Memory is allocated to record a program being broadcast proportional to its remainder in a client device having a processor in communication with a receiver. The processor executes an application to allocate space in the memory to record the remainder of the broadcast of the program being received by the receiver that has a predetermined time length. The executing application obtains the predetermined time length from the broadcast received by the receiver and derives the remainder of the broadcast of the program from the present time and the predetermined time length obtained from the broadcast. The space can be logically erased prior to its allocation. A video recorder records the broadcast of the program being received by the receiver in the space in the memory. A video playback device plays back the recorded broadcast of the program from the space in the memory.