An apparatus (16) for recording a selected program includes a decoder (32), a recorder (34), and a user interface (36). The user interface (36) permits a user to select the program. The decoder (32) receives a data stream including, a start data packet, content data packets, and an end data packet associated with the selected program. The decoder (32) detects the start data packet associated with the selected program and begins the recorder (34) recording. The context data packets are recorded until the decoder (32) detects the end data packet associated with the selected program and stops the recorder (34).