Techniques for generating customized rating systems for use in a DVR are described. According to one technique, a user submits a rating system definition that comprises two or more different ratings of the user's choosing. The rating system definition is stored. The rating system definition defines a customized ratings system. That system's creator and other users may then associate various entities, such as channels, series, and episodes, with ratings from the customized rating system. DVRs may use these associations between entities and ratings for various purposes. For example, DVRs may use these associations to allow a user to search for entities that satisfy specified rating criteria. For another example, DVRs may use these associations to restricting which entities and information about those entities can be displayed or recorded when the DVR is in a restricted mode of operation. Customized rating systems may be modified by multiple users in collaboration.