Abstract: In order to edit commercial messages from an off-the-air video recording of a television signal, method and apparatus are disclosed for automatically operating a video tape recorder (VTR) so that it alternates between a normal forward record mode, and a rewind or backscan mode in response to the detection of audio and video fade conditions in the television signal which occur at the beginning and end of each commercial message. A fade detection circuit receives the television signal, while it is being recorded on the VTR, and develops a control signal in response to each detected fade transition such that a single commercial interruption in the television program will be accompanied by a first and then a second fade transition control signal marking the beginning and end of the interruption. Two consecutive commercial messages are accompanied by a first, second, and then a final or third fade control signal.