Pre-fetching content among DVRs

A processing device implementing a cloud-based digital video recorder (DVR) or providing cloud-based streaming services includes a local memory that can be used for storing content prior to providing the content to requestors. The cloud-based DVR determines an estimated probability that delivery of a particular content item will be requested within a particular period of time, and a difference between current and average loads of a second memory included in another DVR. The cloud-based DVR pre-fetches part or all of the particular content item from other DVR's memory into the local memory based on the estimated probability that delivery of the particular content item will be requested within the particular period of time, and the difference between the current and average loads on the other DVR's memory.