Characters representing each of numerals zero (0) through nine (9) and a decimal point are assigned to one of four directional navigation keys. Each character is further assigned to a different number of presses of the respective directional navigation key. User navigation, using at least one of the four directional navigation keys, to a numeric input field is detected during a directional navigation input mode. A navigation key input processing mode is changed to a numeric input mode responsive to this detection. At least one press of one of the four directional navigational keys is detected and the character assigned to the detected at least one press is selected. The selected assigned character is sent to the television receiver device to display as input within the numeric input field. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.