Replace large Plex server installation with Channels?

Channels DVR Server
#1

I have a very large (PB plus) Plex server installation that has been running adjacent to Channels for many years. With the collapse of Plex organization this week, I think it many be time to find alternatives for our video library.

The first and most obvious is to move everything to Channels DVR but....

What are the real world limitations of Channels DVR for library size?
Does Channels support searches by title, actors, genre?
Can Channels handle multiple film and multiple TV series libraries? And search across them?
Can Channels handle HDR transcoding from x265 HD10+ or DV media to clients at 1080p SDR? Send transcodes out using x265 encoding? Auto determine transcode bitrates? (Intel Core Ultra 7 processor running on Windows).

Lots of questions I know but its all stuff we have taken mostly for granted on the Plex side There are also questions about clients but as all of my primary client devices already run Channels, not such an issue for me.

#2

I think maybe you're overstating a bit. I read about some layoffs, but not a complete collapse of the company...

#3

You are right, not a complete collapse of the company just yet, but they did let go the entire team responsible for media player among others. As far as the future of the software is concerned as a library and media player, its reached end of production. The first serious bug or security vulnerability will shut it down with the team responsible for repairing it and issuing updates gone.

Its not dead yet, but its struggling for breath and there is no life support.

1 Like
#4

I consider it dead, always have and never trusted them.

#5

Do you house Music as well as Videos in your Plex Server? If you want to host your music on the same platform, then you are better to look at JellyFin, but if you are video only, Channels is the most convenient.

If you like profiles or share content with others that you want to have better control, Jellyfin is the way to go vs Channels.

Emby is also a good alternative to JellyFin (little more polished, slightly easier to manage), but similar to Plex, it to unlock a lot of the features, you have to get the Emby Premium.

You can also go the hybrid route (combination of Channels and Jellyfin/Emby), but it really depends on your specific needs.