Please Help a clueless girl!

I just signed up for DirecTV.  A friend of mine has had DIRECTV for years and said when he signed up way back when, he had to also get a TIVO account and pay a monthly payment to TIVO around $5.99.  I am getting two HD DVR receivers and my question is, in order to be able to record shows, do I have to get an account with TIVO?  Or, will I automatically be able to record shows?  Thank You!