Note: this was built off of this post from a similiar thread. I just wanted a new topic, as I feel as though the Dev's may be considering OP's suggestion as implemented and I'd like a few changes.
Suggestion - Netflix style transition to next episode
When a user is near the end of watching an episode in the TV Show category, provide an on-screen display which prompts the user to watch the next available episode of the same series. No response automatically launches the listed episode.
Current Implementation
Users have to make the conscious decision and perform the steps to queue their TV Shows so that they will play without interruption. (IE clicking "Play" on the whole season within PHT.). This isn't intuitive as it provides many added steps that end up causing the user complications. (IE it is difficult to start playing from episode 3 of a season. Filters must be added overcomplicating the process.) Further, there are times when a user does not plan on watching the next episode... but due to a cliffhanger ending or personal change the user would be willing/want to watch the preceding episode. Plex should be smart enough to automatically grab the next episode.
Suggested Workflow
The "Example TV Show" has 3 seasons available on Plex. Each season consists of 10 episodes.
User selects S01E09 of Example TV Show. (Either from "On Deck" or the TV Show Category")
S01E09 is nearing the end of the episode. (30 seconds remaining). An on screen display shows that S01E10 is next in the queue and it will be played if no choice is selected by the user.
User doesn't enter any commands.
S01E10 is shown to the user.
S01E10 is nearing the end of the episode. (30 seconds remaining). An on screen display shows that S02E01 is next in the queue and it will be played if no choice is selected by the user.
S02E01 is shown to the user. [etc].
There should be some detection to determine that the content is not being displayed to a user that is absent or asleep. I would suggest that a preference be added in the client for a user to make the timeline determination for this decision. The user could select [time] since last interaction (pausing, bringing up the on screen menu, etc) or [number] of episodes to auto play.
I would STRONGLY object to this unless it is made 100% optional.
All I want is for the episode I am watching and the next be available for play. For me automatically playing the next episode is an intrusion I never want to have happen.
On the Roku when Netflix first implemented the ability to play the next episode they forced it on everyone and received so much negative feedback including some cancellations that they pretty quickly added an option to turn off that intrusive auto-play and only present the next episode for playback.
I just want to play the show to the end and then, and only then, go to the launch screen for the next episode or back to the "On Deck" screen if that was where it was launched from.
Currently the Plex Pass Preview on the Roku does half of that in that it handles "On Deck" correctly but it requires a press of the FF key to get to the next episode from the launch screen.
We still need this feature in Android TV. I agree with others that it should be configurable/optional, but it’s a much-needed feature for binge watching…
@Wunderwally said:
This already works perfectly in Plex Web and I still don’t understand why it’s not implemented in other clients.
This currently only works with ‘On Deck’ playback. I’m a user who rarely goes through the ‘On Deck’ items because I jump around a lot in my watching patterns. It isn’t implemented when you browse the libraries for the video directly. This feature should be implemented (optionally) for the playback of a video from any location in the Plex interface on any platform.
@crspangenberg said:
Please add this feature for Android / Amazon Fire TV
This works for me now on Android, as of the updates in the past couple weeks. Auto-play next episode is working fine, both locally and for Chromecast streaming. I can’t speak for FireTV; never seen anyone who has one.
@crspangenberg said:
Please add this feature for Android / Amazon Fire TV
This works for me now on Android, as of the updates in the past couple weeks. Auto-play next episode is working fine, both locally and for Chromecast streaming. I can’t speak for FireTV; never seen anyone who has one.
But, does it work as I described in my OP? If you pick any tv show in your library and play an episode does it automatically play the next one, or do have to hit play on the series and / or on deck?
@crspangenberg said:
Please add this feature for Android / Amazon Fire TV
This works for me now on Android, as of the updates in the past couple weeks. Auto-play next episode is working fine, both locally and for Chromecast streaming. I can’t speak for FireTV; never seen anyone who has one.
But, does it work as I described in my OP? If you pick any tv show in your library and play an episode does it automatically play the next one, or do have to hit play on the series and / or on deck?
Yep, it works fine for me starting right on the episode, I’m not going from on-deck or from the big “season” or “series” play button. I just pick an episode i want and it automatically makes a playlist from that. It’s basically perfect for me!
@sha256 said:
Yep, it works fine for me starting right on the episode, I’m not going from on-deck or from the big “season” or “series” play button. I just pick an episode i want and it automatically makes a playlist from that. It’s basically perfect for me!
Great. Hopefully this can propagate to other players.
