A lot depends on where your TV service comes from. Cable and satellite providers have their own DVRs. If you are getting service from an over-the-air antenna, you should look into a TIVO unit. No matter what you use, it will change the way you watch TV. We rarely watch anything besides sports live. Commercials consume about 25% of programming which means you can watch four one-hour programs in three hours by skipping the commercials. You also watch what you want, when you want and it doesn't interfere with doing other things with family or whatever that may occur at the same time of your "favorite" shows.