Disclosed is a method and apparatus for changing a channel or a varying a volume level of a television receiver having a normal screen mode function and a multiple screen mode function. According to the method, it is first checked whether or not a control signal for the channel or volume level conversions of the main picture or sub-picture is input from a remote controller having plurality of channel changing keys and plurality of volume level changing keys. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the input control signal is a signal corresponding to either the plurality of channel changing keys or the plurality of volume level changing keys. Afterwards, it is determined whether or not the television is in the multiple screen mode when the input control signal is the signal corresponding to either the plurality of channel changing keys or the plurality of volume level changing keys. Thereafter, when the screen is in the multiple screen mode, either a channel of the main picture or the sub picture is selectively converted and the volume level of the main picture or the sub-picture is varied depending on inputs of the plurality of channel changing keys and the plurality of volume level changing keys. The apparatus comprises a television remote controller capable of changing a channel or a volume level of a television receiver having a screen capable of displaying both a normal mode and a multiple screen mode. The remote controller contains several channel changing and several volume changing keys for changing the channels and the volume on both screens.