A personal video recorder (PVR) (10) comprises a receiving stage (12) which receives media content and an internal storage device (24) such as a hard-disk. The PVR has an interface (26) for connecting to an external storage device (30). The PVR is operable to receive an instruction to record content directly to the external storage device (30). The PVR determines if the external storage device (30) can store the media content at a required transfer rate. If the external storage device (30) is unable to store the media content at the required rate, it uses the internal storage device (24) to record the received media content and to transfer the stored media content from the internal storage device (24) to the external storage device (30). The achievable transfer rate can be determined once transfer has commenced.