Is the aerial going into the dvd recorder and then one out to the freeview?
Actually, ignore that. I am not sure it would work with the tv off as its that that has the built in freeview and uses it to decode the freeview channels coming through the aerial. If its off, the only signal coming through the aerial would be normal tv channels. Least thats they way I am looking at it. Your recorder would need to have freeview built in to work