I believe someone told me that if you go to videohelp.com and search for a pice of FREE software named Handbrake, you can convert video (using a nice drop down menu of presets for specific players) and port it to your Zune.

Looking around on the Handbrake page will get you a link to several guides to show how the software works.

I just started using handbrake for my son's iPod conversions. I wouldn't be much help to any one, other than to say it works very well.

Handbrake is very slick. I use it often.

Thanks again, guys. With the holidays in full swing, I haven't taken time to work through the process yet, but do appreciate the help. I knew I could count on you, even when I post to the wrong forum.

What I'm really looking for is fresh content. Most of my wife's viewing is fresh TV series rather than RE-viewing movies or anything else, so my initial stumbling block is acquiring (non-DRM?) files efficiently.

D*TV was developing something a few years ago that they have abandoned; I think it was called directv2go. With a Lyra player, it would have allowed transfer of DVR'd content to a portable device. I understand that Dish DOES have something like this, but I'm unwilling to switch providers at this time.

If you go to torrents, you can get every show you desire at about 350 progressive lines for XviD files, and 720p MKV with H.264 and AC3 sound.