SA Footy

How can you tell what DVD players will record from the TV?

The instruction manual. It'd be pretty clearly advertised on the box/unit if it did do this and would be sold as a PVR rather than a DVD player.

DVD players don't record from the TV - they merely play DVDs

You're more-so after a DVD recorder or HDD recorder. A PVR for example.

Some DVD players and even set top boxes can record to USB, but like Smac said, it'd be fairly well advertised on the unit, as it is a good selling point.