Nielsen finally recognizes your obsession with your DVR

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Delon Mon, Oct 16, 2006 at 04:59 AM EST

I don't watch anything in real time anymore, but instead watch most of my shows in 'delayed real time' which means for one-hour shows i usually start watching 25 minutes after the show begins and for half-hour shows i start watching 10 minutes later so that i'll skip all the commercials yet finish watching it on it's regular scheduled time. That's the best way of watching TV in my opinion. I recommend it.

Linake Sun, Oct 15, 2006 at 07:37 PM EST

Oops. After all of that I forgot that Coupling is also on BBC Canada on Thursday nights. I record that, too.

Linake Sun, Oct 15, 2006 at 04:38 PM EST

My brothers and I bought my parents a duel DVR (ours is called a PVR. Ohhh. Must be a Canadian thing.) for their 30th Anniversary, but sadly I've been using it more than they have. I didn't buy it for myself, I swear!

On Sundays my parents and I (yes, even my dad) watch Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters as I tape Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip for later in the night/the next day after school. I know it's on Monday's also, but I don't want to have to wait that long/watch it with commercials.

During the week I tape 21 Jump Street reruns on TVLand to watch whenever I'm bored. They're on every day so that's my fill of TV Shows from 1987. I also watch the Daily Show and usually tape The Colbert Report as I watch it, even though anything Stephen says will be up on youtube in a matter of hours. If I forget/fall asleep before then I'll watch the repeats the next day on the Comedy Network.

On Monday's my mom and I watch The Bachelor (does anyone else see a resemblance to Luke Wilson? Does anyone else watch The Bachelor?) while at the same time I record Dr. Who on CBC. I never watched Dr. Who before because I don't much care for Chris Eccelston, and truthfully Dr. Who isn't the type of show I'd usually watch -- but I figured since the adorable David Tennant was the new Doctor I might as well give it a try. I love it. And I love him. Aww. So anyways, I watch the recorded Dr. Who that night or after school the next day. If I catch Corner Gas I'll watch that, too. Nobody else in my family will watch Dr. Who (or 21 Jump Street) with me. Why?! I'm so alone.

On Tuesdays me and my oldest brother watch House at 8, then I watch/tape Boston Legal while I also tape Smith. Smith I can wait a few days to see, but I love Boston Legal too much to not watch it that night.

On Wednesdays me and my other brother watch 30 Rock (which I also tape) and 20 Good Years, and at 9 my mom arrives to watch The Biggest Loser. Occassionally (sp?) if I remember, I'll also tape Justice at 9. Some time during the night I'll catch Dragon's Den in another time zone. I don't tape or watch Lost. In fact, if I had my way I'd delete Lost from television all together.

THURSDAY! This is a fun day for my PVR. I was able to get away with it when I just had a VCR, but now that shows have moved to this day, and new shows came, I would never be able to work it out. At 8 my dad watches Survivor as I tape My Name is Earl and The Office to watch later that night. At 9 I HAVE to watch Grey's Anatomy with my mom as I tape CSI. Then as I record Ugly Betty from a later timezone, I watch CSI and then Earl/The Office because comedy's are easier to watch at 11:00 when you're tired than Dramas are.

I watch nothing on Friday's. I tape nothing. If I catch Dirty Jobs, Mythbusters or How It's Made on the Discovery Channel I'll watch that. Usually my parents are watching America's Funniest Home Videos on Friday, anyways. And Friday's are more often than not a night that I'm at work/have gone to the movies.

On Saturday's I watch Saturday Night Live. If I like the host I'll tape it.

So there you have it -- a long and rambling post about my TV life. I can't imagine not having a duel DVR (ours is called a PVR. . . ohhh) because if I had to watch what I was recording I'd feel ripped off. You might as well just buy a VCR for $25 then. (I don't really know how single-DVR's work. Can you tell?) As you can see, I usually have to watch the recorded shows ASAP. It's not that anybody in my class watched TV at all (they're all too busy praising Stanley Kubrick and Alfred Hitchcock, with reason but enough is enough) so they won't spoil anything for me, it's just that if I didn't watch them right away I'd never have time to catch up on them later. If I work any of these nights (pour example: I work this coming Thursday) my PVR has a seizer and dies. Or something to that effect. It'll be tough, anyways. I'll have to record ALL of those shows that I simply watch! Not Survivor though -- I don't watch that when my dad does because it all seems the same as past seasons to me. Even their big "divided my races" gimmick didn't last long. This schedule will only get worse as more of my parent's reality shows come back, like The Apprentice.

And that's that. Cheers!

Josh Sun, Oct 15, 2006 at 11:55 AM EST

I don't have a DVR or Tivo, but make use of both my VCR and my roommate's as well as watch in real-time, and it does end up caving with me. I have many eps of FOX dramas saved up that I don't think I'll get to ("Prison Break" the exception); as well as saved eps adding up of "Cold Case," "Without a Trace" and "L&O:SVU".

Mondays are easy, watching "Heroes" and "Studio 60", taping "HIMYM", I'll have to tape "24" when it airs. Tuesdays are a bit more difficult. I watch or tape "Friday Night Lights," "Gilmore Girls," and "Dancing", tape the last bit of "Dancing" and "Help Me Help You" (funniest new comedy), watch Veronica Mars, maybe tape House, watch nip/tuck, tape L&O:SVU (and had been taping Smith but no need to watch those now). Wed is 30 Rock, maybe tape Bones, Lost and The Nine, taping South Park (and thank goodness Project Runway finale is this week). Thurs is the biggest night. I tape Smallville & Supernatural, tape Earl & Office then CSI, watch Betty & Greys live, don't care about the 10/9 shows. Friday, BSG all the way, live if I'm home or taped if I'm out.

I really need to cut down.

Nicole Sun, Oct 15, 2006 at 10:24 AM EST

I rarely ever watch real time shows as well. There are some shows (The Office) that I must watch immediately after it tapes (so as to avoid commercials), and others I save for later. Ugly Betty, Weeds, Daily Show, Colbert Report, Lost... I also have every episode of Brothers and Sisters and Dexter saved but haven't watched them yet. Gotta make time for a couple of mini-marathons.

Buffy Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 04:22 PM EST

I've only had my DVR since the beginning of summer so I am definitely enjoying it with the start of the new fall season. I thought I was alone in how much tv I watch -- but these comments definitely prove me wrong! How come all my co-workers look down on me because I watch so much??!! Is there a support group I can join?! haha Best thing about the DVR is fast forwarding through all the commercials! You can get a lot of tv watched in a night without commercials!

Sharlin Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 03:51 PM EST

I usually see Grey's right away. However, I watch at 9:15 so that I can benefit from not watching commericals. All my other shows... Project Runway, South Park, Daily Show, Colbert Report, Amazing Race, DH, and Heroes I watch later on in the week.

laura Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 03:45 PM EST

DVR Rules!!

I have to record pretty much all my fave shows because I have no time to watch them when they actually air. I record UB, PB, GG, GA, Smallville, and a few others ... it's not because I work late or anything like that .. nooooo all because at 7:30 my time I am watching a telenovela from Argentina call ' Sos mi vida' which at their time it's 9:30 but since the networks are fighting for ratings they don't air the novela until 7:45 - 7:50 my time ... now they are fighting to see who starts first ... so now I wathc SMV at 7:28 jaaa.

So I am thanking whoever came up with DVR because it has help me very much not going crazy!

laura

Mark Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 03:31 PM EST

Oh, and how could I forget about Project Runaway? That is another must DVR show so I can watch it on Friday nights with my wife (who got me addicted, dang her). I could not live without my DVR.

Mark Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 03:23 PM EST

I real time The Office as well as record it on DVR, then watch it again at 10 because it's so friggin amazing. I can't get enough of that show.

Teresqa Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 02:54 PM EST

Yes, like the other Teresa, I loved Smith!

Teresa Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 02:52 PM EST

I do not watch anything live either, I wait the required 15 minutes to miss the comercials too. But, Because I love National Geographic & Discovery, Once a week I go through my favorite channels and set the dvr to record all the shows I find interesting. Like Seconds to Disaster, Cold Case, Mega Structures Dr. Phil, Oprah,& Greg Behrendt Show and many more. So on an average week, I record between 50-60 shows. Man, I have dvritist (my word) bad!!!

Rich Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 02:52 PM EST

NOW can I have Smith back...?

Jeremy Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 01:56 PM EST

I love my DVR.. have been addicted for about 1.5 years.
Best of all is not having to watch commercials.

you asked for tricks.. well I never watch any shows live. The trick is to start watching 10 minutes late (for 30min shows) or 20mins late for 1 hour shows. That way you can skip the commercials.

So for lost, if I start watching on my DVR at 920, and fastforward all the commercials (I couldnt even stand to watch lost with commercials.. they totally ruin the mood and flow.. i dont get how people even bother). So by 10 oclock when the show is over, im caught up (cause of the commercials)

ok

bye

Angel Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 12:54 PM EST

I have to watch Grey's and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip in real time.

I TiVo lots of stuff- Project Runway, Desperate Housewives , Prison Break, House, Dr. Who- but I'll also watch them live when I'm home.

No matter what, when I'm watching them live, I always pause the DVR for about 10 or 15 minutes and do some chore, then start watching so I can forward through the commercials. Best ever!

john Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 11:20 AM EST

the shows back up for us too, but we just save them for weeks with repeats on, or even for the summer. we allow Monks, CSIs, Eureka, sitcoms, any show that is not a contest or won't be written up all over to wreck any surprises, just let them pile up so we have filler for slow weeks.

we also let some shows build up to watch in one long streak of 3 or 4 in one night. Like 24, Veronica Mars.

shamrock Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 11:16 AM EST

Veronica Mars starts at 9:20 every Tuesday.

lauren Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 11:15 AM EST

I forgot to add--I also have two tuners and can watch a recorded show at the same time as taping two others.

Of course we watch more shows now, but do not spend more time doing it--because there are no commercials!!

I feel like a network exec!! I get to control the TV! Mwuhhahaha

Jeanette Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 11:12 AM EST

I think I have it the worst....I have TWO dual channel dvrs and some nights they are burning up!!! There are somethings you just can't wait until a later time to record and I just haven't gotten smart enough yet to watch my Showtime shows On Demand. So I still record them.

Most shows I start watching about 20 minutes in to avoid the commercials. Shows I watch like that are Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars, Studio 60, and Lost. Most everything else, it depends on my mood that night. I have lots of CSIs stacked up right now waiting for viewing. I will ALWAYS watch Project Runway at some point the night it airs too. Lots of stuff gets stacked up for the weekend for when I am a total bum and play the catch up game, but it seems like I never manage to completely catch up! I come home from work, watch a show or two or three, watch whats on that night, and record more stuff to try and catch up on! It's a never ending battle that I swear I am never going to win.

lauren Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 11:09 AM EST

For the most part, I watch all shows after at least 15 minutes go by (for a one hour show) thereby allowing us to skip all commercials and end on time or 15 into the next show.

Where there is a big pileup, and frankly this is only Thurs, we watch some dvr'd shows on slower nights.

I agree with the person who said the DVR has them watching shows they would not have otherwise--for scheduling reasons or just because you don't know where/when to look for it--Rescue me, Project Runway, 6 Feet Under, Eureka, Daily Show, Colbert are new favorites since I got the DVR. I use the search function a lot to give new shows/Networks a try. Then if I love them I lock them in.

The best part of the DVR is not being locked in to a few networks and their schedules--leading to more flexibility and variety. It must be killing them to not have captive prey!

Ronnie Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 10:52 AM EST

DVR is like CRACK COCAINE, lol. It really is too addictive. And now I don't know what I would do without it. Life wouldn't be able to go on........lol

Chris Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 10:16 AM EST

To Patti
There is a 'TiVo' for the radio: the radioSHARK. It's a really cool device!

Michelle Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 10:15 AM EST

I don't know about you people, but the darn TIVO is saving my marriage, since the husband had to watch baseball (well, at least until Red Sox season was over) and if it wasn't for the TIVO I would have never watched anything I wanted.

Oh, and my XM Skyfi2 radio has a pause and rewind, up to 30 minutes, which is cool.

Lori Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 10:09 AM EST

My DVR has definitely increased my tv viewing tremendously. Now I can watch shows like Project Runway, Meerkat Manor, The Closer, Rescue Me, etc. that normally I wouldn't watch because of the odd times I have to catch them because of too many shows piled up in prime time. Also because some prime time shows like to go a minute or 5 extra which screws up catching another show that starts at the top of the hour.

We often hold back some shows like Veronica Mars and Lost so we can watch two episodes together. We almost always watch Survivor and Amazing Race within an hour or two of it taping because (1) we can't wait and (2) we don't want to accidentally hear who got voted off in the news. But I usually save these shows for at least a few days after in case friends missed them and need a copy pronto.

Our DVR has two tuners so we can get two shows on simultaneously. My favorite thing is to watch a recorded show while taping two shows. Talk about multi-tasking!

rosie Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 10:03 AM EST

We DVR everything and watch it all after the kids go to bed. It really makes our evenings go much smoother since we don't have to rush through our routine just to get to our shows. I do regret it a little bit though when I see that a show I watched went down in the ratings. Should I have watched it in real time instead?

Paul Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 10:03 AM EST

I guarantee that I DVR more shows than you. I will officially challenge you. I have a TV-related blog, so I watch A LOT of TV. I have 3 Tivo's plus a DVR device from my cable company. Top that! :)

I never watch a show live. I may start it 20-25 minutes into the show, so I can watch it without commercials. But I never sit through commercials anymore.

Daytime/Daily TV - 1 soap, 2 talk shows, 2 game shows, and 1 nightly news broadcast

Monday Night - DVR 8 shows, watch Prison Break for sure

Tuesday Night - DVR 5 shows, watch Dancing with the Stars for sure so I can vote

Wednesday Night - DVR 10 shows, watch Dancing with the Stars Results Show and Project Runway for sure and Lost if I have time

Thursday Night - DVR 6 shows, watch Survivor and Grey's Anatomy for sure before work the next day

Friday Night - DVR 4 shows

Sunday Night - DVR 6 shows, watch The Amazing Race and Desperate Housewives for sure.

Did I beat you with the number of shows?? E-mail me if you want a list of what I DVR!

Patti Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 09:56 AM EST

I totally agree with HH - I now need TiVo for the radio. My husband constantly explains how this really wouldn't work: you need a constant source of power, blah, blah, blah,. But you can always hope that the show you are listening to (most NPR shows do) have a podcast that you can generally get later on the day it aired. Ahhh TiVo and iTunes - how did we ever get along without them?

Ariella Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 09:54 AM EST

And I NEVER watch anything live, unless I accidentally start too early and catch up with the live show. But most of my must see shows (see my previous post), I try to at least watch the same night so I won't be spoiled (I have a nasty habbit of getting onto the EW website every morning, where they have a nasty habit of putting key plot points or key ejectees boldly on the home page where you can't help but see it, even if you only wanted to read Pop Watch! Are you listening EW!!!@#$@#)

Ariella Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 09:50 AM EST

Yes, I am in no position to condemn any one elses' DVR obsession. Following our recent Committment Ceremony, Ole' Bessie's (that's her name, duh) been so possessive, I rarely leave her side. Only Bessie understands me...my every want and need. When she betrays me and records something I did not intend in place of what I meant to record, I get so mad. But baby, I only hit you because I love you!

And I bet my Bessie (who's been with me more than three years now and already been in the shop for a cHIP replacement) is carrying around much more extra weight than all you wippersnappers. I've got 2 weeks of both Daily Show and Colberts, 3 weeks of Scrubs reruns (2 eppies per night), 2 weeks of That 70's show in syndication, an entire season's worth of The Dead Zone (which I still haven't caught up on) and none of that's even in prime time! Bessie's been working overtime lately to get on top of the new TV season! Everybody Hates Chris, The Amazing Race, Desparate Housewives, How I Met Your Mother, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Veronica Mars, America's Next Top Model, Lost, Project Runway, Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Battlestar Galactica, (and during their reruns on channels ranging from Bravo to SciFi, 30 Rock, Heroes, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip - none of which I've actually even had time to watch yet to decide if I even like them!) Poor Bessie couldn't manage to come up with a way for me to keep seeing My Name is Earl and I'm going to have to hope they rerun them real soon. So take that DVR wannabes!

Miles Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 09:40 AM EST

My DVR doesn't get much use. But I do use it at the beginning of the season to see all the new pilots. I mean, ALL of them... if two pilots premiere at the same time, I watch one show, DVR another... then I slowlly narrow down which shows I'm gonna watch.

My Real time shows: Heroes, Lost, Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy and Battlestart Galactica.

My DVR shows: Nip/Tuck, Studio 60, Project Runway.

That's it, 8 hours of television a week, and I still feel like a lazy human being... I really should cut down.

HH Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 09:16 AM EST

I have to agree with dave re: owning a DVR and its impact on your attention span; the ability to simply rewind live TV makes the radio (satellite and live) a source of constant frustration for me. Especially satellite, which has a freakin' remote but with NO PAUSE or REWIND buttons. I feel like I say "Wait, what?" in my car at least 5 times a day.

step Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 08:58 AM EST

D-d-d-d-do you have it? GUTS!

I'm not gonna lie, I have at least 5 episodes of GUTS DVR-ed. There aren't many shows that I absolutely must watch live, but I'll usually catch up on them the night they air, or the day after. I don't leave stuff till later in the week. Especially not The Office.

Justin Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 08:48 AM EST

We definitely have way too many shows on our PVR. My wife & I actually have set some shows to only keep two episodes, so we don't end up with a week and a half's worth of Daily Colbert Hour taking up space.

One thing that's saved us is The Movie Network offering an on demand service, which lets her watch Stargate Atlantis and me watch Dexter without taking up hard drive space.

Auriana Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 08:36 AM EST

Alas, I do not have a DVR yet and still rely on my VCR. I watch House either in real time or whenever my roommate and I can get around to watching it together. Lost and Heroes are watched on Thursday nights with my boyfriend since we prefer to watch them together and don't see each other until then. American Idol (when it's on) I try to watch in real time.

Patti Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 08:30 AM EST

I watch Lost and Gilmore Girls in real time (actually a 20 minute delay so I can skip commercials and still end about the same time). I watch Stewart/Colbert the next morning. Earl/Office wait until Friday. CSI, Studio 60, House, The Nine, Rescue Me, Project Runway can be watched anytime before the next showing. 12 season passes, plus those lovely BBC America shows like Life on Mars and Waking the Dead when they are available.

JC Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 08:28 AM EST

I have about 20-22 shows (YEAH, I know it's bad).

I try to watch most of them live if I can; the "watercooler" shows are priority (in case a co-worker decides they want to talk about it -- i hate having eps spoiled ya know?)

I don't know what I'd do w/o my DVR -- it's actually made me record more than I normally would (esp the late night talk shows)

Sal Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 08:25 AM EST

The only shows I watch in "real time" are Desperate Housewives, My Name is Earl and LOST. I will set DVR to record and start watching 15 to 20 minutes into the show to avoid commercials.

Other shows I still DVR and watch whenever..Footballers Wives, Mile High, Sons and Daughters, ER, The Class and Nip/Tuck.

DVR I have found does cause me to watch more tv...

dave Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 08:17 AM EST

i have to say, i don't watch ANYTHING in real time. i DVR it all. if there's something i want to watch in semi-real time, i'll wait until the show is 15-20 minutes in and then speed through the commercials.

but i would argue that dvr has ruined the way i watch media. it's gotten to the point where i am comfortable only half paying attention to things because i know i have the luxery of rewinding if i miss anything. this has proved problamatic when i go to the movies. i can't tell you how many times i've said, "wait, what just happened? oh i wish i could rewind!"

jen Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 08:00 AM EST

I've found that if i set the office and grey's to DVR, and then start watching the office around 8:50, i can go all the way through the office and right into greys skipping all of the commercial breaks and still finishing up around 10. it's amazing :)

Anna Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 07:59 AM EST

i just got my dvr and i absolutely dont know what i was waiting for. i loooove it.

aramis Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 07:50 AM EST

The networks make it so that you HAVE TO use your DVR. Especially on Thursdays.

Real Time: Ugly Betty.
DVR: My Name is Earl and The Office.

Real Time: ER
DVR: Six Degrees

Yes, I still watch ER. I have to admit, I was lured by the promise of interesting storyline with John Stamos. So far so good.

lj Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 07:27 AM EST

i rarely watch anything live, though i'll admit that i couldn't even wait 20 minutes for last year's 24 season finale. my must sees are 24, lost, weeds, battlestar galactica, project runway and veronica mars (though studio 60 is creeping its way in to high priority). wire is a favorite, but i often save up several episodes to watch at once since it's so intense. everything else (csi, ugly betty, gilmore girls, w/o a trace, etc.) i just save on my tivo and slowly get through them whenever.

MeNY Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 07:09 AM EST

In "real time" I watch Lost, Project Runway and The Amazing Race. Everything else can wait until I have time to pay attention. I'm an early-to-bed, early-to-rise type so I often watch shows the morning after I record them.

I have 12 shows I watch regularly, plus a host of BBC America mysteries that I save and watch on dreary weekend afternoons.

Minstrel Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 07:05 AM EST

I rarely (if ever) watch anything live. I wait about 20 minutes so that I can skip the commercials.

And the new season is so good, I'm sure my little red recording light is gonna burn out.

beachmom Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 06:04 AM EST

i'm pretty much on a one-day delay with the DVR'd shows...that way i can fast forward thru annoying commercials and boring stuff like: up until the last flower on the 'rose ceremony' on 'bachelor' and the endless tyra-spiel at the end of 'ANTM'...
i also FF through any scenes with the creepy, weird eyebrowed son on 'nip/tuck'.
i do watch 'the office' in real time tho! and 'lost' because that's the only show i watch with hubby...right now my tally is 18 shows on the DVR...how did we live w/out it???? what savages we were running around with VHS tapes, sticky labels and markers...my DVR was messed up yesterday and i was on the phone with cablevision at 5:30 am to fix it... i was panic stricken...now all is well, thank god!!!