The movies you can't record are probably being shown on DVD players from the Channel 55 studio with Macrovision protection. To prevent unauthorized copying, the technology industry developed Macrovision and DVD manufacturers include this software on the players most people buy for home and business use today. Macrovision protection disrups the signal that is being sent, which is why if you try to tape a movie that is being played on a DVD player, all you see is "snow," yet you can view the movie fine on the television screen.