diff --git a/dispatcharr/celery.py b/dispatcharr/celery.py
index 8ccb3c33..0d63f063 100644
--- a/dispatcharr/celery.py
+++ b/dispatcharr/celery.py
@@ -49,6 +49,11 @@ app.conf.update(
     worker_task_log_format='%(asctime)s %(levelname)s %(task_name)s: %(message)s',
 )
 
+# Route long-running DVR recordings to a dedicated `dvr` queue consumed by a thread-pool worker.
+app.conf.task_routes = {
+    'apps.channels.tasks.run_recording': {'queue': 'dvr'},
+}
+
 # Add memory cleanup after task completion
 @task_postrun.connect  # Use the imported signal
 def cleanup_task_memory(**kwargs):
diff --git a/docker/entrypoint.celery.sh b/docker/entrypoint.celery.sh
index b38b6ac3..c795d781 100644
--- a/docker/entrypoint.celery.sh
+++ b/docker/entrypoint.celery.sh
@@ -67,4 +67,8 @@ NICE_LEVEL="${CELERY_NICE_LEVEL:-5}"
 if [ "$NICE_LEVEL" -lt 0 ] 2>/dev/null; then
     echo "Warning: CELERY_NICE_LEVEL=$NICE_LEVEL is negative, requires SYS_NICE capability"
 fi
-nice -n "$NICE_LEVEL" celery -A dispatcharr worker -l info --autoscale=6,1
+
+# DVR worker: thread pool for the long-running, I/O-bound run_recording task.
+nice -n "$NICE_LEVEL" celery -A dispatcharr worker -Q dvr -n dvr@%h --pool=threads --concurrency=20 -l info &
+# Default prefork worker: every queue except `dvr`.
+nice -n "$NICE_LEVEL" celery -A dispatcharr worker -Q celery -n default@%h --autoscale=6,1 -l info
diff --git a/docker/uwsgi.debug.ini b/docker/uwsgi.debug.ini
index d2847335..bc21275d 100644
--- a/docker/uwsgi.debug.ini
+++ b/docker/uwsgi.debug.ini
@@ -7,9 +7,10 @@ exec-before = python /app/scripts/wait_for_redis.py
 
 ; Start Redis first
 attach-daemon = redis-server
-; Then start other services with configurable nice level (default: 5 for low priority)
-; Users can override via CELERY_NICE_LEVEL environment variable in docker-compose
-attach-daemon = nice -n $(CELERY_NICE_LEVEL) celery -A dispatcharr worker --autoscale=6,1
+; Default prefork worker: every queue except `dvr`.
+attach-daemon = nice -n $(CELERY_NICE_LEVEL) celery -A dispatcharr worker -Q celery -n default@%%h --autoscale=6,1
+; DVR worker: thread pool for the long-running, I/O-bound run_recording task.
+attach-daemon = nice -n $(CELERY_NICE_LEVEL) celery -A dispatcharr worker -Q dvr -n dvr@%%h --pool=threads --concurrency=20
 attach-daemon = nice -n $(CELERY_NICE_LEVEL) celery -A dispatcharr beat
 attach-daemon = daphne -b 0.0.0.0 -p 8001 dispatcharr.asgi:application
 attach-daemon = cd /app/frontend && npm run dev
diff --git a/docker/uwsgi.dev.ini b/docker/uwsgi.dev.ini
index 51aae9a5..dd799500 100644
--- a/docker/uwsgi.dev.ini
+++ b/docker/uwsgi.dev.ini
@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ exec-pre = python /app/scripts/wait_for_redis.py
 
 ; Start Redis first
 attach-daemon = redis-server --protected-mode no
-; Then start other services with configurable nice level (default: 5 for low priority)
-; Users can override via CELERY_NICE_LEVEL environment variable in docker-compose
-attach-daemon = nice -n $(CELERY_NICE_LEVEL) celery -A dispatcharr worker --autoscale=6,1
+; Default prefork worker: every queue except `dvr`.
+attach-daemon = nice -n $(CELERY_NICE_LEVEL) celery -A dispatcharr worker -Q celery -n default@%%h --autoscale=6,1
+; DVR worker: thread pool for the long-running, I/O-bound run_recording task.
+attach-daemon = nice -n $(CELERY_NICE_LEVEL) celery -A dispatcharr worker -Q dvr -n dvr@%%h --pool=threads --concurrency=20
 attach-daemon = nice -n $(CELERY_NICE_LEVEL) celery -A dispatcharr beat
 attach-daemon = daphne -b 0.0.0.0 -p 8001 dispatcharr.asgi:application
 attach-daemon = cd /app/frontend && npm run dev
diff --git a/docker/uwsgi.ini b/docker/uwsgi.ini
index 920bac48..3972c3d9 100644
--- a/docker/uwsgi.ini
+++ b/docker/uwsgi.ini
@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ exec-pre = python /app/scripts/wait_for_redis.py
 
 ; Start Redis first
 attach-daemon = redis-server
-; Then start other services with configurable nice level (default: 5 for low priority)
-; Users can override via CELERY_NICE_LEVEL environment variable in docker-compose
-attach-daemon = nice -n $(CELERY_NICE_LEVEL) celery -A dispatcharr worker --autoscale=6,1
+; Default prefork worker: every queue except `dvr`.
+attach-daemon = nice -n $(CELERY_NICE_LEVEL) celery -A dispatcharr worker -Q celery -n default@%%h --autoscale=6,1
+; DVR worker: thread pool for the long-running, I/O-bound run_recording task.
+attach-daemon = nice -n $(CELERY_NICE_LEVEL) celery -A dispatcharr worker -Q dvr -n dvr@%%h --pool=threads --concurrency=20
 attach-daemon = nice -n $(CELERY_NICE_LEVEL) celery -A dispatcharr beat
 attach-daemon = daphne -b 0.0.0.0 -p 8001 dispatcharr.asgi:application