A method of recording a media content transmitted across a network, during a scheduled transmission period of the media content, the network comprising an upstream media server and a hierarchical arrangement of recording devices (3 0 3 1, 3 2, 3 n) capable of recording the transmitted media content, wherein the media content is transmitted from the upstream media content server to a hierarchically downstream end-user recording device (3 0) wherein the method comprises: a first step, in which the downstream end-user recording device (3 0) receives a record instruction (8 0) identifying the media content and instructing the downstream end-user recording device (3 0) to record the media content during the scheduled transmission period, a second step, in which: a recording controller of the downstream end-user recording device (3 0) determines at or before the start time (t 0) of the scheduled transmission period, and subsequently during the recording operation, a recording status parameter of said downstream end-user recording device (3 0) wherein the recording status parameter represents current conditions of the downstream end-user recording device (3 0); the downstream end-user recording device (3 0) generates, in dependence on the recording status parameter, a first upstream record instruction (8 1) identifying a first part (5 1) of the transmission period to be recorded hierarchically upstream of the downstream end-user recording device; the downstream end-user recording device (3 0) sends the first upstream record instruction (8 1) to a first hierarchically upstream recording device (3 1) of the downstream end-user recording device, wherein the first upstream record instruction (8 1) comprises identification information of the first part (5 1) of the transmission period and an instruction to the first upstream recording device (3 1) to record the transmitted media content during the first part (5 1) of the transmission period; and the current conditions represented by the recording status parameter comprise a recording storage availability of the end-user recording device (3 0). a first step, in which the downstream end-user recording device (3 0) receives a record instruction (8 0) identifying the media content and instructing the downstream end-user recording device (3 0) to record the media content during the scheduled transmission period, a second step, in which: a recording controller of the downstream end-user recording device (3 0) determines at or before the start time (t 0) of the scheduled transmission period, and subsequently during the recording operation, a recording status parameter of said downstream end-user recording device (3 0) wherein the recording status parameter represents current conditions of the downstream end-user recording device (3 0); the downstream end-user recording device (3 0) generates, in dependence on the recording status parameter, a first upstream record instruction (8 1) identifying a first part (5 1) of the transmission period to be recorded hierarchically upstream of the downstream end-user recording device; the downstream end-user recording device (3 0) sends the first upstream record instruction (8 1) to a first hierarchically upstream recording device (3 1) of the downstream end-user recording device, wherein the first upstream record instruction (8 1) comprises identification information of the first part (5 1) of the transmission period and an instruction to the first upstream recording device (3 1) to record the transmitted media content during the first part (5 1) of the transmission period; and the current conditions represented by the recording status parameter comprise a recording storage availability of the end-user recording device (3 0). a recording controller of the downstream end-user recording device (3 0) determines at or before the start time (t 0) of the scheduled transmission period, and subsequently during the recording operation, a recording status parameter of said downstream end-user recording device (3 0) wherein the recording status parameter represents current conditions of the downstream end-user recording device (3 0); the downstream end-user recording device (3 0) generates, in dependence on the recording status parameter, a first upstream record instruction (8 1) identifying a first part (5 1) of the transmission period to be recorded hierarchically upstream of the downstream end-user recording device; the downstream end-user recording device (3 0) sends the first upstream record instruction (8 1) to a first hierarchically upstream recording device (3 1) of the downstream end-user recording device, wherein the first upstream record instruction (8 1) comprises identification information of the first part (5 1) of the transmission period and an instruction to the first upstream recording device (3 1) to record the transmitted media content during the first part (5 1) of the transmission period; and the current conditions represented by the recording status parameter comprise a recording storage availability of the end-user recording device (3 0).