An apparatus and method is disclosed for blocking specific television commercials from the viewer's television based upon the characteristics of the television commercial. In the method, characteristics from a first signal containing a television commercial received at a television are determined. The characteristics may include video and/or audio characteristics, and the characteristics may define a signature. Characteristics from a second signal, also containing the television commercial, are also received and are compared to the first signature. Upon recognizing the second signal, the television commercial is blocked.