so i've done about all the testing i can for this. i tried many different config settings on apple tv the past two weeks but nothing has fixed this. i checked signal strength when the issue occurs and it's fine and not too high.
final test was using plex live tv on this ATV for a few days and it didn't occur once, vs multiple daily occurrences on channels. and again, it doesn't happen on OTA recordings or scrubbing back to replay the same thing again. only viewing live OTA in channels. so it may be an ATV issue, but it's not an issue in plex. it's an ATV channels issue.
but alas, i am done getting so into these issues as the devs are very unresponsive. i'm doing a ton testing, posting videos of issues, checking every possible posted 'solution' i can and providing information they should be paying QA for. i'm done beta testing this stuff. yesterday it was some issue with metadata for a show where it didn't like the fact i deleted it and wouldn't add it back until i deleted and re-added the whole show. plex isn't my favorite but it just works, channels has tons of jank. i can taste the dev hubris when i read their posts.
i'm labeling this a channels DVR issue