A television receiver includes control circuitry and a DVR. The control circuitry is configured to receive a request to record first and second media programs to the DVR. The control circuitry determines if there is a scheduling conflict between the first and second media programs. If there is a scheduling conflict the control circuitry counts the number of times that each of the first and second media programs will air in a given time period and assigns a higher recording priority to the media program that will air fewer times.