The DVR has to be the greatest add-on to my television. Ever since I got hooked up with the DirectTV Russian package and their new digital video recorder, my television viewing habits have changed.
Let me give you a brief example.
If you have not watched television with a TiVo or a DVR, you do not know what you are missing. You have complete control over everything you decide to watch. If you are watching a program, and all of the sudden you realize that you are hungry, you can just pause the program. Go make your food, and come back when you’re ready, even if it takes 15 minutes!
Then when you begin viewing your program again, you will have the added advantage of skipping through any advertisements that come up. Pass right through them each time they pop up! I don’t think I’ve seen a full commercial in three months.
Now here is how I get the most out of my DVR. I don’t even bother channel surfing anymore. I simply set up my DVR to save the shows I like. Even when watching football, I set the digital video recorder, then I sit down about an hour after the game actually starts. This way, I can fast forward through all the commercials, and watch a football game in about half the time.
Finally, I can always see new episodes of my favorite series. For example, new episodes are coming out soon of Friday Night Lights on Direct TV. On the digital video recorder, all I need to do is select the record series choice, and each time the show comes on, my Direct TV DVR finds it night or day, and saves it for me. I can set it to save all of the episodes, or just the first-run episodes. All of this in crystal clear hi def too!
Then, when I have the time to watch television, all of my favorite shows are ready and waiting there for me to watch. No need to rearrange my schedule around the networks, not with my new Direct TV digital video recorder.
While other companies like AT&T U-verse and Verizion Fios have also begun to offer DVR service, satellite TV companies like DIRECTV pioneered the product.