Cutting the cord is easier when you get to keep the old features you’ve come to appreciate. Due to popular demand, DVR has become a standard part of almost every streaming TV service. But that doesn’t mean each streaming service is created equal. One of the standouts you should consider is Sony’s PlayStation Vue DVR service. With incredible features and generous storage, PlayStation Vue represents a serious player, even if it does carry a few frustrating flaws.

Here’s everything you need to know about PlayStation Vue DVR.

PlayStation Vue DVR cost

While some streaming TV services, most notably Sling TV, charge for DVR, Sony includes it in the cost of your PlayStation Vue membership. You don’t even need to activate it; DVR is ready from the moment you log in. Membership starts at $44.99 per month, with four tiers worth of channels to choose from. You can read a complete rundown of the PlayStation Vue channels here.

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How PlayStation Vue DVR works

PlayStation Vue works like every other DVR service, with a few intriguing quirks.

You pick the show you’d like to record, hit save, and watch when you want to. Unlike other services with hard limits on how much you can save, PlayStation Vue DVR lets users record as much as they’d like. Recordings last 28 days from the time they were recorded, so you won’t be able to save a favorite episode forever. But you also shouldn’t run out of space. Some users have reported that PS Vue topped out at 500 saved shows, but the company hasn’t publicly commented on this limit.

One area in which PlayStation Vue excels is its features for watching recordings. Unlike other services, Vue users get full control over nearly all of their recordings. Standard commands like play, pause, and even fast-forwarding through commercials are included without an extra fee. The exceptions to this rule are FoX, FX, and FXX programming, which do not allow fast-forwarding during DVR playback.

Users can watch their cloud DVR recordings on any device that supports PlayStation Vue DVR. You can find a complete list of supported PlayStation Vue devices here.  

PlayStation Vue DVR limitations

Here’s where the shine of PlayStation Vue’s DVR starts to dull.

All recordings are stored for 28 days after they’re made. There are shows can’t be recorded on PS Vue DVR. However, the app will offer you an on-demand version of the episode if it’s available. Frustratingly, this restriction effects some of its biggest premium channels. Here’s a complete list of the channels that can’t be recorded with PS Vue.

Premium movie channels (note that almost everything on these channels is available via on-demand):

• HBO
• Showtime
• Cinemax

Cable channels

• ESPN Classic
• Hi-YAH!

If that feels a little over the top, you’re going to be even more annoyed with how local recording channels work on PS Vue.

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PlayStation DVR local channels

Recording local TV on PlayStation Vue is, unfortunately, a problem. Sony is still working out the rights to DVR for many local affiliates, leaving the service with hundreds of local channels locked out of DVR. It’s important to note that not every local channel is barred from DVR, just a large number of specific and important affiliates. Here’s a complete list of the local affiliates that can’t be recorded using PS Vue’s DVR.

ABC affiliates

• Albany, GA (WALB News 10 ABC)
• Albuquerque & Santa Fe, NM (KOAT 7)
• Alexandria, LA (ABC KLAX 31)
• Amarillo, TX (ABC 7)
• Anchorage, AK (ABC Alaska)
• Augusta, GA (ABC 6)
• Austin, TX (KVUE)
• Bakersfield, CA (23 ABC)
• Bangor, ME (ABC 7)
• Baton Rouge, LA (WBRZ 2)
• Bend, OR (KOHD ABC)
• Billings, MT (ABC 6)
• Binghamton, NY (Channel 34)
• Birmingham, AL (Alabama’s ABC 33/40)
• Boise, ID (KIVI 6 On Your Side)
• Bowling Green, KY (WBKO 13)
• Buffalo, NY (ABC 7)
• Butte and Bozeman, MT (ABC Montana)
• Central Coast, CA (KEYT 3)
• Central Illinois (Heart of Illinois ABC)
• Central Texas (Central Texas News Now)
• Central Wisconsin (WAOW 9)
• Charleston, SC (ABC 4)
• Charleston-Huntington, WV (WCHS-TV)
• Chattanooga, TN (NewsChannel 9)
• Cincinnati, OH (9 On Your Side)
• Clarksburg, WV (Your ABC)
• Colorado Springs, CO (NewsChannel 13 HD)
• Columbia, SC (ABC Columbia)
• Columbus, GA (WTVM 9)
• Corpus Christi, TX (KIII-TV 3)
• C’Ville, VA (ABC 16)
• Dayton, OH (ABC 22)
• Des Moines & Central Iowa (Local 5)
• Eastern Iowa, IA (KCRG-TV 9)
• Eau Claire-Lacrosse, WI (WXOW 19)
• El Paso & Las Cruces, TX (KVIA ABC-7)
• Elmira, NY (WENY ABC)
• Erie, PA (JET 24)
• Eugene, OR (KEZI 9)
• Fairbanks, AK (ABC Alaska)
• Ft. Wayne, IN (ABC 21)
• Gainesville, FL (WCJB TV20)
• Grand Junction, CO (KJCT 8)
• Great Falls, MT (ABC Montana)
• Greenwood/Greenville area, MS (WABG TV-6)
• Gulf Coast Florida (ABC 7)
• Hampton Roads, VA (ABC 13)
• Harrisonburg, VA (WHSV-TV3)
• Hattiesburg, MS (WDAM 7)
• Helena, MT (ABC Montana)
• Honolulu, HI (KITV 4)
• Huntsville-Decatur, AL (WAAY 31)
• Idaho Falls, ID (Local News 8)
• Jackson, MS (16 WAPT)
• Jackson, TN (WBBJ ABC 7)
• Jacksonville, FL (WJXX ABC 25)
• Jonesboro, AR (KAIT Region 8)
• Juneau, AK (ABC Alaska)
• Knoxville, TN (WATE 6)
• Lafayette, IN (WPBY Lafayette)
• Lafayette, LA (KATC TV 3)
• Lake Charles, LA (SWLA ABC)
• Laredo, TX (ABC Laredo)
• Las Vegas, NV (Channel 13 Action News)
• Lexington, KY (ABC 36)
• Lima, OH (ABC Lima)
• Lincoln, NE (Channel 8 KLKN-TV)
• Little Rock & Central Arkansas, AR (KATV 7)
• Louisville, KY (WHAS 11)
• Macon, GA (WGXA ABC 16)
• Madison, WI (WKOW 27)
• Memphis, TN (Local 24)
• Meridian, MS (WTOK TV 11)
• Mid-Missouri (ABC 17)
• Mississippi Gulf Coast (WLOX ABC)
• Missoula, MT (ABC Montana)
• Mobile & Florida Panhandle (WEAR ABC 3)
• Monterey County, CA (Central Coast ABC)
• Montgomery & Selma, AL (ABC Montgomery)
• North Louisiana & Southern Arkansas (ABC KAQY)
• North Mississippi (WTVA ABC)
• Northeast Wisconsin (WBAY-TV 2)
• Northern Michigan, MI (ABC 29 & 8)
• Odessa, TX (Local 2)
• Oklahoma City, OK (KOCO 5)
• Omaha, NE (KETV News Watch 7)
• Paducah/Cape Girardeau Area, KY (WSIL-TV 3)
• Palm Springs, CA (NewsChannel 3)
• Panama City, FL (WMBB News 13)
• Pee Dee Region, SC (ABC 15)
• Port Arthur & Beaumont, TX (12 News Now)
• Portland, ME (WMTW TV 8)
• Providence, RI (ABC 6)
• Rapid City, SD (KOTA Territory)
• Reno, NV/CA (KOLO 8)
• Richmond, VA (ABC 8)
• Roanoke Valley, VA (ABC 13)
• Rochester, NY (13 WHAM ABC)
• Salisbury, MD (47 ABC)
• Savannah, GA (WJCL 22)
• Shreveport, LA (KTBS 3)
• Sioux City, IA (KCAU 9)
• Sioux Falls, SD (KSFY)
• South Central Pennsylvania, PA (ABC 27)
• Southern Iowa & Northern Missouri (KTVO 3)
• Southern Minnesota & Mason City (ABC 6)
• Southwest Oregon, OR (NewsWatch 12)
• Spokane, WA (KXLY 4 News)
• Springfield, MA/NH (ABC 40)
• Springfield, MO (KSPR 33)
• Springfield-Champaign-Decatur, IL (WICS NewsChannel 20)
• Syracuse, NY (NewsChannel 9)
• The Triad, NC (ABC 45)
• Toledo, OH (13 ABC)
• Tri Cities, MI (ABC 12)
• Tri-Cities, TN (ABC Tri-Cities)
• Tri-Cities, WA/OR (KVEW ABC 12)
• Tri-State Area, IL (KHQA-ABC)
• Tucson, AZ (KGUN 9)
• Tulsa, OK (Tulsa’s Channel 8)
• Twin Falls, ID (KSAW ABC 6)
• Twin Ports, MN (WDIO 10/13 ABC)
• Tyler, TX (KLTV 7)
• Upstate South Carolina (ABC 13)
• Victoria, TX (ABC 25)
• Watertown, NY (ABC 50)
• West Palm Beach, FL (WPBF 25)
• Wichita Falls & Lawton, TX (7 News)
• Wichita Hutchinson, KS (KAKE ABC)
• Wilmington, NC (WWAY 3 ABC)
• Yuma, AZ/CA (ABC 5)

CBS affiliates

• Albany, GA (WSWG)
• Alexandria, LA (CBS Channel 2)
• Amarillo, TX (NewsChannel 10)
• Augusta, GA (WRDW 12)
• Bangor, ME (WABI 5)
• Baton Rouge, LA (WAFB9News)
• Capital District, NY (CBS6)
• Central Coast, CA (KCOY 12)
• Central Texas (KBTX News)
• Central Texas (KWTX News 10)
• Central Wisconsin (WSAW)
• Charleston, SC (Live 5 WCSC)
• Cheyenne & Western Nebraska, WY (CBS NewsChannel 5)
• Clarksburg, WV (WDTV 5 News)
• Colorado Springs, CO (KKTV 11)
• Columbia, SC (News19)
• C’Ville, VA (WCAV-TV)
• Dayton, OH (WHIO-TV)
• Des Moines & Central Iowa (KCCI)
• Dothan, AL (WTVY-TV)
• Eastern Iowa, IA (CBS 2)
• El Paso & Las Cruces, TX (CBS4)
• Elmira, NY (WENY CBS)
• Erie, PA (WSEE)
• Fairbanks, AK (KXDF)
• Fargo, ND (Valley News Live)
• Gulf Coast Florida (WINK-TV)
• Harlingen & South Texas (CBS4)
• Harrisonburg, VA (The V)
• Honolulu, HI (HAWAII NEWS NOW: KGMB)
• Idaho Falls, ID (KIDK 3)
• Jackson, TN (WBBJ CBS 7)
• Knoxville, TN (Local 8 news)
• Lake Champlain Region, VT (WCAX)
• Laredo, TX (CBS Laredo)
• Lexington, KY (Mountain News WYMT)
• Lexington, KY (WKYT)
• Lincoln, NE (10/11 NOW)
• Little Rock & Central Arkansas, AR (THV11)
• Louisville, KY (CBS Louisville)
• Macon, GA (13WMAZ)
• Mississippi Gulf Coast (WLOX CBS 13)
• Monterey County, CA (KION News Channel 5)
• Montgomery & Selma, AL (CBS 8)
• North Louisiana & Southern Arkansas (KNOE 8 News)
• North Platte, NE (KNPL)
• Northern Michigan, MI (9&10 News)
• Odessa, TX (CBS 7)
• Oklahoma City, OK (News 9)
• Omaha, NE (KMTV-TV)
• Paducah/Cape Girardeau Area, KY (KFVS12)
• Palm Springs, CA (CBS Local 2)
• Panama City, FL (Local 18 News)
• Parkersburg, WV (The Newscenter)
• Portland, ME (CBS 13)
• Presque Isle, ME (WAGM)
• Reno, NV/CA (KTVN)
• Roanoke Valley, VA (WDBJ 7)
• Rockford, IL (23 WIFR)
• Salisbury, MD (WBOC 16)
• Savannah, GA (WTOC 11)
• Shreveport, LA (KSLA News 12)
• South Bend, Elkhart, IN (WSBT 22)
• Spokane, WA (KREM2)
• Springfield, MA/NH (WSHM CBS 3)
• Tallahassee, FL (WCTV)
• Texoma, TX (CBS 12)
• Toledo, OH (WTOL 11)
• Topeka, KS (13 WIBW)
• Tri Cities, MI (WNEM TV 5)
• Tucson, AZ (CBS 13)
• Tulsa, OK (News On 6)
• Twin Falls, ID (KMVT 11)
• Tyler, TX (CBS 19)
• Wichita Falls & Lawton, TX (Newschannel 6)
• Wichita Hutchinson, KS (KWCH 12)

Fox affiliates

• Albany, GA (FOX 31)
• Altoona & State College, PA (FOX 8)
• Anchorage, AK (FOX 4)
• Augusta, GA (WFXG FOX 54)
• Bakersfield, CA (FOX 58)
• Bangor, ME (FOX 22)
• Bend, OR (FOX Central Oregon)
• Binghamton, NY (FOX 40)
• Birmingham, AL (WBRC FOX 6)
• Boise, ID (FOX 9)
• Butte and Bozeman, MT (FOX Montana)
• Central Coast, CA (FOX 11)
• Central Connecticut (FOX 61)
• Central Illinois (WYZZ)
• Central Wyoming (Wyoming’s FOX TV)
• Charleston, SC (FOX 24)
• Charleston-Huntington, WV (FOX 11)
• Chattanooga, TN (FOX Chattanooga)
• Cheyenne & Western Nebraska, WY (FOX 27)
• Coastal North Carolina (FOX Eastern Carolina)
• Columbia, SC (WACH FOX 57)
• Columbus, GA (FOX 54)
• Corpus Christi, TX (KSCC FOX 38)
• Dayton, OH (FOX 45)
• Denver, CO (FOX 31)
• Des Moines & Central Iowa (FOX 17)
• Dothan, AL (FOX 34)
• Eastern Iowa, IA (KFXA FOX 28)
• El Paso & Las Cruces, TX (KFOX 14)
• Emerald City; Seattle, WA (Q13 FOX)
• Eugene, OR (Oregon’s FOX)
• Eureka, CA (FOX 28)
• Evansville, IN (FOX 44)
• Fairbanks, AK (FOX Fairbanks)
• Fargo, ND (KVRR)
• Four State Area, MO/KS/OK (FOX 14)
• Fresno, CA (FOX 26)
• Ft. Wayne, IN (FOX 55 Fort Wayne)
• Great Falls, MT (FOX Montana)
• Greenwood/Greenville area, MS (Delta FOX 10)
• Gulf Coast Florida (FOX 4)
• Harlingen & South Texas (The Valley’s FOX KFXV-TV)
• Hattiesburg, MS (My FOX 23)
• Helena, MT (FOX Montana)
• Idaho Falls, ID (FOX 5)
• Indianapolis, IN (FOX 59)
• Jackson, MS (FOX 40)
• Jonesboro, AR (Northeast Arkansas FOX)
• Juneau, AK (FOX Juneau)
• Kansas City, MO (FOX 4 Kansas City)
• Knoxville, TN (FOX 43)
• Lafayette, IN (FOX 16)
• Lafayette, LA (FOX 15)
• Lake Charles, LA (KVHP FOX 29)
• Lansing, MI (FOX 47)
• Laredo, TX (FOX Laredo)
• Las Vegas, NV (FOX 5)
• Lexington, KY (FOX 56)
• Lima, OH (FOX Lima)
• Lincoln, NE (FOX Nebraska, KFXL)
• Louisville, KY (WDRB)
• Macon, GA (WGXA FOX 24)
• Madison, WI (FOX 47)
• Memphis, TN (FOX 13)
• Meridian, MS (FOX 30)
• Mid-Missouri (FOX 22)
• Midwest Texas (KXVA FOX 15)
• Milwaukee, WI (FOX 6 Milwaukee)
• Mississippi Gulf Coast (WXXV FOX 25)
• Missoula, MT (FOX Montana)
• Mobile & Florida Panhandle (FOX10)
• Monterey County, CA (KCBA FOX 35)
• North Mississippi (WLOV FOX)
• Northeast Ohio (FOX 8)
• Northern California (FOX 20)
• Oklahoma City, OK (FOX 25)
• Omaha, NE (FOX 42)
• Paducah/Cape Girardeau Area, KY (FOX 23)
• Palm Springs, CA (FOX 11)
• Panama City, FL (FOX 28)
• Pee Dee Region, SC (FXB FOX TV)
• Port Arthur & Beaumont, TX (FOX 4 Beaumont)
• Portland, ME (FOX 23)
• Raleigh-Durham, NC (FOX 50)
• Reno, NV/CA (FOX 11)
• Richmond, VA (FOX Richmond)
• Rochester, NY (FOX Rochester)
• Sacramento, CA (FOX 40)
• Salisbury, MD (FOX21 Delmarva)
• Salt Lake City, UT (FOX 13)
• San Angelo, TX (KIDY 10, FOX San Angelo)
• San Diego, CA (FOX 5 San Diego)
• Savannah, GA (FOX 28)
• Scranton & Wilkes Barre, PA (FOX 56)
• Sioux City, IA (KPTH FOX 44)
• Sioux Falls, SD (FOX 7)
• South Bend, Elkhart, IN (FOX Michiana)
• South Central Pennsylvania, PA (FOX 43)
• Southern Iowa & Northern Missouri (KYOU FOX 15)
• Southern Minnesota & Mason City (FOX 47)
• Southwest Oregon (FOX 26)
• Spokane, WA (FOX 28)
• Springfield, MA/NH (FOX 6)
• Springfield, MO (FOX 5)
• Springfield-Champaign-Decatur, IL (FOX 55/27 Illinois)
• St. Joseph, MO (FOX 26 KNPN)
• Tallahassee, FL (FOX 49)
• Terre Haute, IN (WTHI 10)
• The Triad, NC (FOX8)
• Toledo, OH (FOX 36)
• Tri Cities, MI (FOX 66)
• Tri-Cities, TN (FOX Tri-Cities)
• Tri-Cities, WA/OR (FOX 41)
• Tri-State Area, IL (WGEM FOX)
• Tucson, AZ (FOX 11)
• Tulsa, OK (KOKI FOX 23 Tulsa)
• Twin Ports, MN (FOX 21)
• Upstate South Carolina (FOX Carolina)Victoria, TX (FOX 19)
• West Michigan, MI (FOX 17)
• West Palm Beach, FL (FOX 29)
• Wheeling, WV (FOX 9)
• Wichita Hutchinson, KS (FOX Kansas)
• Wilmington, NC (FOX Wilmington)
• Yuma, AZ/CA (FOX 9)

NBC affiliates

• Albany, GA (WALB)
• Albuquerque & Santa Fe, NM (KOB/KOBF)
• Alexandria, LA (KALB)
• Altoona & State College, PA (WJAC-TV)
• Anchorage, AK (KTUU)
• Augusta, GA (WAGT)
• Bangor, ME (WLBZ)
• Bend, OR (KTVZ)
• Billings, MT (KULR)
• Birmingham, AL (WVTM)
• Boise, ID (KTVB)
• Butte and Bozeman, MT (KTVM)
• Capital District, NY (WNYT)
• Central Illinois (WEEK)
• Central Texas (KCEN)
• Central Wisconsin (WJFW)
• Central Wyoming (KCWY)
• Charleston-Huntington, WV (WSAZ)
• Chattanooga, TN (WRCB)
• Cheyenne & Western Nebraska, WY (KCHY)
• Coastal North Carolina (WITN)
• Columbia, SC (WIS)
• Columbus, GA (WLTZ)
• Dothan, AL (WRGX)
• Eastern West Virginia (WVVA)
• Eau Claire-Lacrosse, WI (WEAU)
• Erie, PA (WICU)
• Eugene, OR (KMTR)
• Eureka, CA (KIEM)
• Evansville, IN (WFIE)
• Fairbanks, AK (KTVF)
• Fargo, ND (KVLY)
• Ft. Wayne, IN (WPTA)
• Gainesville, FL (WNBW)
• Grand Junction, CO (KKCO)
• Gulf Coast Florida (WBBH)
• Hattiesburg, MS (WDAM)
• Honolulu, HI (KHNL)
• Huntsville-Decatur, AL (WAFF)
• Jackson, MS (WLBT)
• Jackson, TN (WNBJ)
• Jonesboro, AR (KAIT)
• Knoxville, TN (WBIR)
• Lafayette, IN (WPBI)
• Lake Champlain Region, VT (WPTZ)
• Lake Charles, LA (KPLC)
• Lansing, MI (WILX)
• Laredo, TX (KGNS)
• Las Vegas, NV (KSNV)
• Lima, OH (WLIO)
• Lincoln, NE (KSNB)
• Louisville, KY (WAVE)
• Lubbock, TX (KCBD)
• Madison, WI (WMTV)
• Marquette, MI (WLUC)
• Memphis, TN (WMC)
• Meridian, MS (WGBC)
• Minot-Bismarck Area, ND (KFYR)
• Mississippi Gulf Coast (WXXV)
• Missoula, MT (KECI)
• Mobile & Florida Panhandle (WPMI)
• Mohawk Valley, NY (WKTV)
• Monterey County, CA (KSBW)
• Montgomery & Selma, AL (WSFA)
• North Mississippi (WTVA)
• North Platte, NE (KNOP)
• Northern California (KNVN)
• Northern Michigan, MI (WPBN-TV)
• Odessa, TX (KWES)
• Omaha, NE (WOWT)
• Paducah/Cape Girardeau Area, KY (WPSD)
• Palm Springs, CA (KMIR)
• Panama City, FL (WJHG)
• Parkersburg, WV (WTAP)
• Pee Dee Region, SC (WMBF)
• Port Arthur & Beaumont, TX (KJAC)
• Portland, ME (WCSH)
• Providence, RI (WJAR)
• Quad Cities, IA (KWQC)
• Rapid City, SD (KNBN)
• Reno, NV/CA (KRNV)
• Richmond, VA (WWBT)
• Roanoke Valley, VA (WSLS)
• Rochester, NY (WHEC)
• Rockford, IL (WREX)
• Salisbury, MD (WRDE)
• Sioux City, IA (KTIV)
• South Bend, Elkhart, IN (WNDU)
• South Central Pennsylvania, PA (WGAL)
• Southern Minnesota & Mason City (KTTC)
• Southwest Oregon, OR (KOBI)
• Spokane, WA (KHQ)
• Springfield, MO (KYTV)
• Springfield-Champaign-Decatur, IL (WAND)
• St. Joseph, MO (KNPG)
• Syracuse, NY (WSTM-TV)
• Tallahassee, FL (WTWC-TV)
• The Triad, NC (WXII)
• Toledo, OH (WNWO-TV)
• Tri Cities, MI (WEYI)
• Tri-Cities, TN (WCYB)
• Tri-Cities, WA/OR (KNDO)
• Tri-State Area, IL (WGEM)
• Tulsa, OK (KJRH)
• Twin Falls, ID (KTFT)
• Twin Ports, MN (KBJR)
• Upstate South Carolina (WYFF)
• Watertown, NY (WVNC)
• West Palm Beach, FL (WPTV)
• Wheeling, WV (WTOV-TV)
• Wilmington, NC (WECT)
• Zanesville, OH (WHIZ)

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New to cord-cutting? Here are our picks for the best movie streaming sites of 2018 and free live TV apps and channels. If you’re looking for a specific channel, here’s how to watch HBO, Showtime, Starz, Sundance TV, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU, Willow, AMC, FX, Fox News, Freeform, MSNBC, CNN, CNBC, FS1, TBS, TNT, Tennis Channel, Golf Channel, Syfy, HGTV, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, Bravo, Lifetime, Discovery, PBS, the CW, BBC, CSPAN, NBA TV, MTV, Comedy Central, Food Network, TLC, HLN, A&E, Animal Planet, National Geographic, the Weather Channel, the History Channel, and NFL RedZone without cable, as well as free movies on YouTube. If you’re on the move, here’s how to watch Fox Sports Go and live stream NBC Sports.

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