Custom metadata for non-standard versions of TV episodes?

[adaptable]

Hi all —

We have a few TV shows (e.g. Staged) where there are US versions and UK versions, with different cuts/edits and thus lengths. These do not show up distinctly in thetvdb so Plex’s automated metadata parsing treats them as different versions of the same episode. We’d like them to show up differently. For example, have the US versions be tied to the metadata from thetvdb, but set up custom metadata for the UK version.

Is there a recommended practice for how to do this? I imagine this is the TV analog to creating your own ID3 tags for MP3s of recorded concerns, live versions, etc. Is there a way to define a new show (e.g. “Staged (alternate)”) and have the alternate edits of the episodes show up there? The key is we’d like to have the cover art, episode descriptions, etc show up for both.

Thanks!

Server Version#: 1.22.2.4282
Player Version#: 4.55.0

[OttoKerner]

build a completely separate folder structure for the same show:

/TV Shows
   /ShowName
      /Season 02
         ShowName – s02e17 – Optional_Info.ext
         ...
...
   /ShowName [alternate]
      /Season 02
         ShowName – s02e17 – Optional_Info.ext
         ...

Once you have organized your files in this way, you can use “Split” at the top (show) level. Which will give you 2 separate posters of the show.

You use the Plex media info to determine which is the one for which you want to use your own metadata.
You then “Unmatch” this version (again, at its top level).

If your files are using the mp4/m4v file container, you can embed the episode titles and descriptions into the files themselves, as embedded meta tags.
Plex will read and use this info.