Systems and methods for voice activated commands in a digital home communication terminal are disclosed. One example method includes storing a program audio signal corresponding to a program tuned by the digital home communication terminal. The method also includes storing an incoming audio signal carrying speech and removing from the incoming audio signal a portion of the incoming audio signal that corresponds to the program audio signal, this producing an improved version of the incoming audio signal. The method also includes selecting one of a plurality of voice-activated commands that corresponds to the improved version of the incoming audio signal, and performing a function corresponding to the selected voice-activated command.