Digital Video Recorders: Video on Demand

Digital video recorders (DVRs) have changed how people watch television. Because DVRs allow you to store TV movies and shows and access them at any time, day or night, they let you watch television on your schedule.

 

Read on to learn more about digital video recorders.

Amazingly, the origins of digital video recorders go back as far as 1965, when television network CBS began developing instant replay technology for sporting events.

While the first hard disc recorder (known as the HS-100) was commercially available in 1967, it only had applications in the world of television sports. The HS-100 could record 30 seconds of video on a 14-inch hard disc. Although this was a remarkable achievement for the time, this early digital video recorder was hardly anything that could compete with TiVo.

Public interest in digital video recorders and video on demand really began in 1999, when TiVo and ReplayTV showcased their respective digital video recorders at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show. Although both of these original video on demand companies are still around today, TiVo is the dominant video on demand service in North America.

TiVo is the undisputed king of North American digital video recorders, but it's by no means the only choice. ReplayTV continues to operate in TiVO's shadow, and both cable and satellite companies increasingly offer DVR capabilities.

Another choice in the world of digital video recorders is the PC-based digital video recorder, which features software and hardware designed to turn your home computer into a video on demand system. Both subscription and free digital recording software are available.

TiVo and similar video on demand companies use hard disk digital video recorders. TV movie downloads are reformatted into MPEG files and stored directly onto the hard disk. In the case of high-definition television the process is even easier: High-definition televisions already use MPEG streams, eliminating the need to convert the files.

Dual-tuners are the next generation of digital video recorders. Dual-tuner systems connect two tuners to the same receiver. As a result, two television programs can be recorded at once, even if the viewer is watching a previously recorded program.

PC video on demand software stores television programs and movies directly on the computer's hard drive. Because recordable DVD drives are readily available on today's computers, TV movie downloads are more susceptible to being pirated.

Cable and satellite companies that offer digital video recorders in their set-up boxes can have some restrictions due to industry concerns about TV movie downloads and piracy. Such systems might not allow viewers to skip ads. Similarly, recordings and TV movie downloads may also automatically expire after a set time period.

Fortunately for Americans who want to combine video on demand with satellite or cable television, as of July 1, 2007, consumers can purchase set-up boxes from third-party vendors. As a result, they are no longer restricted to buying the cable or satellite company's set-up box.

Finally, television manufacturers are starting to sell televisions with built-in digital video recorders, a development that could significantly alter the video on demand industry.

The price of digital video recorders varies, depending on the make and manufacturer of the particular device. Stand-alone video on demand systems, such as TiVo and ReplayTV, have a monthly subscription that ranges between $12.95 and $19.95. Some providers offer one-time subscription fees that are good for the life of the digital video recorder's hardware, which ranges in price from $300 to $400.

PC video on demand varies widely in price. Much of the software needed for TV movie downloads is free because it is considered to be an open source. Other PC-based software can have associated subscriptions that cost about $19.95 a year.

The cost of digital movie recorders included in cable and satellite set-up boxes is included as part of the service's monthly subscription.

Video on demand accessories include the cable necessary to connect digital video recorders to the television. Such cables may be coaxial cables, optical fiber cables or other cables designed for analogue and video input.

Cables are also required to transfer TV movie downloads from a television to a personal computer or to view image files stored on the computer through the DVR.

Racks can be used to mount digital video recorders and televisions on walls, and a universal remote control is handy for incorporating multiple electronic device controllers into one remote.

In terms of hardware, connectors that allow digital video recorders to connect to keyboards and other external devices are available. You can also purchase disk space updates to increase the recorder's storage space.