Is there a way to turn this option off? 
Probably, but why? Tivo only records suggestions if you have space and nothing else is scheduled to record and they are the first to be deleted if space is needed.
If you mean the option to actually record the suggestions that Tivo makes, then yes, there is definitely a way to do it. It’s in some menu somewhere. I did it within the first week of turning on my Tivo. I didn’t like to have my “Now Playing” list cluttered with a bunch of stuff I wasn’t interested in. It made it too hard to find MY stuff.
Ed
Hunh. My Tivo has my recorded programs on the top of the list, from newest to oldest. And then any remaining space it records programs it thinks I’ll enjoy based on what I watch and what I mark with the thumbs up/down option. All those programs are at the bottom of my list and easy to tell apart from what I asked it to record in the first place.
It’s a great feature, and frequently records other shows I enjoy watching. Especially if you actually use the thumbs up/down features.
Why turn off a feature that is so useful and has no down side?
Yeah, I guess it can be useful. But as it turns out, my wife and I have never used the thumb buttons, and we keep the disk completely full with the programs we do choose to record. We don’t have time to watch everything we ask Tivo to record as it is. Tons of stuff gets deleted to make room for more stuff before we even see it. And, as I said, that’s stuff that we specifically requested be recorded. Recording even more just seems like a waste.
Ed
Just be aware you can set recorded programs to not delete until you delete them, avoid losing shows you want to see.
I love my Tivo. So pissed that as of today, it’s gone. Had to switch to (ugh) generic DVR to take advantage of new HD channels on DirecTV. I really hope DirecTV and Tivo kiss and make up, the generic DVR is a piece of shit.
I don’t remember how to do it, but I know that it can be done. In one of the preferences.
OK. I am still waiting for a response that actually tells me how to turn off this function.
Tivo Central > Messages and Settings > Settings > Recording > Tivo Suggestions > No, don’t record TiVo Suggestions [select]
I keep mine off. I find the auto-recording annoying.
Won’t happen. DirecTV saves money using their in-house developed software for their DVRs. Doesn’t matter that, compared to a TiVo, theirs is a clunky, cumbersome, unintuitive, badly designed, um, piece of shit! Hopefully their software will improve, but it will take years to even equal TiVo’s.
With regards to TiVo Suggestions, unless you use the Thumbs Up/Down regularly the suggestions will only match all your Season Passes (TiVo automatically gives a Season Pass program one Thumbs Up). It used to automatically give everything you ever recorded one Thumb but they changed it to just Season Passes.
If the OP is asking how to stop Suggestions from appearing entirely (i.e. the ones that accumulate on the purple ‘TiVo Suggestions’ screen and at the bottom of the Detailed Program Info screens) I don’t think you can turn them off completely. In the Settings > Restart options there is a Clear All Thumb Ratings & Suggestions task. I’ve read that its not a bad idea to do this every so often (if you don’t use them), as it will speed up the guide and menus.
Thank you! I just changed my settings and then deleted the 22 suggestions that had been recorded since yesterday.
I turned that setting off too. I have way too many things of my own to watch, and don’t need to fill up disk space with anyone’s suggestions.
I know we’re off topic, but since the OP has been answered, I figure it’s safe. Just pointing out that with DTV’s new ownership, the possibility of Tivo coming back is, while far from certain, vastly improved. As the new owners have said, they are not in the business of making DVRs, they are content providers. Huges (previous owners) was a different situation, where I believe they were hardware manufacturers so it saved them money making their own crappy boxes.
Plus, there’s saving money, and there’s keeping customers happy. I know folks who left directv b/c of the lack of tivo support, when other competitors worked with the better DVR. Believe me I’m considering doing the same. Seems like a minor reason to change, but it’s the interface I use many times a day, and I want the interface to be as good as it can be for me, not a penny saver for my provider.
Explained above by someone else, but I will try again: it doesn’t take up disk space. Tivo is always recording, which is why you can back something up, so suggestions don’t somehow use up energy or something. Recording suggestions doesn’t do jack to the things you want to record, which will always take precedence.
It is funny to me how this is so misunderstood. There was a previous thread about it, too.
I never watch the suggestions, but I use them to see how close to running out of space I am. If there are 0 suggestions, I better watch some stuff.
Heh. I used to do the same. I really miss recorded suggestions from my Tivo, but overall, I’m still happier with the freedom offered by my current solution. I won’t go into here, because I’m not trying to bash Tivo. Hell, I’d be interested in the new Comcast Tivo if I knew I could have the freedom to do what I wanted with it.
I just sold my Series 1 original 1999 Sony SVR-2000 over the weekend. It almost made me cry.
What show was that where a male character’s TiVo Suggestions thought he was gay, and was recording stuff like Queer as Folk for him.