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Whoami
Member
08-03-2001
| Friday, February 12, 2010 - 6:19 pm
A discussion of a TV show has gone a little OT, but with an interesting discussion. So I thought I'd start a new thread to talk about it: Basically, we're talking about how we used to watch TV before the DVR, and now after. I'll bring over my posts from that discussion, but will leave other's alone, since I haven't asked them if I can. I started driving the thread OT when I mentioned this: We had to swap out our DVR, so when I reprogrammed the new DVR, I had to make myself a chart of all the shows I had on my Favorites (from the old DVR), and keep track of those whose return dates are further out than two weeks (as far out as the DVR goes). So I actually went to all the web sites and Futon Critic and such to find all the return dates, so I could put them on my Windows Calender and have it remind me when I can finally reschedule all these shows into my DVR again. I guess I got a little over zealous with it. LOL. Then we started talking about before the DVR what we did, and I mentioned this: Before my DVR, I took the TV Guide from the Sunday paper (which showed the prime time shows in a grid), and go through the week and highlight the shows I wanted to watch that week. I even color coded it for what we'd watch, what we'd tape on the VCR while watching the other, and what I'd be taping on my vcr upstairs. Now I create a spreadsheet each new season to see what shows might clash, and use that to determine what shows I'll be scheduling the upstairs DVR for. You can see the discussion on the last page of the 90210 thread HERE.
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Kitt
Member
09-06-2000
| Friday, February 12, 2010 - 6:46 pm
Before TiVo I tried to be in when a favourite show was on, and videoed the other side if there was a clash. We had a second video upstairs we could use if three things clashed, but they rarely did then. Now we have Tivo, and I just set season passes for everything, and arrange their priorities so that if there's a clash the ones I don't tape are ones I can watch online at Hulu. On some days there are three or four things I want to see at the same time. The season passes for most of the things we tape roll on from seasons to season. I rely on tvch to tell me when other shows I might be interested in start! I regularly watch shows after their air date, and watch shows I probably wouldn't have bothered to watch in the past if I had to actually be in and available. Tivo has both freed me, by stopping me watching the clock all the time for the start of a show, and taken my time away by allowing me to watch shows that aren't really worth my time. I'd hate to go back but actually think I'd be better off if I did. I'm just not strong enough to say no!
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Merrysea
Moderator
08-13-2004
| Friday, February 12, 2010 - 7:18 pm
We just switched from Comcast to AT&T U-Verse, so now we have the capability of recording four shows on the DVR. We are now adding shows that before we wouldn't have watched because of a conflict with show we were already watching. We also started in late to some series (the original Stargate, 24, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice) by renting the DVD's from Netflix, then watching them on TV once we were caught up.
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Gidget
Member
07-28-2002
| Friday, February 12, 2010 - 7:32 pm
A part of me wants Tivo or to know how to work my DVR but instead I rely on a TV that has video attached. I keep about a dozen blank VCR tapes. When I tape one, I put it in the back of the box and the next time I need a tape, I take from the front of the box. I never label them and very rarely watch them. I figure the TV I do watch is more than a enough but I like the idea of having something to watch if I am sick or something. Which makes no sense because I don't have a TV in the bedroom and I hate to lay on the couch. I found out of site is out of mind.
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Kookliebird
Member
08-04-2005
| Friday, February 12, 2010 - 7:35 pm
No Tivo, No DVR, No Cable, No Netflix, No TV in the bedroom...but I just recently got an LCD TV that has my very first remote control, which is pretty exciting for me. I just watch whatever comes on. I guess I'm old school!
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Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Friday, February 12, 2010 - 9:19 pm
once you go dvr you never go back 
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Christy358
Member
07-10-2007
| Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 6:57 am
Tivo has changed my habits. I find I am more relaxed about TV. If I want to watch TV, I just see what Tivo has stored and watch what I feel like. If I stop by the store on the way home from work, I do not hurry to get home by prime time, I know whatever is on will be waiting for me.
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Kookliebird
Member
08-04-2005
| Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 8:07 am
Pamy, that's why I haven't gone DVR. I'm already addicted to my TV, I don't need any more reason to watch it!
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 2:46 pm
I find that the DVR allows me to not let tv dominate in some ways that it did before when I watched some shows live. Then if someone called and interrupted I'd possibly resent it/them. Now I just hit pause. Same with bathroom breaks. And while I don't live with others I'd think it would allow people to pay more attention to the people around them. Oddly, long ago, my VCRs had better capability for setting up recordings farther in advance than the week or so my DVRs allow now. So if I saw that a show was going to start up on March 15 at 8pm on ABC, I could set up the weekly recording to start then. Now I have to wait until closer to the time to set it up unless I already have the show set up in series manager. But I do like having the DVR capability.
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 3:00 pm
No cable or satellite now or ever. I watch antenna TV. Had VCR. Have had TiVo since May '04. I still watch live TV pretty much. I can record two different programs at the same time. Will do that if conflict. I often do record what I am watching live just in case I fall asleep (that does happen) or in case there is something I did't catch and want to rewatch. I do have DVDs of movies and TV shows "up the whazzooooo"! Have bought DVDs of some cable shows. Two of them I'd never seen before (on rented DVDs) -- The Closer and Mad Men. They are two favorites.
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 3:06 pm
We've had a PVR (same as DVR) for quite a while now. It has totally changed how we watch TV. We almost never watch "live" TV anymore. The upside (or downside) to it is that I watch far more shows now than I would have otherwise.
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Sia
Member
03-10-2002
| Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 4:58 pm
Jimmer, having a DVR for several yrs has made me watch more series than I ever use to follow. I rarely watch a movie 'cause I prefer episodic TV. I sure can't watch movies the way my parents do: cable w/ no DVR & they'll watch parts of movies. If I've missed even the first couple of minutes of a film, forget it. I began by recording soaps on a VCR when my kids were babies because I couldn't watch anything due to the constant interruptions. Now I record things on DVR that I can watch as I have time. I stop a show to cook, take bathroom & coffee breaks. DH just won a nice TV at work, so I now have his old one with the DVR on it on my side of our living room/bedroom. For Valentine's Day I got him a high-def receiver & he can watch live TV, which is what he wants. Now the only TV conflict is over keeping the kids out of our room. They have a receiver in the kitchen, but I block their obnoxious channels when they curse, fight or are disrespectful.
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Sia
Member
03-10-2002
| Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 5:10 pm
I have a converter/descrambler box as of last fall for the cottage and watch DVDs the rest of the time there. Until recently, cable wasn't available there. I may get it this year, though. I can't wait until April!!
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Christy358
Member
07-10-2007
| Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 5:45 pm
Ok, for those of you who say you follow more series than you did before the technology of tivo/dvr. Do you actually watch less tv? I find that now the tv I watch is more likely to be a new episode of a series I like, and less likely to be yet another rerun of law and order.... I do not think my tv is on more than is used to be. I also second the notion of the wise use of the pause. When my phone rings and I can just press pause, I feel much more relaxed about answering.
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Kitt
Member
09-06-2000
| Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 6:12 pm
I think I watch more not less, because I didn't really watch the reruns anyway. I probably watch the same number of hours during weekdays (but more shows, because of fast forwarding through the ads) and more at the weekend, because I have to catch up with those I've taped but not had time to see! I do watch less movies (on tv) than I used to, because there's usually something recorded I can see instead. In fact I wish I could cancel some of the movies channels we receive and save some money, but of course then you don't get the HBO and Showtime series, and I like those.
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Sia
Member
03-10-2002
| Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 9:00 pm
My tv is almost never turned off--unless I leave the house. I absolutely refuse to watch tv advertisements, so I never watch live tv. By the same token, I play CDs exclusively in the car instead of listening to commercial-ridden radio. I've worked hard to get us on do-not-call status for telemarketers. The shows I watch, if dramas, are ones I like to buy on DVD & watch at the cottage in the spring-fall; I love DVDs for the special features. I'm first to admit: I watch too much tv.
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Whoami
Member
08-03-2001
| Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 11:21 pm
That AT&T U-Verse sounds like a good deal Merrysea. I looked them up, unfortunately not available in my area. Oh well. With the hours WhosMom and I keep now, there's no way we could watch any prime time shows if it weren't for the DVR. I rarely watch live TV now too. I much prefer to FF the commercials. If I watch too much TV now cause of the DVR, I will lay all blame and responsibility on Landileigh. She's the one who talked me into getting a DVR. 
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Landileigh
Member
07-29-2002
| Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 12:21 am
yeah yeah... like juju says ... ban me now! i still think it is the greatest invention. the best part is the ability if you don't hear something, you can rewind. or if the family wants to discuss something about the show you can pause it. we did that with survivor a lot the other night!
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Whoami
Member
08-03-2001
| Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 12:36 am
I wondered if you heard me talking about ya! LOL. For the record, I'm quite pleased you talked me into taking the plunge! So no banning for you!
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Dogdoc
Member
09-29-2001
| Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 5:50 am
I have the Comcast DVR system and am glad to have it. My very favorite TV technology though is the remote control.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 8:51 am
Ban Landi Now!!!

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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 8:59 am
Ok, for those of you who say you follow more series than you did before the technology of tivo/dvr. Do you actually watch less tv? That's an interesting point, Christy. Now that I think about it, I'm probably not watching more TV than I used to watch. I'm watching more TV that I truly enjoy rather than whatever happens to be on at the moment. So I am watching shows that I probably wouldn't have watched before but I'm not watching more TV.
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Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 9:56 am
I watch more shows but I think total viewing time is the same since we ff thru all commercials. I can watch an hour show in less than 45 min. I can watch Dancing with the stars in about 20 min cuz I ff thru Sam also. (dont know how long its goin to take me now that she is gone)
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 10:21 am
Since we got the DVR I haven't watched a commercial for the past couple of years. All the money spent on adds is wasted on me.
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Lexie_girl
Member
07-30-2004
| Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 10:35 am
The DVR may be the greatest invention ever.
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 10:40 am
I watched almost zero tv from 1983 to 2001, mostly because of work and school (and Internet). 2001 is when I got a used TiVo from eBay, and that started a crazy downward spiral to my tv addiction and I have never recovered. Actually the first couple years weren't so bad. Maybe I recorded 3 or 4 shows a week. But then in 2003 I found tv clubhouse and saw all those shows others were enjoying, and well, you know the story. hmmmm, looking back, I would say TV clubhouse changed my tv viewing more than any technology.
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Happymom
Member
01-20-2003
| Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 10:55 am
If I had time, I would watch more tv now. Before we had the dvr, I would tape shows sometimes. Just a show or episode here and there if I needed to stop watching before it was over. I did tape General Hospital for a few mos. My husband and I would watch it at night together. I remember taping an entire season of TAR once (maybe more). I guess there was a conflict of some kind. One of my daughters and I would watch it on the vcr. Now, we have the dvr set to record shows. I only record a couple of them. The kids are the ones that record most of the things set up on a schedule. It is also great to pause the show to go tend to something else instead of just waiting for the commercial break like we used to have to do. I do not like to watch tv or movies on a small screen, so, it is very rare that I will watch anything more than an interview on the computer. Even with interviews, I'd actually prefer to read text usually.
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Rissa
Member
03-19-2006
| Monday, February 15, 2010 - 7:29 am
We have 3 PVR's. One is primarily for the girls, one for hubby and the third is for me and family viewing. We definately record/watch a lot more than we did when we had to watch it live and/or tape to VHS but overall I would say we spend less time in front of the TV because we can fast forward boring bits and commercials. Probably the biggest change for me is that I am always multi-tasking while watching now.. making dinner, cleaning, cross-stitching, puzzles, even reading. If I miss anything I can just rewind and rewatch whereas before the PVR I had to pay attention or it was gone so TV was something you had to clear time for and just sit/watch at the expense of other activities.
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Zgoodgirl
Member
08-22-2003
| Monday, February 15, 2010 - 11:15 am
When I didn't have my DVR, I hated having to pick which show I would rather watch. Maybe that was a mixed blessing, because I did not get caught up in some national cultural phenomenons like Seinfield and Friends. Sorry...I just don't know the words to Smelly Cat. But when MY shows were on, I would find myself answering the phone "Can't talk, my show's on..BYE!" and hang up, cursing the person who called me thinking they should know better. I never did understand the programming of my VCR so would never record anything. Now I record everything that I think I might like. Though my DVR only does two shows at once, and my box in the bedroom will only play the stuff that the living room DVR recorded. I have been forced to go to the bedroom sometimes to watch American Idol on 25 inches, with no rewind. But for like the past 4 years, I don't think that I have watched a commercial willingly, I cannot tell you the new movies that are going to be coming out or if Dorrito has a new flavor. I purposely run around the house doing odd errands for about 15 minutes when my show starts just so I can fast forward thru the commercials. I do hate that some shows may end at 8 or 9:01, causing my DVR to freak out and cancel my next recording. I love that I can pause now and answer the phone politely, go tinkle when needed, or get a drink. What I don't like is not being able to call anyone when something drastic happens on a show, asking them if they have seen it, because ten-to-one they haven't because it is either they are recording it and haven't even started the show, or they are already ahead of my tv and will ruin the ending for me. I also hate the next day talking to friends and having one person who wants us to hush because they have it recorded and haven't seen it yet. And sometimes that person is me. But now I have mostly forgotten what days my shows fall on, what time they air, and a lot of times what channel they play on. I do love that if I forget a premiere date, my DVR has remembered that I wanted it to record all new shows for this, and was so pleasantly surprised to see the start of Project Runway, and Biggest Loser this season. What it didn't catch was last night's Amazing Race because of the stupid number for their series that they put at the end of the title in the guide . I don't think that my TV time has changed very much because of my DVR. I do feel that I get to watch more cool shows that I would have passed up that were on Discover or the History channel that would have totally lost against any show on a major network during primetime. I found one of my new favorite shows, Modern Family due to my DVR, because I usually feel that sitcom's are stupid. What cool is I don't feel the need to rush home, get dinner done, and be settled in before my shows start.
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Merrysea
Moderator
08-13-2004
| Monday, February 15, 2010 - 11:23 am
I do hate that some shows may end at 8 or 9:01, causing my DVR to freak out I hated this about my Comcast DVR, too, and if I knew that a show had a tendency to run late, I would try to remember to set it to record the next show so that we could see the ending of the first (because I got tired of missing the last line or two). Our new system starts recording a few minutes early, and it runs a few minutes late, so we get all of the show we want; and it doesn't affect any shows that may be recording before or after (they all record for longer than scheduled).
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Zgoodgirl
Member
08-22-2003
| Monday, February 15, 2010 - 11:41 am
Merry, my DVR will record over the time, but I do not have the option to start it later which drives me up the wall. I have Verizon Fios which I love except for that one option.
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Hermione69
Member
07-23-2002
| Monday, February 15, 2010 - 11:47 am
I voluntarily gave up internet and cable at home about three weeks ago. I spent more time online than watching television, but I still felt they were both starting to cut into my quality of life. For me, though, the advent of closed captioning more than DVRs is what started me watching more television. I never used to watch television much because I couldn't hear it well enough to enjoy it. Closed captioning changed that. I really never DVRed that much. I used OnDemand more. I still rent television shows from Netflix. It feels like a reasonable compromise. The one current show I've tried to keep up with since giving up cable is Project Runway. My sister likes it, too, and we've watched it together at her place on Friday nights. I miss some of my shows, but I can catch up when they come out on DVD.
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Maris
Member
03-28-2002
| Monday, February 15, 2010 - 2:13 pm
There are very few shows I watch live. I really only watch the Survivor and Amazing race shows as they air. the rest of the time I DVR the series or even better I go to Primetime on Demand. I can skip right through the commercials.
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