It's not automatically recording all four, 24x7, but if you set timers or tune to those channels at any time during the day (such as the newscasts), then only 1 tuner will be used. Any prime time anytime settings you enable would automatically record the channels and nights that you choose.
OK, so here's the deal...I'm a freak for our local newscasts. I record them all, all the time. So what we're saying is that I can tell the Hopper to record all four from 5:00-6:30 p.m. and it will use only ONE tuner during that time? I was under the impression that this was a prime time only thing.
I know you had mentioned you didn't care much for prime time any time but one of its best features as mentioned in a previous post was you can set it to record on specific days. I don't watch all the shows that's on prime time but the world news I do watch and what's great is if you fall asleep and wake up at 9pm it will be ready to watch since it recorded it automatically.