How to Record TV Channels & TV Shows with/Without DVR? (3 Ways)

What if you see a show you like on TV and want to record TV channels as a favorite? Does the TV offer the option to record and save the show? Most TVs offer a recording option that allows you to save your favorite sports games, news, TV shows, or live broadcasts so that you can watch them again at your leisure.

So how to record TV channels? Conventionally, a DVR is a must-have tool. But what if you don’t have a DVR? Worry not, in this blog, you can find 3 useful methods to record live streaming TV channels easily, including DVR, screen recorder, and PVR. Just read on to learn more. 

Why Need to Record TV Channels? 

There are many reasons that you need to record TV channels. Here are the most often seen scenarios for recording TV channels.

Record live streaming TV channels: NBA games, World Cups, Emmys, Super Bowls, etc. can only be watched in real-time. If you are not available at the time, then you need to record TV channels for future playback. 

Save TV shows for offline playback: Sometimes you want to record TV shows or channels to keep your favorite shows forever. So you can access it even if you cancel the subscription.

Avoid streaming issues: While streaming TV channels is convenient, there might be issues like buffering, ads, etc. that can spoil your viewing experience. You can record TV channels to watch them offline to avoid these issues.

So how to record TV channels? The next part is the ultimate guide. Just keep reading!

How to Record TV Channels in 3 Ways

Now let’s delve into the specific guides to TV channel recording. Before looking into the options, just have a look at a brief comparison to learn more. 

Way 1. Record TV Channels with DVR 

How to record streaming TV on your smart TV devices? A DVR (Digital Video Recorder) can be a handy choice. If you have subscribed to popular TV streaming services, for instance, YouTube, Roku, etc., you can use the cloud DVR services to record TV channels. Cloud DVR is a service that allows you to schedule the recording of airing programs. It will store the recordings in a streaming channel cloud data center and play them back at a later time convenient to you.

Pros: 

• Huge or unlimited storage space
• No simultaneous recording limits
• Free or cheap pricing

Cons: 

• Limited storage period
• No video output customizations

Cost: Most streaming services offer free cloud DVR services for limited hours. You might need to pay extra fees if you require more hours for recording 

How to record TV channels with DVR(Take YouTube TV as an example): 

Step 1. Launch YouTube TV on your smart TVs. 

Step 2. Locate the show you want to record.

Step 3. Select the show and press the Plus icon or the Add to library button to record TV channels. 

Way 2. Record Live Streaming TV Channels with Screen Recorder on PC 

However, not all TV channels come with DVR capabilities. You can’t record streaming TV shows on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video on smart TVs with DVR. So how to screen record Amazon Prime and other streaming services without DVR? You can just stream the movies and shows on your computers and record them with a screen recorder.

Here iTop Screen Recorder is your No.1 choice, which can help you record any TV channel on PC without DVR. You can record your favorite shows with the best output quality and save them forever for offline playback. Want to learn more? Just have a look at its main features.

The Main Features of iTop Screen Recorder

• Record TV Channels for Free: With iTop Screen Recorder, you can record any TV channel, or online videos, and capture your online activity at 0 costs. It’s a 100% free screen recorder that allows you to screen record without hidden fees.  
• Record TV Channels with Original Quality: Want to record TV channels with the best output quality? iTop Screen Recorder is your go-to choice. You can record your favorite movies and TV shows in 1080p/4K quality, with an enhanced mode to export videos to flawlessly record streaming channels without a black screen. 
• Record TV Channels with No Lag: With low CPU consumption, iTop Screen Recorder is the best screen recorder Windows 10 that provides exceptionally smooth recording. You can record TV channels and online gaming without lags & dropped frames.
• Long-term Storage of Recorded TV Videos: While DVR has limited storage and might delete your recordings automatically, the videos recorded with iTop Screen Recorder stay on your computers forever as long as you have enough storage. 
• Record TV Videos as MP4/AVI/MOV etc.: Supporting multiple output formats, including MP4, AVI, MKV, MOV, and more, iTop Screen Recorder lets you record TV channels to avoid potential incompatibility issues. 

Now you have learned about the capabilities of iTop Screen Recorder. So how does it work? Just check out the following steps. 

Step 1. Free download and iTop Screen Recorder on your PC.

Step 2. Click on the Screen tab. Choose Full Screen if you want to record TV channels with better visuals. Click on the “REC” button to start recording. 

Step 3. Click on the Red Stop icon to stop recording. Go to Files > Video and you can find the recorded TV channels here. 

That’s it. You can also record part of screen and record with a fixed aspect ratio as you see fit. 

Way 3. Record TV Channel UK with PVR 

With iTop Screen Recorder, you can record any TV channel without a DVR. For those who want to know how to screen record protected videos, iTop Screen Recorder is also the best choice. So what if you want to record one channel while watching others? A PVR device is what you need, which allows you to record TV channels easily.

A PVR(Personal Video Recorder) is like the classic VCR, which is a device that allows you to record TV channels with digital tuners. It can record multiple shows and channels at the same time and store them on the hard drive of your set-top box for later playback. For instance, you can use a Sky+ HD box to record TV Channel UK or a Freeview PVR to record TV Brazil channel programs. 

Pros:

• Record multiple programs simultaneously
• Up to 4K video resolution
• Limited storage 

Cons: 

• Some models can be expensive
• For smart TVs only

Cost: $35 - $200 depending on the brand 

How to record TV channels with PVR(Take Sky+ Box as an example):

Step 1. Connect your Sky+ Box with your smart TV.

Step 2. Launch your smart TV, navigate to the program you want to record in your TV Guide, and press Record.

Step 3. Press the Sky/Home button on the remote, then scroll to Recordings to find the recorded TV channels. 

FAQs about How to Record TV Channels 

Q1: Will Recorded TV Shows Using DVR be Cleaned Automatically?

A1: Yes. Some cloud DVR services allow you to store recordings for a limited period or make certain hours of recordings. They will automatically remove the oldest recording when the storage is not enough. 

Q2: What If My TV Doesn’t Have Recording Capabilities?

A2: You can use a PVR device to record TV channels or screen record them on your computers with a screen recorder like iTop Screen Recorder, which also allows you to deal with how to record on Firestick.

Q3: Can I Record Multiple TV Channels at Once?

A3: Yes. Cloud DVR services and PVR allow you to record multiple TV programs simultaneously. 

The Bottom Line

How to record TV channels? Now you know the 3 useful methods - DVR services, screen recorders, and PVR devices. While DVR and PVR are perfect for recording on smart TVs, they can record limited TV channels only. Hence, iTop Screen Recorder is the best one that comes in handy, which allows you to record TV channels, online videos, gaming, meetings, and all your computer activities easily for free. What are you waiting for? Just get it and record your favorite shows now.