The display of information supplied from a remote source is customized. Profile data identifying user preferences or display characteristics associated with a user's display device is transmitted to the remote source. Descriptive closed caption data disposed in a predetermined location in the data structure of the information is received from that remote source. The descriptive closed caption data is parsed from the received information; and the user's preference or display characteristic is recognized from the parsed data. The parsed data is used to control the user's display device, thereby displaying the supplied information in accordance with the user's preference or in accordance with the particular display characteristics of the user's display device.