According to a recent study, owning a digital video recorder has improved relationships globally. The study, commissioned by NDS, maker of technology to power digital pay TV service, examined the power of the DVR in the U.S., U.K, Italy and Australia and found that of the 1,000 DVR users queried the majority credit the little black box with improving their relationships.

In the U.S., for example, 79 percent of survey respondents said owning a DVR, which let users record television in digital format to watch at any time, has improved their relationship, with 43 percent of them saying they are happier in that relationship because they can enjoy the television shows they like while sharing their favorites with their significant other. Similar results were also fund in Australia, Italy and the U.K.

In addition, the July 2008 study, found that DVRs are helping users lead more stress-free lives. According to 81 percent of American respondents, their family life is better for having a DVR because it frees up time to do things together with loved ones other than watch television. Of that 81 percent, 33 percent of DVR users said they've had fewer arguments since the DVR was installed.

With enough relationship-healing power to make even Oprah jealous, it's no wonder that the DVR has found its way to being the second most indispensible household technology in the U.S., behind only the cell phone, according to the study.

DVRs have become so important, in fact, that 80 percent of Americans with the technology said they can't live without it, according to the survey. Globally, the study found that DVRs were the third most important household utility or technology, behind the washing machine and the microwave oven.

The study also revealed television watching patterns. Americans with access to a DVR watch 2.1 hours of recorded TV per day, making the total of live and recorded television 4.7 hours. British and Australian DVR users watch 1.5 recorded hours per day, out of a total of 3.7 and 3.8 hours, respectively. In Italy, DVR users watch 1.3 hours of recorded television out of 4.1 total viewing hours. And in the U.S., 52 percent of respondents who currently have one DVR would like to get a second one.