I'm enjoying the Collections and Virtual Channels feature as I continue to update my setup to use the latest betas for my AppleTV 4K. I'm so close to my "single pane of glass" media center thanks to all of the great content integration features in Channels DVR. I'm hoping that a "stickiness" option might be made available in an upcoming release. I would like this feature for VCs running TV series. This feature would present all of the episodes in a series, in order and making the latest, marked as "not viewed" episode "stick" to the current time slot at all times until it is viewed or marked as "watched". I would like the option of creating VCs using past or present TV series that I can always watch from the first episode that has not been viewed. I would, also, want the ability to mark any series episode as "not watched" or "watched" in order to add or drop the episode from the VC guide order. The need for editing the episodes in this manner is due to my experiences with PlayOn TV Cloud recordings that may be corrupted in a way that prevents playing the episode or plays with a lot of pixelization, artifacts, sound issues, etc. When such episodes auto-download in Channels DVR, and ruin my ability to enjoy them, I have to re-record them in the cloud and wait for their download. I figure I would have to add them to the VC by marking them as "not watched" to get them back, in proper order on the VC or not. But, this flexibility would definitely let me have the best control over TV series content. I don't need this feature for movies, but I can't deny that the same feature might be great for a VC containing my collection of El Santo Lucha Libre movies in order of their release. Thank you for your consideration of this request and ganbatte kudasai! - CEC
I'm confused. How is what you are asking different from just watching from the library -- which keeps track of all the things you mention? Seems that the natural end result of the features you are asking for is that all your Virtual Channels would be empty. But I can be kinda slow, so forgive me.
Thank you for your question and insight. I had not thought that I was asking for Library functionality in a VC. But, I am. My vision is to be able to surf the Guide and make a quick assessment as to what to watch on OTA or my Hulu Live. If nothing is appealing, I scroll down to my VCs and select one of the series I have downloaded from PlayOn TV Cloud. The SF Bay Area PST OTA, as well as Hulu Live offerings are awful on Monday, Wednesday and, sometimes, Fridays. So, the VCs I have setup for TV series are a great standby/alternate that I can go to for continuing enjoyment. Yellow Jackets, Reservation Dogs, Dopesick and other such streaming series work well as a VC. Catch-up series, like Billions, Ozark, Ray Donovan, etc. all have upcoming seasons, specials or movies. VCs really help a good catch-up binge if you have any seasons or episodes that need watching or repeat watching. I would like to be able to use and stay in the Guide for its organized content presentation, as well as constantly updating event horizon. By using the PIP feature, I can Guide surf while finishing a show and viewing/discussing the next show to watch. Sorry for all the detailed verbiage, but I appreciate your question insofar as an opportunity to flesh-out my request. - CEC
So you basically want the Up Next section implemented as a series of Virtual Channels? Is it really that difficult to change to a different page in the app? (To make it easier, you can even promote Up Next to a top-level option in the sidebar.)
Virtual Channels are powered by a fixed guide, which is calculated upfront once a day. There is no way to make it "sticky".
What you're asking for is a playlist of episodes in order, which is already available from the Library. When you click into a show you can shuffle or watch in order, and you can enable auto play to automatically keep playing the next episode.