You don't have to subscribe to WebTV, but you do need to pay $9.95/mo for the personal TV service. Without the service, I understand you can still use the "pause" feature to answer the phone and then resume the show. Recording scheduled shows is only available with the monthly service.

BTW, if you subscribe to both WebTV and Personal TV, you get a $5/mo discount. If you use your own ISP for WebTV, you get another $10 off WebTV. This way you could get both services for just under $20.

Weldon