a synthetic speech signal is not to be output, outputs a confirmation sound generated by an operation confirmation sound generation section (108); and, when it is determined that the synthetic speech signal is to be output, outputs synthetic speech generated by a synthetic speech generation section (109), whereby it is possible to assist a user having difficulty viewing a screen, such as a visually-impaired person, with understanding the situation.