Systems and methods for recording programs of lesser interest when convenient

1. A method for recording a program, comprising:

determining whether space is needed to record a first program on a recording device;

identifying a recorded program or partial program on the recording device having a deletion priority that permits deleting the recorded program or partial program and recording a future transmission of the program or partial program;

deleting the identified recorded program or partial program to free space on the recording device for the first program;

scheduling a future transmission of the identified recorded program or partial program for recording; and

recording the first program at least partially in the space freed by deleting the identified recorded program or partial program.

2. The method of 1 further comprising:

identifying a recorded program or partial program that has been viewed and that doesn't have a deletion priority that permits deleting the recorded program or partial program and recording a future transmission of the program or partial program;

deleting the identified previously viewed recorded program or partial program; and

scheduling a future transmission of the identified previously viewed recorded program or partial program for recording.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein scheduling a future transmission of the identified program or partial program for recording further comprises setting a user defined recording priority for recording the future transmission of the program or partial program.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

identifying and deleting comprises identifying and deleting as many recorded programs and partial programs having a deletion priority that permits deleting the recorded programs and partial programs and recording future transmissions as necessary to free sufficient space to record the first program; and

recording the first program comprises recording the first program in its entirety in the space freed by deleting all of the programs and partial programs necessary for the sufficient space.

5. A system for recording a program, comprising:

a recording device; and

control circuitry configured to:

determine whether space is needed to record a first program on a recording device;

identify a recorded program or partial program on the recording device having a deletion priority that permits deleting the recorded program or partial program and recording a future transmission of the program or partial program;

delete the identified recorded program or partial program to free space on the recording device for the first program;

schedule a future transmission of the identified recorded program or partial program for recording; and

record the first program at least partially in the space freed by deleting the identified recorded program or partial program.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

identify a recorded program or partial program that has been viewed and that doesn't have a deletion priority that permits deleting the recorded program or partial program and recording a future transmission of the program or partial program;

delete the identified previously viewed recorded program or partial program; and

schedule a future transmission of the identified previously viewed recorded program or partial program for recording.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to set a user defined recording priority for recording the future transmission of the program or partial program.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

identify and delete as many recorded programs and partial programs having a deletion priority that permits deleting the recorded programs and partial programs and recording future transmissions as necessary to free sufficient space to record the first program; and

record the first program in its entirety in the space freed by deleting all of the programs and partial programs necessary for the sufficient space.