A technique for selectively inhibiting a video recorder from recording and/or reproducing those television programs, which are not authorized for viewing. Authorization data associated with respective television programs that are receivable by the recorder and indication of whether that program is authorized for recording and/or reproduction, is received by the recorder prior to (or multiplexed with) the television program and is stored thereat. When the television program is received, the stored authorization data associated with that is read to determine if the received television program is authorized for recording and/or reproduction. If not, the recorder is inhibited from recording and/or reproducing that unauthorized television program.