Automated personal video recording comprising scheduling a show for a user
having allocated storage space on a personal video recorder ("PVR"),
wherein the show has a storage space requirement that exceeds the user's
free space, and the PVR is coupled for data communications to a storage
space provider; and transmitting to the storage space provider an order
to record the show through the storage space provider in storage space on
a remote PVR that is coupled for data communications to the storage space
provider. Receiving in a storage space provider from a personal video
recorder ("PVR") an order to record a show on a remote PVR, the order
comprising an identification of a show and a schedule for recording the
show; selecting a remote PVR; and recording the show, in dependence upon
the show identification and the schedule for recording the show, in
storage space on the selected remote PVR.