Can someone tell me when choosing to record “new” episodes using DVR, does that mean new episodes of the show or new episodes (as in I don’t have that particular episode in my library yet)? Thank you in advance
It means tagged "New" by the guide provider. Usually this means the first time a program is airing. However, sometimes it could be applied to the first that program/episode is airing on that channel, even though it has aired on a different channel in the past.
In either case, it is not a reference to you not having recorded it previously.
Also to note, the "New" (and associated Season/Series Premiere/Finale, Live, etc.) tags are provided by Gracenote, the company that provides the guide data for Channels. (They also provide the data for SiliconDust's DVR, DirecTV, Schedules Direct, and they operate the Zap2it web site.)
(Fun/scary fact: A few years ago Gracenote purchased Nielsen, which is the marketing/survey company that handles TV ratings. Combined with their music/entertainment data, and their extensive sports data, they are crazy scary large.)
Talk about big...
zap2it/gracenote/tms(Tribune Media Service) is now owned by Nexstar
If you scroll all the way to the bottom of the web page at zap2it you'll see © 2020 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. | All Rights Reserved
Tribune Media does not own Gracenote https://www.tribunemedia.com/category/gracenote/
Nielsen purchased Gracenote, not the other way around.
And Nexstar's purchase of Zap2it is separate from the rest of Gracenote.
Bottom line: the consolidation of media companies is crazy and too convoluted to follow.
Thanks so much for the info! I just wish that with the Beta integration of my local TV Shows/Movies that Channels would "just know" if the episode was in my library. Maybe an additional option besides the "New & All Episodes" that allows for the recording of episodes that are missing. Its not a huge deal because I use Plex to host, but would love to eventually have one product for my users/viewers.
Actually it does remember what you've already recorded and will pick up episodes you've missed, though as far as I know that doesn't include imported shows. By default it will remember recording history even if you've watched and deleted those episodes. If you want to re-record deleted episodes, that option is in Advanced passes editing, where it says — you guessed it — "Re-record deleted episodes". This is separate from the "New" and "All" setting in passes, which as others have explained is a guide data thing.
The only reason I know this is because I recorded all 12 seasons of NYPD Blue, thinking that would take me all the way through the Corona quarantines, lol. Nope. Anyway when they rolled around to the first season again, Channels did not record those except for one or two mistakes on episodes that it apparently didn't recognize. After about two dozen episodes weren't recorded I realized I might as well delete the pass and move on to binging British police procedurals or something.
Not sure if this is a bug with Channels or the guide provider, but new episodes of "This Old House" on PBS aren't being recorded.
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The latest episodes aren't flagged as "new" in Channels or zap2it...
Guide provider issue.
If you go to zap2it and select Pacific Default Lineup (USA) (90001) it shows the next two as NEW episodes.
But I don't live in the Pacific time zone. I'm in the Mountain Time zone.
Use the contact link at the bottom of zap2it to report the problem.