An apparatus (200) arranged to control a home electronics system, the apparatus being managed independently of a user, the apparatus comprising a data processing unit (CPU (204), Program ROM (208) and RAM (210)), a first communications port (202) operable to receive a command, a second communications port (216) operable to receive a signal indicating an operative component in the system, and a third communications port (218) operable to output a substitute command to a component in the system. On receiving a command, the data processing unit may produce at least one substitute command in dependence on the operative component, which substitute command is then communicated to a component in the system.