A method and system are provided in which a user is enabled to create a preferred playlist of the user's favorite songs or types of video presentations. An input device allows the user to add or delete items or key words of a song title or video presentation to or from the favorites list. In an exemplary video application, a user is enabled to indicate by using a digital video recorder, a specific type of broadcast such as "Sports" or "Basketball". In an exemplary radio application, the user is enabled to list songs, or key words of the title if the user is unsure of the exact title, on the preferred playlist. Video signals or songs playing on several channels or stations are monitored and when a listed video type or song having the input key words from the user's favorites list begins to play on a station, the song and the full song title which is acquired from the received broadcast data, are automatically saved to memory for subsequent retrieval and playing by the user. In one example, the user is also enabled to add video types or songs to the favorites list by pressing a single "ADD" button at any time while a type of video or a favorite song is currently being played. The song then being played together with the title of the song or video presentation are then saved to memory for subsequent retrieval and playing.