Automatic DVR conflict resolution

A device receives user input to schedule a program to record at a future time and recording conflict resolution characteristics including at least one of: an indication whether the user wishes to watch the program soon after the program begins or whether the user wishes to watch the program a period of time after the program begins, an indication whether the user cares about viewing only the end of the program or the entire program, or an indication whether, if the program is to be recorded as part of a series, the series needs to be recorded sequentially. The device identifies a conflict in the scheduling of the recording of the program and one or more other programs, and resolves the identified conflict based on one or more of the recording conflict resolution characteristics.