A method for recording television content, the method comprising: receiving at a digital video recorder a first request to record a television program transmitted over a television distribution system; identifying an originator of the first request, wherein the originator is an originating user or an originating device operated by an originating user; receiving and recording the television program into a file at the digital video recorder; if an originating user of the first request is identified, associating information identifying the originating user with the file at the digital video recorder; otherwise, if an originating device of the first request is identified, determining whether the originating device is associated with an originating user; if the originating device is associated with an originating user, associating originating information identifying the originating user with the file at the digital video recorder; otherwise, if the originating device is not associated with an originating user, associating information identifying the originating device with the file at the digital video recorder; receiving through the digital video recorder a second request to view the identifying information associated with the file; and outputting the identifying information responsive to the second request, for presentation by a presentation device; receiving at the digital video recorder a third request to register an interest in the television program by a second user other than the originating user and additionally associating information identifying the second user with the file at the digital video recorder; receiving a fourth request at the digital video recorder to delete the file; determining whether the originator and second user have viewed the file; and blocking deletion of the file unless both the originator and second user have viewed the file, and unblocking deletion of the file to allow the file to be deleted if they have both viewed the file. receiving at a digital video recorder a first request to record a television program transmitted over a television distribution system; identifying an originator of the first request, wherein the originator is an originating user or an originating device operated by an originating user; receiving and recording the television program into a file at the digital video recorder; if an originating user of the first request is identified, associating information identifying the originating user with the file at the digital video recorder; otherwise, if an originating device of the first request is identified, determining whether the originating device is associated with an originating user; if the originating device is associated with an originating user, associating originating information identifying the originating user with the file at the digital video recorder; otherwise, if the originating device is not associated with an originating user, associating information identifying the originating device with the file at the digital video recorder; receiving through the digital video recorder a second request to view the identifying information associated with the file; and outputting the identifying information responsive to the second request, for presentation by a presentation device; receiving at the digital video recorder a third request to register an interest in the television program by a second user other than the originating user and additionally associating information identifying the second user with the file at the digital video recorder; receiving a fourth request at the digital video recorder to delete the file; determining whether the originator and second user have viewed the file; and blocking deletion of the file unless both the originator and second user have viewed the file, and unblocking deletion of the file to allow the file to be deleted if they have both viewed the file.