For a more convenient viewing experience—especially when watching live broadcasts—TV manufacturers have introduced a software feature that allows users to record programs for later viewing or pause live TV. This feature is known as Time Shift.
Because the ability to record broadcasts can potentially enable unauthorized copying of video content, it is not supported in all regions. For example, Time Shift is unavailable in the United States and Canada and is restricted in certain European countries. In general, if local laws prohibit this functionality—or if regulations are unclear and could expose manufacturers to legal risk—the feature may be disabled at the operating system level of the TV, making it inaccessible to users.
Protection and requirements for recording media
To prevent unauthorized copying, TV manufacturers implement several protective measures when recording programs. Modern TVs typically automatically format connected storage devices and use video encryption with a digital rights management (DRM) system. Although the encryption process is not overly complex, it effectively ensures that recorded content can only be played back on the TV on which it was recorded, restricting playback on other TVs or computers.
Most modern TVs do not impose restrictions on the storage capacity of the device, but there are often restrictions on the number of recorded files. For example, Samsung TVs can store up to 8,000 files across all folders, with a maximum of 1,000 files in each folder. Any files exceeding these limits will not be displayed.
It is also important to note that RAID drives are not supported, as the TV’s operating system cannot recognize virtual drives. Some USB drives may also experience compatibility issues, usually because the drive controller is not recognized properly.
Finally, there is a limit to the length of continuous recording. For example, Samsung TVs can record for a maximum of 12 hours at a time.
How Time Shift works
Time Shift is a feature that allows viewers to pause, rewind, and resume watching live TV so they never miss important moments. This feature is only available for over-the-air and cable TV.
When you watch a channel, the program plays in real time. Activating Time Shift—usually by pressing and holding the Stop or Pause button—records the broadcast to a connected USB drive or external hard drive. This allows viewers to rewind and watch previous content while the recording continues in the background. You can walk away from the TV and then resume watching from where you left off even after the live broadcast has ended.
Time Shift also allows users to schedule recordings in advance, providing convenient playback of specific programs at a later time.
Despite its usefulness, Time Shift is gradually losing its significance as streaming services increasingly dominate viewer habits, providing built-in pause and rewind features directly at the server level.
During a Chat on Samsung.com I was told Timeshift is disabled in the USA.