I find the whole thing totally confusing. For instance, if there is a conflict so the first showing of a new episode is skipped, will it record on the next showing - or is it considered not to be new then and will be skipped. If I really want to see all episodes, I just set the DVR to record all, and spend several minutes of my life weeding out the repeats.
What would really help is for every episode of a show to be assigned some unique identifier that would never change. The that could be used to flag episodes. I notice descriptions and even original air dates in the guide can sometimes be different for the same episode. Stuff that aired originally a year or two ago can be listed as first airing in 2010.
This was also a problem on my old cable box, so it's not just a Dish problem.
There must be a better way...
If a New Episode must be skipped due to priority or even you manually skipping that event, the subsequent airing of that episode--if not skipped for priority or manual skipping--WILL, indeed, be recorded. That is one great thing I do love about the DVR. In other words, the DVR isn't going to give up attempting recording that New Episode until it either has priority or opportunity to do so. Then subsequent repeats of that already recorded episode will (should) NOT be recorded.
As a tip, always put your OTA or Local into Local broadcast recordings at the highest priority because they often do not have repeat airings any time soon. Then have the "cable" channels like History, Science, etc. at lower priority because they always repeat 3 hours later and often a few times later in the week. Sometimes the new episode has 3 airings in one night.
I like your suggestions about improving Dish DVR reliability for New Episode timers. And I do live the nightmare of having to manually skip a very high number of unnecessary repeat recordings--with all guide data and air date clear--and it is very time consuming, but if I don't do it, my other times won't fire for one-time or subsequent airings of other shows because the DVR want to record all 7 airings, 3 that night, plus the other 4 later in the week instead of other critical timers. The 722K skips instantly, and I admit it can be a fast task there, but the 722 has a very long delay (I have nearly 75 timers) after pressing "Skip" and when it finally clears the memory. It is is a tedious nightmare.
Yes, you are correct about the ambiguity of episode original air date. This can sometimes be a HUGE problem on BBC America or other channels that air non-US content as the original air date is sometimes the UK original air date and the Dish DVR will NOT record this "NEW" premier episode for us Yanks. However, sometimes BBC America does use the US premiere date and the Dish DVR will record as it should. However, it is still hit and miss on BBC America. Showtime and IFC seem to be a bit better about the US premiere date.
I recall that "That Mitchell and Webb Look" on BBC America was using the US premiere date so that I was able to use "New Episodes" to successfully record the show. Then after all 6 episodes had aired and a few weeks had passed, they repeated all 6 episodes again, but this time the air date was the
UK original air date. HUH? What is going on there? First US, now UK original air date.
What I don't like is "NEW" at the end of the description for Star Trek TNG on BBC America. No, the 20 year old episode is not new, but I suppose "new" to BBC America.
Yes, too often even the episode number is WRONG. This must be Tribune's fault. I happen to already know the episode numbers of some shows and know without a doubt that Tribune got it WRONG. However, there are some times when the channel will air episodes out of the intended order. Episode 1 will not be the premier episode, but the channel chooses to air episode 3 as the first premier episode. I know this from prior knowledge of the forth coming new show and you would be surprised to see how often a channel will intentionally air later episode first (often for reasons of more compelling episode) if it won't ruin a story arc.
)
