How to Record TV Shows on DVD Recorder Easily in 2025

Although DVD recorder for TV shows or movie capturing was in trend a couple of years before, the approach is now obsolete and is gradually fading away by the time. However, assuming that the DVD recorders got extinct would be a bit harsh judgment on both venders and devices as some regions of the globe still have consumers who own these recorders or reach out to buy them if they don’t. Their approach depends on their interests or line of business.

If you are among those people, the following sections would be of great help to you. As they discuss the challenges, you may face when you record TV to DVD, like what caused the deflation in the market of the DVD recorders, how to record TV shows to DVD and the best alternative you can go for in the absence of a DVD recording device.

• Part 1. What Is the Development Status to DVD Recorders
• Part 2. Easy Steps to Record TV Programs on DVD
• Part 3. How to Record TV Shows with the Alternative to DVD Recorder

Part 1: What Is the Development Status to DVD Recorders

As discussed above, DVD recorders are now almost outdated, and the new technologies, devices, and services have taken all over the formers’ market. Some of the major reasons for the deterioration in the demand and use of DVD recorders include:

Media limitation:

Although there are different types of recordable DVDs present in the market, they still have limited storage capacity. Also, once the media on a DVD is burned and the disc is finalized, no data can be added, edited, or removed from it whatsoever.

Advanced devices:

Most people now prefer using DVRs with USB drives or HDDs to record TV shows. These devices can be connected directly to the televisions and can store a significantly large amount of data on them. Furthermore, the stored data can be offloaded on to a different drive to make room for more recordings.

Streaming services and copyright content:

Many people even started avoiding DVRs or USB storage disks these days because of the new trend of streaming video services that offer movies and shows on demand. Also, the copyright laws are now stricter, and therefore it is now comparatively more challenging to record the shows, even for personal collection.

Part 2: Easy Steps to Record TV Programs on DVD

Assuming that you have a DVD recorder, its remote control, and a TV with remote control and OTA signal, and considering that the TV and DVD recorder are properly connected to each other, you can follow the steps given below to record TV to DVD:

Step 1: DVD setup.

Use the DVD remote control to select the Input Select option and then select AV 1 or AV 2 depending on the jacks of the DVD recorder you connected the cables to.

Step 2: TV setup.

Scan and tune in to the channel you want to record, use the TV remote control to choose the source input with the help of TV/Video, Input, Game, etc. button. Note: Although the model of your TV and the name of the button may vary, the function remains the same. If you are new to the field, you may need to refer to the television owner’s manual guide for further details.

Step 3: Record and finalize.

Insert a blank DVD in the recorder, when prompted, initialize the disc to prepare it for recording, and then press the Rec. (or Record) button on the remote control of the DVD recorder to record TV shows to DVD. Once you are done recording, press the Menu button on the DVD recorder’s remote control. Then go to Disc Settings (or Disc Menu in some models), select Disc Finalize, and select OK on the confirmation box that appears to finalize the disc that can be played on any other DVD player. Note: An unfinalized DVD can be performed only on the recorder. However, once completed, no data can be written or edited on the DVD, but it can be played on any other player.

Part 3: How to Record TV Shows with the Alternative to DVD Recorder

Considering that getting the perfect DVD recorder for TV can cost you an arm and a leg, it’s best to record TV shows directly on your computer. So, if your computer has a TV tuner card, install Wondershare UniConverter and enjoy a fun and straightforward platform to capture high-quality TV shows. Users can record TV shows in full screen mode or select a specific part of the TV show. When recording the video, you can talk to the viewers through voice narrations and Picture in Picture (PIP) effects. You can also add annotations like shapes, texts, arrows, and more. Plus, Wondershare UniConverter lets users edit the recorded videos by converting, trimming, cropping, rotating, and more.

Wondershare UniConverter – Best DVD Recorder for TV

Wondershare UniConverter - Best Video Converter for Mac/Windows

• Record TV shows in full-screen or custom mode with high-quality.
• Apply voice narrations through a microphone and PIP effect using a Facecam.
• Add annotations like texts, shapes, arrows, lines, and more when recording a TV show.
• Edit the recorded TV show by trimming, cropping, applying effects, adding subtitles, etc.
• Convert videos to MP4, FLV, AVI, VOB, WebM, MTS, DV, and other video/audio formats.
• Burn the recorded video to DVD/Blu-ray disc with free menu templates.
• Best TV show recorder for Win 10/8/7 & Mac OS X 10.9+.

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Below are the steps to record TV shows on Mac/Win using Wondershare UniConverter:

Step 1Open the Screen Recorder function.

Install and run Wondershare UniConverter on your computer, then click the Screen Recorder tab. After that, select and open the Screen Recorder tool.

Step 2Launch the TV show and choose a capture area.

Open the TV show, then select a specific section of the screen that you wish to record. To do that, click the Recording Mode function, then drag the cropper to fit the screen. Alternatively, open the drop-down menu below the Recording Mode tool, then choose Custom or Full Screen. If you opt for the Custom mode, enter the frame dimensions, then tap Lock Aspect Ratio.

Step 3Configure the recording preferences and settings.

Now open the System Audio menu and select a device for recording the sounds generated by your computer. After that, choose a mic under the Microphone menu for recording voice narrations. You can also select a Facecam for adding a video overlay or PIP effect under the Webcam section.

It doesn’t end there. Click the Settings menu (gear-like icon), then set the target format as MP4, FLV, or AVI. You can also customize the frame rate, folder path, and output quality.

Step 4Start recording the TV show.

Click REC to begin capturing the TV show on your Mac/Win computer. Interestingly, you can launch the taskbar and click the Annotations button to add drawings, arrows, shapes, and texts. You can also take screenshots, mute voice narrations, disable the PIP effect, and so on. Finally, press the Stop button to finish recording. Use the DVD Burner tool to edit and save your recorded video on a DVD/Blu-ray disc.

Conclusion

Even though you can use a DVD recorder for TV capturing, the devices are almost obsolete. Also, if you find one, the cost of the entire setup is way higher as compared with the other alternatives that are available in the market today. One such substitute that is considered the easiest one and is admired by the majority of users across the globe is Wondershare UniConverter. It is not only a screen recorder but is also a full-fledged post-production tool that can be used for basic to advanced level media editing and manipulations for all purposes.