Skip for One-Offs and Movies

Beta Community DVR Beta
#1

We have been using the Channels’ DVR Schedule extensively to manage our single Prime tuner. There have been times we had to utilize the “skip” function on Series recordings, in order to limit to three recordings, as we can at times watch a commercial free series show or one-off or movie “live” via another tuner (not SD). In the fall, we will be using this function much more (based on prior experience). It’s a bit of a dance but has been doable in the past…either with “live” or recording at a subsequent time. We only have 1 Prime tuner as the cost for another CC is $10/mo from our provider, in addition to sunk cost of an additional Prime.

Currently, one cannot “Skip” anything other than a series recording. If one could also utilize the skip designation on movies/one-offs, it would make the DVR schedule easier to manage (and to still view the intended show(s) on list but “skipped” (for a recording)) and then either watch “live” or reschedule a recording for another time. As the log shows “skipped” recordings, if one doesn’t reschedule immediately, one would still be able to see what was skipped…and then reschedule. If it is deleted (only option currently), one immediately loses the capability of seeing the movies/one-offs on the list which need to be watched live or rescheduled.

IMO, Channels Schedule is a powerful tool but could still be improved for various use cases if Skip designation was allowed on any/all future recordings, rather than just “Series” recordings.

Skip on Show on Series Pass
#2

This issue is both a technical one and conceptual one. Without going into great detail, technically, we can’t just mark it as skipped because skipping it removes it from the list of jobs, so it’s not there anymore.

Conceptually, what is skipping a one off recording? It’s just removing it. It makes no real sense to keep it around just to mark it as skipped. Core changes to how we’re scheduling won’t be changed right now as we race to 1.0.

But your use case is totally legit and thanks for reporting it!

Maybe instead, a “re-schedule” button could help here. It could immediately show the time’s that it is appearing, allowing you to pick another time slot to record it.

#3

As “skipping” a series recording still allows one to see the job on the DVR schedule (job not deleted until after the time of the original job) and as that job status also allows one to “unskip”, was seeking parity (to series) on the one-offs. The delete or even immediate reschedule is a more drastic action and would require further thought and input.

There have been several times we have later (prior to start time) decided to allow a job to run with “unskip”. And at times, this has been a fairly last minute decision.

No problem revisiting later, hopefully, before Fall TV season starts :grin:

#4

I am not yet a Channels sub but am strongly considering it. Currently using WMC 7 and previously SageTV. A couple of things in this thread intrigue me:

  1. “Maybe instead, a “re-schedule” button could help here. It could immediately show the time’s that it is appearing, allowing you to pick another time slot to record it.” I would be all for this - WMC has a function similar to that where later airing dates are shown if a scheduled recording is canceled or fails.

  2. having not yet used Channels DVR, is it possible for the DVR server to take priority control of a tuner over an extender? i.e. can the server grab back a tuner and force a channel change on a remote device in the event of a conflict (because my kids probably left their dang tv on!!)

  3. If your florida cable provider is the same as mine and is confused by its naming conventions where both names respectively begin with the letter that is third from the start and third from the end of the alphabet, then you can potentially tell that provider you have a tivo that needs a second CC and get that CC for a reduced rate. In addition you could also add an HDHR connect. I pretty much exclusively record locals and CW via OTA and record only cable channels on my prime.

  4. related to 3 above, if it is the same cable provider, try not to pay their silly HD tech fee. It’s not needed for CC and can free up ten bucks if the tivo trick fails.

I’m currently lacking a playback device to test out Channels DVR but I’m strongly considering grabbing an Nvidia Shield and making the switch. Heck power savings alone going from a Win 7 pc server and xbox 360’s to a shield and ATV 4’s would probably pay the monthly DVR cost 2 or 3 times over.