1. A telecommunications method, comprising: receiving a digital personal media stream manager Instant Messaging (IM) control message at a personal computer; and using said digital personal media stream manager IM message to control programming of a video recording device via a digital personal media stream manager operably coupled to said personal computer; wherein said using comprises transmitting one or more control commands responsive to said digital personal media stream manager IM control message over a local area network; and wherein said one or more control commands are received at a digital personal media stream manager, said digital personal video stream manager adapted to convert broadband media to media files useable on said local area network and convert media files from said local area network to a format viewable on a television.