A method for programming a recording of a program by a digital television decoder. The decoder has a service plan including a plurality of services. The program to be recorded is broadcast on a first service. The decoder is aware of the first service, an identifier of the program to be recorded, and a theoretical start time of the program to be recorded. When the decoder receives a first standardized table from the first service, the decoder is put in a first operational mode in which the decoder starts recording the program based on the detection of an identifier of the program in the first standardized table, and, when the decoder detects no reception of the first standardized table, the decoder is put in a second operational mode in which the decoder starts recording the program based on the theoretical start time of the program.