0.2.52

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,3 +1,20 @@
+## 0.2.53 — 2026-08-11
+- Improved: The play button used by the mini hero cards now appears over every focused poster.
+- Improved: Reduced the primary hero logo so its supporting details remain visible.
+- Improved: The profile rail now shows the name of the user signed in on the television.
+- Improved: Renamed My Alerts to Notifications.
+- Improved: Added notifications for every user when Sonarr reports that any show has been cancelled.
+- Improved: Added a daily Sonarr lifecycle scan and status history so newly cancelled shows can be identified.
+
+## 0.2.52 — 2026-08-11
+- Fixed: The last refreshed date in the Devices list used the incorrect date format.
+- Fixed: The show or film logo was missing from the primary home-page hero.
+- Fixed: My Alerts did not include an alert when Memby had been updated.
+- Fixed: The release date in version history used the incorrect date format.
+- Improved: Added soundbar and passthrough settings to the on-screen display.
+- Improved: Slimmed down the subtitles menu and made the Get subtitles button easier to see.
+- Improved: Added country flags to the subtitles search and menu.
+
 ## 0.2.51 — 2026-08-11
 - Improved: For You now begins loading after Home arrives, so its personalised rows are usually ready before you open it.
 - Fixed: Frequent screen updates can no longer repeat network requests, navigation, analytics, timers or other background work.

CLAUDE.md

@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ the alert that announced it has long since fallen out of its window. Things to p
   — unauthenticated on purpose, since a probe needing a token would report a stale session
   as a server outage.
 
-**My Alerts belongs to a person, so it lives in the user picker.** A service alert is the
+**Notifications belong to a person, so they live in the user picker.** A service alert is the
 house being told something; these are one viewer's own news (a followed show returning),
 stored per user on the gateway and following them to whichever television they sign into.
 `ui/alerts/AlertsPage.kt` is the full page and the user menu in `UserSwitcherOverlay` is the
@@ -450,6 +450,14 @@ behind it. Things to preserve:
 - **The page is stateless**, like `SignInContent` and the detail panes: `MainActivity` owns
   the list and the requests, which is what lets `AlertsPageScreenshotTest` render it (and
   the user menu carrying its badge) with no server → `build/screenshots/my-alerts/`.
+- **A cancellation is a transition, not a status read in isolation.**
+  `sonarr_series_status_history` stores the first daily Sonarr reading as a quiet baseline
+  and appends only changes after it; `WatchSonarrLifecycle` creates a notification for every
+  known user when any show moves from continuing/upcoming to ended/deleted. Cancellation
+  news is household-wide and does not depend on whether a viewer followed the show. Without
+  the baseline,
+  enabling the scanner would announce every show that had already ended as new news, and
+  without durable history a gateway restart could announce the same change again.
 
 **Search** (`ui/search/`) is a two-pane instant-search destination on the rail: a fixed
 6×6 on-screen keyboard on the left, a results grid on the right that updates as you type.

app/build.gradle.kts

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ val projectNoticeText =
 
 // A release workflow can derive the app version from its Git tag without editing the
 // source tree. Local builds keep using the checked-in default.
-val defaultVersionName = "0.2.51"
+val defaultVersionName = "0.2.53"
 val membyVersionName: String =
     (project.findProperty("memby.versionName") as String?)
         ?.trim()

app/src/main/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/data/SettingsStore.kt

@@ -403,6 +403,10 @@ data class Settings(
      * not seen that build's update notice.
      */
     val whatsNewSeenVersion: String? = null,
+    /** The most recent app-update alert retained for this television's Notifications page. */
+    val updateAlertVersion: String? = null,
+    val updateAlertAt: String? = null,
+    val updateAlertRead: Boolean = false,
     /**
      * The version the gateway last refused this build over, or null while it has said
      * nothing. Device state, and deliberately outlives both the session and the process:
@@ -565,6 +569,9 @@ class SettingsStore(private val context: Context) {
         val SEEN_ALERTS = stringPreferencesKey("seen_alert_ids")
         val ONBOARDED_USERS = stringSetPreferencesKey("onboarded_user_ids")
         val WHATS_NEW_VERSION = stringPreferencesKey("whats_new_seen_version")
+        val UPDATE_ALERT_VERSION = stringPreferencesKey("update_alert_version")
+        val UPDATE_ALERT_AT = stringPreferencesKey("update_alert_at")
+        val UPDATE_ALERT_READ = booleanPreferencesKey("update_alert_read")
         val REQUIRED_UPDATE_VERSION = stringPreferencesKey("required_update_version")
         val PREFERENCES_REVISION = longPreferencesKey("preferences_revision")
     }
@@ -1043,11 +1050,32 @@ class SettingsStore(private val context: Context) {
      * once. Also written silently on a fresh install, which has not updated from an earlier
      * build and therefore has nothing to announce.
      */
-    suspend fun markWhatsNewSeen(version: String) {
+    suspend fun markWhatsNewSeen(version: String, updateAlertAt: String? = null) {
         val trimmed = version.trim()
         if (trimmed.isEmpty()) return
         context.dataStore.edit { preferences ->
             preferences[Keys.WHATS_NEW_VERSION] = trimmed
+            updateAlertAt?.trim()?.takeIf(String::isNotEmpty)?.let { occurredAt ->
+                preferences[Keys.UPDATE_ALERT_VERSION] = trimmed
+                preferences[Keys.UPDATE_ALERT_AT] = occurredAt
+                preferences[Keys.UPDATE_ALERT_READ] = false
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    suspend fun markUpdateAlertRead() {
+        context.dataStore.edit { preferences ->
+            if (!preferences[Keys.UPDATE_ALERT_VERSION].isNullOrBlank()) {
+                preferences[Keys.UPDATE_ALERT_READ] = true
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    suspend fun dismissUpdateAlert() {
+        context.dataStore.edit { preferences ->
+            preferences.remove(Keys.UPDATE_ALERT_VERSION)
+            preferences.remove(Keys.UPDATE_ALERT_AT)
+            preferences.remove(Keys.UPDATE_ALERT_READ)
         }
     }
 
@@ -1481,6 +1509,9 @@ class SettingsStore(private val context: Context) {
             themeRevision = preferences[Keys.THEME_REVISION].orEmpty(),
             onboardedUserIds = preferences[Keys.ONBOARDED_USERS].orEmpty(),
             whatsNewSeenVersion = preferences[Keys.WHATS_NEW_VERSION],
+            updateAlertVersion = preferences[Keys.UPDATE_ALERT_VERSION],
+            updateAlertAt = preferences[Keys.UPDATE_ALERT_AT],
+            updateAlertRead = preferences[Keys.UPDATE_ALERT_READ] ?: false,
             requiredUpdateVersion = preferences[Keys.REQUIRED_UPDATE_VERSION],
             preferencesRevision = preferences[Keys.PREFERENCES_REVISION] ?: 0,
             profiles = profiles,

app/src/main/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/data/SubtitleSupport.kt

@@ -115,6 +115,53 @@ fun normalizeSubtitleLanguage(raw: String?): String {
     return subtitleLanguageAliases[base] ?: base
 }
 
+/** A familiar country marker for a subtitle language, or empty for an unknown code. */
+fun subtitleCountryFlag(raw: String?): String {
+    val tagged = raw?.trim()?.lowercase()?.replace('_', '-').orEmpty()
+    when {
+        tagged.startsWith("en-us") -> return "🇺🇸"
+        tagged.startsWith("en-au") -> return "🇦🇺"
+        tagged.startsWith("en-nz") -> return "🇳🇿"
+        tagged.startsWith("pt-br") -> return "🇧🇷"
+        tagged.startsWith("es-mx") -> return "🇲🇽"
+        tagged.startsWith("zh-tw") -> return "🇹🇼"
+        tagged.startsWith("zh-hk") || tagged.startsWith("yue") -> return "🇭🇰"
+    }
+    return when (normalizeSubtitleLanguage(raw)) {
+        "en" -> "🇬🇧"
+        "it" -> "🇮🇹"
+        "es" -> "🇪🇸"
+        "fr" -> "🇫🇷"
+        "de" -> "🇩🇪"
+        "pt" -> "🇵🇹"
+        "nl" -> "🇳🇱"
+        "sv" -> "🇸🇪"
+        "da" -> "🇩🇰"
+        "no" -> "🇳🇴"
+        "fi" -> "🇫🇮"
+        "pl" -> "🇵🇱"
+        "cs" -> "🇨🇿"
+        "hu" -> "🇭🇺"
+        "ro" -> "🇷🇴"
+        "el" -> "🇬🇷"
+        "ru" -> "🇷🇺"
+        "uk" -> "🇺🇦"
+        "tr" -> "🇹🇷"
+        "ar" -> "🇸🇦"
+        "he" -> "🇮🇱"
+        "hi" -> "🇮🇳"
+        "ja" -> "🇯🇵"
+        "ko" -> "🇰🇷"
+        "zh" -> "🇨🇳"
+        "th" -> "🇹🇭"
+        "vi" -> "🇻🇳"
+        else -> ""
+    }
+}
+
+fun subtitleLabelWithFlag(language: String?, label: String): String =
+    subtitleCountryFlag(language).let { flag -> if (flag.isBlank()) label else "$flag  $label" }
+
 /** The parts of a subtitle track [selectSubtitleId] needs, whatever produced it. */
 data class SubtitleCandidate(
     val id: String,

app/src/main/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/HomeComponents.kt

@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ enum class BrowseDestination(val label: String, val icon: ImageVector) {
     // has one — see [TvNavigationRail]'s calendarEnabled.
     CALENDAR("TV Calendar", Icons.Default.CalendarMonth),
     FAVORITES("Favourites", Icons.Default.Favorite),
-    PROFILES("Switch user", Icons.Default.Person),
+    PROFILES("User", Icons.Default.Person),
     SETTINGS("Settings", Icons.Default.Settings),
 }
 
@@ -361,6 +361,11 @@ fun TvNavigationRail(
             destinations.forEach { destination ->
                 ExpandableNavigationItem(
                     destination = destination,
+                    label = if (destination == BrowseDestination.PROFILES) {
+                        profileDestinationLabel(activeUsername)
+                    } else {
+                        destination.label
+                    },
                     selected = destination == selected,
                     expanded = expanded,
                     modifier = if (destination == focusDestination) {
@@ -370,7 +375,7 @@ fun TvNavigationRail(
                     },
                     onFocused = {},
                     onClick = { onDestinationSelected(destination) },
-                    // My Alerts is one level in, behind the user picker. Without a mark out
+                    // Notifications are one level in, behind the user picker. Without a mark out
                     // here nothing on the launcher would ever say there was news waiting.
                     badge = if (destination == BrowseDestination.PROFILES) {
                         alertBadgeLabel(alertCount)
@@ -526,12 +531,12 @@ fun UserSwitcherOverlay(
                     .background(Color.White.copy(alpha = 0.07f)),
             )
             Spacer(Modifier.height(6.dp))
-            // My Alerts lives here rather than on the launcher: these alerts belong to a
+            // Notifications live here rather than on the launcher: these belong to a
             // person and follow them between televisions, so the menu that already answers
             // "who is watching" is where somebody looks for their own news. The badge is
             // what replaces the bell that used to sit in the corner of Home.
             UserSwitcherAction(
-                label = "My Alerts",
+                label = "Notifications",
                 icon = Icons.Default.Notifications,
                 badge = alertBadgeLabel(alertCount),
                 modifier = Modifier
@@ -555,7 +560,7 @@ fun UserSwitcherOverlay(
     }
 }
 
-/** My Alerts, then Manage users. See [userSwitcherNextIndex]. */
+/** Notifications, then Manage users. See [userSwitcherNextIndex]. */
 private const val UserSwitcherActionCount = 2
 
 @Composable
@@ -678,6 +683,7 @@ private val AlertBadgeRed = Color(0xFFE04747)
 @Composable
 fun ExpandableNavigationItem(
     destination: BrowseDestination,
+    label: String = destination.label,
     selected: Boolean,
     expanded: Boolean,
     onFocused: () -> Unit,
@@ -719,8 +725,7 @@ fun ExpandableNavigationItem(
             .drawBehind { drawRect(background.value) }
             .clickable(onClick = onClick)
             .semantics {
-                contentDescription = badge?.let { "${destination.label}, $it waiting" }
-                    ?: destination.label
+                contentDescription = badge?.let { "$label, $it waiting" } ?: label
             }
             .padding(horizontal = 8.dp),
         verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically,
@@ -773,7 +778,7 @@ fun ExpandableNavigationItem(
         }
         if (expanded) {
             Text(
-                destination.label,
+                label,
                 color = foreground.value,
                 fontSize = 15.sp,
                 fontWeight = if (focused || selected) FontWeight.SemiBold else FontWeight.Medium,
@@ -799,6 +804,10 @@ internal fun profileInitials(username: String): String {
     }
 }
 
+/** The profile rail names the person currently signed in, not the action behind the row. */
+internal fun profileDestinationLabel(username: String): String =
+    username.trim().ifEmpty { "User" }
+
 @Composable
 fun BackdropLayer(item: BaseItem?, modifier: Modifier = Modifier) {
     val context = LocalContext.current
@@ -2143,6 +2152,9 @@ private fun MediaCard(
                         modifier = Modifier.align(Alignment.TopStart).padding(8.dp),
                     )
                 }
+                if (focused) {
+                    MembyArtworkPlayCue(Modifier.align(Alignment.Center))
+                }
             }
             Text(
                 item.name,

app/src/main/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/HomeMovieHero.kt

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package com.ponzischeme89.memby.ui
 
 import androidx.compose.foundation.Image
 import androidx.compose.foundation.background
-import androidx.compose.foundation.border
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Arrangement
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Box
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.BoxWithConstraints
@@ -16,10 +15,7 @@ import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.height
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.padding
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.size
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.width
-import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.CircleShape
 import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.RoundedCornerShape
-import androidx.compose.material.icons.Icons
-import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.PlayArrow
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
 import androidx.compose.runtime.LaunchedEffect
 import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
@@ -30,7 +26,6 @@ import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
 import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
 import androidx.compose.ui.draw.clip
-import androidx.compose.ui.draw.shadow
 import androidx.compose.ui.focus.FocusRequester
 import androidx.compose.ui.focus.focusProperties
 import androidx.compose.ui.focus.focusRequester
@@ -43,7 +38,6 @@ import androidx.compose.ui.text.font.FontWeight
 import androidx.compose.ui.text.style.TextOverflow
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.sp
-import androidx.tv.material3.Icon
 import androidx.tv.material3.Text
 import coil.compose.AsyncImage
 import com.ponzischeme89.memby.ServiceLocator
@@ -345,6 +339,12 @@ private fun FeaturedMovieCard(
     previewArtwork: ImageBitmap?,
 ) {
     val item = pick.item
+    val repository = ServiceLocator.repository
+    val showLogo = repository.showTitleLogo
+    val logoUrl = remember(item.id, item.imageTags, item.parentLogoItemId, item.parentLogoImageTag, showLogo) {
+        if (showLogo) repository.logoUrl(item, 640) else null
+    }
+    val useTextTitle = useTextTitleForLogo(logoUrl)
     FocusScaleContainer(
         onFocused = onFocused,
         onClick = onClick,
@@ -403,6 +403,7 @@ private fun FeaturedMovieCard(
                     // on the least specific thing on it — and it is the line that pushed a
                     // wrapped title into the button. The three minis beside it keep theirs:
                     // they have no fact line, and there the label is the only reason given.
+                    if (useTextTitle) {
                         Text(
                             item.name,
                             color = Color.White,
@@ -413,6 +414,15 @@ private fun FeaturedMovieCard(
                             overflow = TextOverflow.Ellipsis,
                             onTextLayout = { titleLines = it.lineCount },
                         )
+                    } else {
+                        AsyncImage(
+                            model = logoUrl,
+                            contentDescription = item.name,
+                            contentScale = ContentScale.Fit,
+                            alignment = Alignment.CenterStart,
+                            modifier = Modifier.width(240.dp).height(56.dp),
+                        )
+                    }
                     Spacer(Modifier.height(9.dp))
                     HeroFactLine(item)
                     // The reason takes the synopsis's place rather than adding a line to
@@ -540,28 +550,15 @@ private fun MiniMovieCard(
                 }
             }
             if (focused) {
-                Box(
+                MembyArtworkPlayCue(
                     modifier = Modifier
                         .align(Alignment.CenterEnd)
-                        .padding(end = 16.dp)
-                        .size(38.dp)
-                        .shadow(14.dp, CircleShape)
-                        .clip(CircleShape)
-                        .background(MembyAccent)
-                        .border(2.dp, Color.White, CircleShape),
-                    contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
-                ) {
-                    Icon(
-                        Icons.Default.PlayArrow,
-                        contentDescription = null,
-                        tint = Color.White,
-                        modifier = Modifier.size(24.dp),
+                        .padding(end = 16.dp),
                 )
             }
         }
     }
 }
-}
 
 @Composable
 private fun HeroArtwork(item: BaseItem, previewArtwork: ImageBitmap?, modifier: Modifier) {

app/src/main/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/MainActivity.kt

@@ -179,6 +179,26 @@ import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
 import kotlinx.coroutines.withTimeoutOrNull
 import java.util.Date
 import java.util.Calendar
+import java.time.Instant
+
+internal const val MEMBY_UPDATE_NOTIFICATION_ID = -1L
+
+internal fun membyUpdateNotification(
+    version: String?,
+    occurredAt: String?,
+    read: Boolean,
+): UserNotification? {
+    val installed = version?.trim()?.takeIf(String::isNotEmpty) ?: return null
+    return UserNotification(
+        id = MEMBY_UPDATE_NOTIFICATION_ID,
+        kind = "app-update",
+        title = "Memby updated",
+        message = "This TV is now running Memby $installed.",
+        eventAt = occurredAt,
+        createdAt = occurredAt.orEmpty(),
+        readAt = if (read) occurredAt ?: "read" else null,
+    )
+}
 
 /**
  * The followed show a press stands for, as much of it as the card already knows.
@@ -498,7 +518,10 @@ private fun AppRoot(onCloseSettings: () -> Unit) {
                 // Persist the receipt before producing the external effect. If Android
                 // recreates the activity immediately after the toast, the new composition
                 // must not announce the same build a second time.
-                ServiceLocator.settings.markWhatsNewSeen(decision.version)
+                ServiceLocator.settings.markWhatsNewSeen(
+                    decision.version,
+                    updateAlertAt = Instant.now().toString(),
+                )
                 currentCoroutineContext().ensureActive()
                 Toast.makeText(
                     context,
@@ -1938,6 +1961,13 @@ private fun HomeScreen(
     var notificationsLoading by remember(settings.userId) { mutableStateOf(true) }
     var notificationsError by remember(settings.userId) { mutableStateOf<String?>(null) }
     var notificationsMutationBusy by remember(settings.userId) { mutableStateOf(false) }
+    val displayedNotifications = listOfNotNull(
+        membyUpdateNotification(
+            settings.updateAlertVersion,
+            settings.updateAlertAt,
+            settings.updateAlertRead,
+        ),
+    ) + notificationState.notifications
     var showNotifications by remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
     // Two different things: [launchingItem] is the gate that stops a second Play press
     // stacking a second player, and stays shut until one comes back. [resolvingItem] is
@@ -2396,7 +2426,7 @@ private fun HomeScreen(
                         }
                     }
                 },
-                alertCount = notificationState.notifications.size,
+                alertCount = displayedNotifications.size,
                 activeUsername = settings.username.orEmpty(),
                 calendarEnabled = tvCalendarEnabled,
             )
@@ -2408,7 +2438,7 @@ private fun HomeScreen(
             ) {
                 val maintenanceMessage = liveMaintenance?.message ?: homeStatus.maintenanceMessage
                 if (maintenanceMessage != null) {
-                    // The rows are gone but the rail is not: Settings and Switch user are
+                    // The rows are gone but the rail is not: Settings and the active user are
                     // local, so there is no reason to strand the viewer here.
                     MaintenanceScreen(
                         message = maintenanceMessage,
@@ -3037,7 +3067,7 @@ private fun HomeScreen(
                     navigationExpanded = false
                     showProfiles = true
                 },
-                alertCount = notificationState.notifications.size,
+                alertCount = displayedNotifications.size,
                 onOpenAlerts = {
                     homeViewModel.trackJourney(
                         category = "notifications", action = "open", screen = journeyScreen,
@@ -3086,7 +3116,7 @@ private fun HomeScreen(
             }
             BackHandler(onBack = closeSettings)
             // Settings is a destination, not a takeover: it leaves the main rail visible
-            // and reachable so Home, Search and Switch user are one Left press away, the
+            // and reachable so Home, Search and the active user are one Left press away, the
             // same as from every other page. The rail below is the live one — this Row
             // only reserves its collapsed footprint and takes the same expand shift the
             // content area does, so an expanded rail slides Settings aside rather than
@@ -3329,7 +3359,7 @@ private fun HomeScreen(
             }
             BackHandler(onBack = closeAlerts)
             MyAlertsPage(
-                notifications = notificationState.notifications,
+                notifications = displayedNotifications,
                 preferences = notificationState.preferences,
                 loading = notificationsLoading,
                 errorMessage = notificationsError,
@@ -3373,7 +3403,11 @@ private fun HomeScreen(
                 // connection walking down the list and back up would send the same row's
                 // request once per pass — clearing the flag immediately is what makes the
                 // row stop asking.
-                onRead = { notification ->
+                onRead = onRead@{ notification ->
+                    if (notification.id == MEMBY_UPDATE_NOTIFICATION_ID) {
+                        scope.launch { ServiceLocator.settings.markUpdateAlertRead() }
+                        return@onRead
+                    }
                     val previousReadAt = notification.readAt
                     notificationState = notificationState.copy(
                         notifications = notificationState.notifications.map {
@@ -3401,8 +3435,12 @@ private fun HomeScreen(
                 // while its request was in flight is a row pressed again — which on this
                 // page also re-aims where focus lands afterwards. A failure puts the row
                 // back where it was rather than quietly losing somebody's alert.
-                onDismiss = { notification ->
-                    if (notificationsMutationBusy) return@MyAlertsPage
+                onDismiss = onDismiss@{ notification ->
+                    if (notificationsMutationBusy) return@onDismiss
+                    if (notification.id == MEMBY_UPDATE_NOTIFICATION_ID) {
+                        scope.launch { ServiceLocator.settings.dismissUpdateAlert() }
+                        return@onDismiss
+                    }
                     notificationsMutationBusy = true
                     val previous = notificationState
                     notificationState = notificationState.copy(
@@ -3428,8 +3466,10 @@ private fun HomeScreen(
                     notificationsMutationBusy = true
                     val previous = notificationState
                     val pending = notificationState.notifications.map(UserNotification::id)
+                    val dismissLocalUpdate = settings.updateAlertVersion != null
                     notificationState = notificationState.copy(notifications = emptyList())
                     scope.launch {
+                        if (dismissLocalUpdate) ServiceLocator.settings.dismissUpdateAlert()
                         val failed = pending.filter { id ->
                             runCatching { repo.dismissNotification(id) }.isFailure
                         }

app/src/main/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/MaintenanceScreen.kt

@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ private const val RETRY_SECONDS = 30
 /**
  * Fills the content area while the gateway reports a deliberate outage.
  *
- * The navigation rail deliberately stays mounted beside this: Settings and Switch user
+ * The navigation rail deliberately stays mounted beside this: Settings and the active user
  * are local, so there is no reason to strand the viewer just because content is
  * unavailable. Everything here is cheap to draw — a handful of animated floats and plain
  * Canvas geometry — because TV GPUs punish blur and layered transparency.

app/src/main/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/MembyButtons.kt

@@ -7,10 +7,12 @@ import androidx.compose.foundation.border
 import androidx.compose.foundation.clickable
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Row
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Spacer
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Box
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.padding
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.size
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.width
 import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.RoundedCornerShape
+import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.CircleShape
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.Icons
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Check
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.PlayArrow
@@ -88,6 +90,32 @@ internal fun MembyPlayChip(
     )
 }
 
+/**
+ * The circular Play treatment shown over a focused artwork card.
+ *
+ * The card itself remains the focusable and clickable node; this is only the visual cue,
+ * shared by the mini hero cards and the poster shelves so Play means one shape everywhere.
+ */
+@Composable
+internal fun MembyArtworkPlayCue(modifier: Modifier = Modifier) {
+    Box(
+        modifier = modifier
+            .size(38.dp)
+            .shadow(14.dp, CircleShape)
+            .clip(CircleShape)
+            .background(MembyAccent)
+            .border(2.dp, Color.White, CircleShape),
+        contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
+    ) {
+        Icon(
+            Icons.Default.PlayArrow,
+            contentDescription = null,
+            tint = Color.White,
+            modifier = Modifier.size(24.dp),
+        )
+    }
+}
+
 @Composable
 private fun PrimaryActionSurface(
     label: String,

app/src/main/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/UserSwitcherNavigation.kt

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ package com.ponzischeme89.memby.ui
 internal enum class UserSwitcherDirection { UP, DOWN }
 
 /**
- * Profiles occupy [0, profileCount); the pinned actions — My Alerts, then Manage users —
+ * Profiles occupy [0, profileCount); the pinned actions — Notifications, then Manage users —
  * follow them in order. Keeping this arithmetic outside Compose makes remote navigation
  * deterministic.
  */

app/src/main/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/alerts/AlertsFormat.kt

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 package com.ponzischeme89.memby.ui.alerts
 
 /**
- * The wording and the counting behind My Alerts, kept pure so the badge a viewer sees in the
+ * The wording and the counting behind Notifications, kept pure so the badge a viewer sees in the
  * user picker and the summary line on the page itself are the same arithmetic tested once.
  *
  * The badge answers "is there anything waiting for me", which is why it counts *alerts* and
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ internal fun alertBadgeLabel(count: Int): String? = when {
  */
 internal fun alertsSummary(total: Int, unread: Int): String = when {
     total <= 0 -> "Nothing waiting for you"
-    unread <= 0 -> if (total == 1) "1 alert" else "$total alerts"
+    unread <= 0 -> if (total == 1) "1 notification" else "$total notifications"
     else -> {
-        val alerts = if (total == 1) "1 alert" else "$total alerts"
-        "$alerts · $unread new"
+        val notifications = if (total == 1) "1 notification" else "$total notifications"
+        "$notifications · $unread new"
     }
 }

app/src/main/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/alerts/AlertsPage.kt

@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ import com.ponzischeme89.memby.ui.theme.MembySurface
 import kotlinx.coroutines.delay
 
 /**
- * My Alerts — a full page rather than the panel it used to be, reached from the user menu in
+ * Notifications — a full page rather than the panel it used to be, reached from the user menu in
  * the user picker.
  *
  * It moved there because these alerts belong to a *person*, not to a television: they follow
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ fun MyAlertsPage(
                 verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically,
             ) {
                 MembyChoiceChip(
-                    label = if (preferences.enabled) "Alerts on" else "Alerts off",
+                    label = if (preferences.enabled) "Notifications on" else "Notifications off",
                     selected = preferences.enabled,
                     onClick = onToggleEnabled,
                     modifier = Modifier.focusRequester(actionsFocusRequester),
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ fun MyAlertsPage(
             Spacer(Modifier.height(18.dp))
             Box(Modifier.fillMaxWidth().height(1.dp).background(MembyHairline))
             if (loading && !hasAlerts) {
-                AlertsNotice("Loading alerts…")
+                AlertsNotice("Loading notifications…")
             } else if (errorMessage != null && !hasAlerts) {
                 AlertsNotice(errorMessage)
             } else if (!hasAlerts) {
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ private fun AlertsHeader(total: Int, unread: Int) {
         modifier = Modifier.padding(start = 16.dp),
         verticalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(4.dp),
     ) {
-        Text("My Alerts", color = Color.White, fontSize = 32.sp, fontWeight = FontWeight.Bold)
+        Text("Notifications", color = Color.White, fontSize = 32.sp, fontWeight = FontWeight.Bold)
         Text(alertsSummary(total, unread), color = MembyQuietText, fontSize = 14.sp)
     }
 }
@@ -248,9 +248,9 @@ private fun AlertsEmptyState(enabled: Boolean) {
         Spacer(Modifier.height(8.dp))
         Text(
             if (enabled) {
-                "Alerts about the shows you follow will show up here."
+                "Notifications about the shows you follow will show up here."
             } else {
-                "Alerts are switched off, so nothing new will arrive here."
+                "Notifications are switched off, so nothing new will arrive here."
             },
             color = MembyQuietText,
             fontSize = 14.sp,
@@ -356,5 +356,6 @@ private fun AlertRow(
 private fun alertIcon(kind: String): ImageVector = when {
     kind.contains("return", ignoreCase = true) -> Icons.Default.Tv
     kind.contains("series", ignoreCase = true) -> Icons.Default.Tv
+    kind.startsWith("show-", ignoreCase = true) -> Icons.Default.Tv
     else -> Icons.Default.NotificationsActive
 }

app/src/main/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/player/PlayerActivity.kt

@@ -76,12 +76,16 @@ import com.ponzischeme89.memby.data.normalizeSeekIntervalSeconds
 import com.ponzischeme89.memby.data.normalizeSkipIntroMode
 import com.ponzischeme89.memby.data.resolveCast
 import com.ponzischeme89.memby.data.selectSubtitleId
+import com.ponzischeme89.memby.data.subtitleLabelWithFlag
 import com.ponzischeme89.memby.data.model.EmbyPerson
 import com.ponzischeme89.memby.data.model.BaseItem
 import com.ponzischeme89.memby.data.model.GatewayPrerollEntry
 import com.ponzischeme89.memby.data.model.GatewayPrerollSchedule
 import com.ponzischeme89.memby.data.model.GatewaySeasonFinale
 import com.ponzischeme89.memby.data.model.GatewaySubtitleCandidate
+import com.ponzischeme89.memby.data.playback.AudioPassthroughMode
+import com.ponzischeme89.memby.data.playback.AudioPassthroughPreference
+import com.ponzischeme89.memby.data.playback.SurroundCodec
 import com.ponzischeme89.memby.ui.MainActivity
 import com.ponzischeme89.memby.ui.EmbyOutageBanner
 import com.ponzischeme89.memby.ui.ServiceAlertBanner
@@ -104,6 +108,13 @@ import java.util.Locale
 import kotlin.math.abs
 import kotlin.math.ceil
 
+internal fun passthroughOsdSummary(preference: AudioPassthroughPreference): String = when {
+    preference.mode == AudioPassthroughMode.AUTO -> "Auto"
+    preference.codecs.isEmpty() -> "Off"
+    preference.codecs.size == 1 -> preference.codecs.single().label
+    else -> "${preference.codecs.size} formats"
+}
+
 /**
  * Fullscreen Media3 player with native stream-track selection. Press Menu while
  * playing to choose an audio or subtitle track; the subtitle controller button
@@ -3194,10 +3205,14 @@ class PlayerActivity : ComponentActivity() {
         }
         // Cast is deliberately absent: it has its own button in the transport row now, and
         // one thing reachable two ways is one thing whose two entry points drift apart.
+        val passthrough = ServiceLocator.settings.current.audioPassthroughPreference
+        val passthroughOption = "Soundbar / passthrough · ${passthroughOsdSummary(passthrough)}"
+        val pictureOption = "Picture size · ${selectedPictureMode().shortLabel}"
         val options = buildList {
             if (audio) add("Audio")
             add("Subtitles & appearance")
-            add("Picture size · ${selectedPictureMode().shortLabel}")
+            add(passthroughOption)
+            add(pictureOption)
         }
         AlertDialog.Builder(this)
             .setTitle(intent.getStringExtra(EXTRA_TITLE) ?: "Playback options")
@@ -3205,12 +3220,67 @@ class PlayerActivity : ComponentActivity() {
                 when (options[which]) {
                     "Audio" -> showTrackPicker(C.TRACK_TYPE_AUDIO)
                     "Subtitles & appearance" -> showSubtitleOverlay()
-                    else -> showPictureModePicker()
+                    passthroughOption -> showAudioPassthroughPicker()
+                    pictureOption -> showPictureModePicker()
                 }
             }
             .show()
     }
 
+    private fun showAudioPassthroughPicker() {
+        val current = ServiceLocator.settings.current.audioPassthroughPreference
+        val options = arrayOf("Auto detect", "Off", "Choose formats…")
+        val selected = when {
+            current.mode == AudioPassthroughMode.AUTO -> 0
+            current.codecs.isEmpty() -> 1
+            else -> 2
+        }
+        AlertDialog.Builder(this)
+            .setTitle("Soundbar / passthrough")
+            .setSingleChoiceItems(options, selected) { dialog, which ->
+                when (which) {
+                    0 -> saveAudioPassthrough(AudioPassthroughMode.AUTO, current.codecs)
+                    1 -> saveAudioPassthrough(AudioPassthroughMode.MANUAL, emptySet())
+                    else -> {
+                        dialog.dismiss()
+                        showManualPassthroughPicker(current.codecs)
+                        return@setSingleChoiceItems
+                    }
+                }
+                dialog.dismiss()
+            }
+            .setNegativeButton("Cancel", null)
+            .show()
+    }
+
+    private fun showManualPassthroughPicker(initial: Set<SurroundCodec>) {
+        val selected = SurroundCodec.entries.map { it in initial }.toBooleanArray()
+        AlertDialog.Builder(this)
+            .setTitle("Formats accepted by your soundbar")
+            .setMultiChoiceItems(
+                SurroundCodec.entries.map(SurroundCodec::label).toTypedArray(),
+                selected,
+            ) { _, which, checked -> selected[which] = checked }
+            .setPositiveButton("Save") { _, _ ->
+                saveAudioPassthrough(
+                    AudioPassthroughMode.MANUAL,
+                    SurroundCodec.entries.filterIndexed { index, _ -> selected[index] }.toSet(),
+                )
+            }
+            .setNegativeButton("Cancel", null)
+            .show()
+    }
+
+    private fun saveAudioPassthrough(mode: AudioPassthroughMode, codecs: Set<SurroundCodec>) {
+        lifecycleScope.launch { ServiceLocator.settings.setAudioPassthrough(mode, codecs) }
+        Toast.makeText(
+            this,
+            "Soundbar setting saved. It applies when the next video starts.",
+            Toast.LENGTH_LONG,
+        ).show()
+        playerView?.hideController()
+    }
+
     private fun showPictureModePicker() {
         val selected = selectedPictureMode()
         AlertDialog.Builder(this)
@@ -3483,7 +3553,7 @@ class PlayerActivity : ComponentActivity() {
                     discoveredTracks += TrackChoice(
                         group.mediaTrackGroup,
                         index,
-                        trackLabel(group.mediaTrackGroup, index),
+                        trackLabel(group.mediaTrackGroup, index, showSubtitleFlag = true),
                     )
                 }
             }
@@ -3609,7 +3679,10 @@ class PlayerActivity : ComponentActivity() {
         subtitleCandidates.forEach { candidate ->
             add(
                 SubtitleMenuEntry(
-                    label = candidate.label.ifBlank { candidate.languageLabel },
+                    label = subtitleLabelWithFlag(
+                        candidate.language,
+                        candidate.label.ifBlank { candidate.languageLabel },
+                    ),
                     selected = false,
                     enabled = !subtitleRequestInFlight,
                 ),
@@ -3817,7 +3890,8 @@ class PlayerActivity : ComponentActivity() {
             if (subtitle.isDefault) add("Default")
             if (subtitle.isHearingImpaired) add("SDH")
         }
-        return if (flags.isEmpty()) name else "$name · ${flags.joinToString(" · ")}"
+        val label = if (flags.isEmpty()) name else "$name · ${flags.joinToString(" · ")}"
+        return subtitleLabelWithFlag(subtitle.language, label)
     }
 
     private fun selectEncodedSubtitle(subtitle: PlayableSubtitle) {
@@ -3933,7 +4007,7 @@ class PlayerActivity : ComponentActivity() {
     }
 
     @OptIn(UnstableApi::class)
-    private fun trackLabel(group: TrackGroup, index: Int): String {
+    private fun trackLabel(group: TrackGroup, index: Int, showSubtitleFlag: Boolean = false): String {
         val format = group.getFormat(index)
         val rawLabel = format.label?.trim()?.takeIf { it.isNotBlank() }
         val meaningfulLabel = rawLabel?.takeUnless { it.matches(Regex("""^\([^)]*\)$""")) }
@@ -3948,7 +4022,8 @@ class PlayerActivity : ComponentActivity() {
             if (format.selectionFlags and C.SELECTION_FLAG_DEFAULT != 0) add("Default")
             if (format.roleFlags and C.ROLE_FLAG_CAPTION != 0) add("CC")
         }
-        return if (traits.isEmpty()) name else "$name · ${traits.joinToString(" · ")}"
+        val label = if (traits.isEmpty()) name else "$name · ${traits.joinToString(" · ")}"
+        return if (showSubtitleFlag) subtitleLabelWithFlag(format.language, label) else label
     }
 
     override fun onNewIntent(intent: Intent) {

app/src/main/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/player/SubtitleMenu.kt

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import android.view.Gravity
 import android.view.View
 import android.view.ViewGroup
 import android.widget.LinearLayout
+import android.widget.ScrollView
 import android.widget.TextView
 import androidx.core.view.isVisible
 import com.ponzischeme89.memby.R
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ data class SubtitleDownloadState(
     val entries: List<SubtitleMenuEntry> = emptyList(),
     /**
      * Whether the panel has switched to being *about* downloading, which hides the track
-     * list and the text-size chips. It is not decoration: the drop-up is 344dp wide by
+     * list and the text-size chips. It is not decoration: the drop-up is 316dp wide by
      * about a third of a 720p screen, and holding a track list, a size row and a list of
      * search results at once squeezed the tracks down to a single visible row. One question
      * at a time, and Back is what steps out of this one.
@@ -99,6 +100,9 @@ fun bindSubtitleMenu(
     tracks.forEachIndexed { index, entry ->
         trackContainer.addView(subtitleMenuOption(context, entry) { onTrack(index) })
     }
+    overlay.findViewById<ScrollView>(R.id.player_subtitle_tracks_scroll)?.apply {
+        layoutParams = layoutParams.apply { height = menuRowsHeight(context, tracks.size, 3) }
+    }
     sizes.forEachIndexed { index, entry ->
         sizeContainer.addView(subtitleMenuOption(context, entry, chip = true) { onSize(index) })
     }
@@ -128,6 +132,16 @@ private fun bindDownloadSection(
     downloads.entries.forEachIndexed { index, entry ->
         container.addView(subtitleMenuOption(overlay.context, entry) { onDownload(index) })
     }
+    overlay.findViewById<ScrollView>(R.id.player_subtitle_downloads_scroll)?.apply {
+        layoutParams = layoutParams.apply {
+            height = menuRowsHeight(overlay.context, downloads.entries.size, 4)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+private fun menuRowsHeight(context: Context, rows: Int, maximumRows: Int): Int {
+    val density = context.resources.displayMetrics.density
+    return (rows.coerceIn(1, maximumRows) * 42 * density).toInt()
 }
 
 /**
@@ -145,7 +159,7 @@ private fun subtitleMenuOption(
     fun dp(value: Int) = (value * density).toInt()
     layoutParams = LinearLayout.LayoutParams(
         if (chip) ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT else ViewGroup.LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT,
-        dp(if (chip) 40 else 46),
+        dp(if (chip) 36 else 40),
     ).apply {
         if (chip) marginEnd = dp(6) else bottomMargin = dp(2)
     }
@@ -159,11 +173,11 @@ private fun subtitleMenuOption(
         setTextColor(context.getColorStateList(R.color.player_overlay_option_text))
     }
     gravity = if (chip) Gravity.CENTER else Gravity.CENTER_VERTICAL
-    setPadding(dp(14), 0, dp(14), 0)
+    setPadding(dp(12), 0, dp(12), 0)
     text = entry.label
     maxLines = 1
     ellipsize = TextUtils.TruncateAt.END
-    textSize = if (chip) 14f else 15f
+    textSize = if (chip) 13f else 14f
     typeface = Typeface.create("sans-serif", if (entry.selected) Typeface.BOLD else Typeface.NORMAL)
     // A disabled row keeps its place and its label and only stops being reachable, so a
     // search in flight cannot be started twice and nothing moves while it runs.

app/src/main/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/settings/SettingsSheet.kt

@@ -128,6 +128,10 @@ import kotlinx.coroutines.delay
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
 import kotlinx.coroutines.withContext
 import kotlinx.coroutines.withTimeout
+import java.time.Instant
+import java.time.ZoneId
+import java.time.format.DateTimeFormatter
+import java.util.Locale
 
 internal data class ChoiceOption(val value: String, val label: String, val color: Color? = null)
 
@@ -1151,10 +1155,17 @@ internal fun deviceDescription(device: GatewayDevice): String = buildList {
     if (device.current) add("This TV")
     device.clientVersion.takeIf(String::isNotBlank)?.let { add("Memby v$it") }
     device.lastSeenAt.takeIf(String::isNotBlank)?.let {
-        add("Last active ${it.replace('T', ' ').substringBefore('.').removeSuffix("Z")}")
+        add("Last active ${formatDeviceLastSeen(it)}")
     }
 }.joinToString("  •  ").ifBlank { "Signed in" }
 
+internal fun formatDeviceLastSeen(raw: String, zoneId: ZoneId = ZoneId.systemDefault()): String =
+    runCatching {
+        DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("d MMM yyyy, h:mm a")
+            .withLocale(Locale.forLanguageTag("en-NZ"))
+            .format(Instant.parse(raw.trim()).atZone(zoneId))
+    }.getOrDefault(raw)
+
 @Composable
 private fun DeviceManagementRow(
     device: GatewayDevice,
@@ -1994,7 +2005,7 @@ private fun ReleaseHistoryRow(
             }
             Spacer(Modifier.weight(1f))
             release.date.takeIf(String::isNotBlank)?.let {
-                Text(it, color = TextQuiet, fontSize = 12.sp)
+                Text(formatReleaseDate(it), color = TextQuiet, fontSize = 12.sp)
             }
             Text(
                 if (expanded) "HIDE" else "${release.changes.size} CHANGES",

app/src/main/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/settings/VersionHistory.kt

@@ -13,6 +13,22 @@ internal data class ReleaseNote(
     val changes: List<String>,
 )
 
+private val ReleaseMonths = listOf(
+    "Jan", "Feb", "Mar", "Apr", "May", "Jun",
+    "Jul", "Aug", "Sep", "Oct", "Nov", "Dec",
+)
+
+/** Turns the changelog's wire-friendly ISO date into the day-first date shown in About. */
+internal fun formatReleaseDate(raw: String): String {
+    val date = raw.trim()
+    if (date.length != 10 || date[4] != '-' || date[7] != '-') return raw
+    val year = date.substring(0, 4).toIntOrNull() ?: return raw
+    val month = date.substring(5, 7).toIntOrNull() ?: return raw
+    val day = date.substring(8, 10).toIntOrNull() ?: return raw
+    if (month !in 1..12 || day !in 1..31) return raw
+    return "$day ${ReleaseMonths[month - 1]} $year"
+}
+
 private val HeadingPattern = Regex("""^##\s+v?(\d+\.\d+\.\d+)\s*(?:[—–-]\s*(.+))?$""")
 
 /**

app/src/main/res/layout/player_subtitle_overlay.xml

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      what caps how tall the track list can grow before it scrolls.
 
      The panel holds two screens, not three sections. Choosing a track and fetching one the
-     title does not have are separate questions, and at 344dp by a third of a 720p screen
+     title does not have are separate questions, and at 316dp by a third of a 720p screen
      there is not room to ask both — stacking them squeezed the track list to a single row.
      So `player_subtitle_main_section` and the results half of the download section swap:
      the search row is the way in, Back is the way out, one press per level. -->
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 
     <LinearLayout
         android:id="@+id/player_subtitle_menu"
-        android:layout_width="344dp"
+        android:layout_width="316dp"
         android:layout_height="wrap_content"
         android:layout_gravity="bottom|end"
         android:layout_marginTop="96dp"
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@
         android:background="@drawable/player_menu_background"
         android:orientation="vertical"
         android:paddingStart="10dp"
-        android:paddingTop="14dp"
+        android:paddingTop="10dp"
         android:paddingEnd="10dp"
-        android:paddingBottom="12dp">
+        android:paddingBottom="10dp">
 
         <LinearLayout
             android:id="@+id/player_subtitle_main_section"
@@ -67,10 +67,10 @@
                 android:visibility="gone" />
 
             <ScrollView
+                android:id="@+id/player_subtitle_tracks_scroll"
                 android:layout_width="match_parent"
                 android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-                android:layout_marginTop="8dp"
-                android:layout_weight="1"
+                android:layout_marginTop="6dp"
                 android:fillViewport="false"
                 android:overScrollMode="never"
                 android:scrollbars="none">
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@
                 android:layout_width="match_parent"
                 android:layout_height="1dp"
                 android:layout_marginStart="14dp"
-                android:layout_marginTop="10dp"
+                android:layout_marginTop="7dp"
                 android:layout_marginEnd="14dp"
                 android:background="#14FFFFFF" />
 
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@
                 android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                 android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                 android:layout_marginStart="14dp"
-                android:layout_marginTop="12dp"
+                android:layout_marginTop="8dp"
                 android:letterSpacing="0.12"
                 android:text="@string/player_text_size"
                 android:textColor="#7AFFFFFF"
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
                 android:id="@+id/player_subtitle_sizes"
                 android:layout_width="match_parent"
                 android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-                android:layout_marginTop="8dp"
+                android:layout_marginTop="6dp"
                 android:orientation="horizontal" />
         </LinearLayout>
 
@@ -115,7 +115,6 @@
             android:id="@+id/player_subtitle_download_section"
             android:layout_width="match_parent"
             android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-            android:layout_weight="1"
             android:orientation="vertical"
             android:visibility="gone">
 
@@ -127,7 +126,7 @@
                 android:layout_width="match_parent"
                 android:layout_height="1dp"
                 android:layout_marginStart="14dp"
-                android:layout_marginTop="12dp"
+                android:layout_marginTop="8dp"
                 android:layout_marginEnd="14dp"
                 android:background="#14FFFFFF" />
 
@@ -135,7 +134,7 @@
                 android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                 android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                 android:layout_marginStart="14dp"
-                android:layout_marginTop="12dp"
+                android:layout_marginTop="8dp"
                 android:letterSpacing="0.12"
                 android:text="@string/player_subtitle_download"
                 android:textColor="#7AFFFFFF"
@@ -154,10 +153,10 @@
                 android:visibility="gone" />
 
             <ScrollView
+                android:id="@+id/player_subtitle_downloads_scroll"
                 android:layout_width="match_parent"
                 android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-                android:layout_marginTop="8dp"
-                android:layout_weight="1"
+                android:layout_marginTop="6dp"
                 android:fillViewport="false"
                 android:overScrollMode="never"
                 android:scrollbars="none">

app/src/test/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/data/SubtitlePreferenceTest.kt

@@ -32,6 +32,14 @@ class SubtitlePreferenceTest {
         assertEquals("klingon", normalizeSubtitleLanguage("Klingon"))
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun `subtitle labels include a country flag when the language is known`() {
+        assertEquals("🇮🇹  Italian", subtitleLabelWithFlag("ita", "Italian"))
+        assertEquals("🇬🇧  English", subtitleLabelWithFlag("en-GB", "English"))
+        assertEquals("🇧🇷  Português", subtitleLabelWithFlag("pt-BR", "Português"))
+        assertEquals("Klingon", subtitleLabelWithFlag("tlh", "Klingon"))
+    }
+
     @Test
     fun `subtitles turned off means nothing is selected`() {
         val tracks = listOf(track("1", "eng", default = true))

app/src/test/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/ProfileInitialsTest.kt

@@ -16,4 +16,10 @@ class ProfileInitialsTest {
         assertEquals("AL", profileInitials("alwyn"))
         assertEquals("?", profileInitials("  "))
     }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `profile destination names the signed in viewer`() {
+        assertEquals("Matt Cohen", profileDestinationLabel("  Matt Cohen  "))
+        assertEquals("User", profileDestinationLabel("  "))
+    }
 }

app/src/test/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/UserSwitcherNavigationTest.kt

@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class UserSwitcherNavigationTest {
     fun `both pinned actions are reachable below the profiles`() {
         val profileCount = 3
 
-        // …the last profile, then My Alerts, then Manage users, and no further.
+        // …the last profile, then Notifications, then Manage users, and no further.
         assertEquals(3, userSwitcherNextIndex(2, profileCount, UserSwitcherDirection.DOWN, 2))
         assertEquals(4, userSwitcherNextIndex(3, profileCount, UserSwitcherDirection.DOWN, 2))
         assertEquals(4, userSwitcherNextIndex(4, profileCount, UserSwitcherDirection.DOWN, 2))

app/src/test/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/alerts/AlertsFormatTest.kt

@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@ class AlertsFormatTest {
     }
 
     @Test
-    fun `the summary counts alerts, and names the new ones only when there are some`() {
+    fun `the summary counts notifications, and names the new ones only when there are some`() {
         assertEquals("Nothing waiting for you", alertsSummary(total = 0, unread = 0))
-        assertEquals("1 alert", alertsSummary(total = 1, unread = 0))
-        assertEquals("4 alerts", alertsSummary(total = 4, unread = 0))
-        assertEquals("4 alerts · 2 new", alertsSummary(total = 4, unread = 2))
-        assertEquals("1 alert · 1 new", alertsSummary(total = 1, unread = 1))
+        assertEquals("1 notification", alertsSummary(total = 1, unread = 0))
+        assertEquals("4 notifications", alertsSummary(total = 4, unread = 0))
+        assertEquals("4 notifications · 2 new", alertsSummary(total = 4, unread = 2))
+        assertEquals("1 notification · 1 new", alertsSummary(total = 1, unread = 1))
     }
 }

app/src/test/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/alerts/AlertsPageScreenshotTest.kt

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import org.robolectric.annotation.Config
 import org.robolectric.annotation.GraphicsMode
 
 /**
- * Renders My Alerts to PNGs under `build/screenshots/my-alerts/`, so the page can be looked
+ * Renders Notifications to PNGs under `build/screenshots/my-alerts/`, so the page can be looked
  * at without deploying to a TV.
  *
  * ```powershell

app/src/test/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/player/AudioPassthroughOsdTest.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+package com.ponzischeme89.memby.ui.player
+
+import com.ponzischeme89.memby.data.playback.AudioPassthroughMode
+import com.ponzischeme89.memby.data.playback.AudioPassthroughPreference
+import com.ponzischeme89.memby.data.playback.SurroundCodec
+import org.junit.Assert.assertEquals
+import org.junit.Test
+
+class AudioPassthroughOsdTest {
+    @Test
+    fun `summary distinguishes automatic off and manual formats`() {
+        assertEquals("Auto", passthroughOsdSummary(AudioPassthroughPreference.AUTOMATIC))
+        assertEquals(
+            "Off",
+            passthroughOsdSummary(AudioPassthroughPreference(AudioPassthroughMode.MANUAL)),
+        )
+        assertEquals(
+            "Dolby Digital",
+            passthroughOsdSummary(
+                AudioPassthroughPreference(
+                    AudioPassthroughMode.MANUAL,
+                    setOf(SurroundCodec.AC3),
+                ),
+            ),
+        )
+        assertEquals(
+            "2 formats",
+            passthroughOsdSummary(
+                AudioPassthroughPreference(
+                    AudioPassthroughMode.MANUAL,
+                    setOf(SurroundCodec.AC3, SurroundCodec.DTS),
+                ),
+            ),
+        )
+    }
+}

app/src/test/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/player/SubtitleMenuScreenshotTest.kt

@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@ class SubtitleMenuScreenshotTest {
             name = "subtitles-menu-track-selected",
             tracks = listOf(
                 entry("Off"),
-                entry("English", selected = true),
-                entry("English · SDH"),
-                entry("Italian · Forced"),
+                entry("🇬🇧  English", selected = true),
+                entry("🇬🇧  English · SDH"),
+                entry("🇮🇹  Italian · Forced"),
             ),
             focused = 1,
         )
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class SubtitleMenuScreenshotTest {
     fun `subtitles off`() {
         capture(
             name = "subtitles-menu-off",
-            tracks = listOf(entry("Off", selected = true), entry("English"), entry("Français")),
+            tracks = listOf(entry("Off", selected = true), entry("🇬🇧  English"), entry("🇫🇷  Français")),
             focused = 0,
         )
     }
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class SubtitleMenuScreenshotTest {
     fun `text size focused`() {
         capture(
             name = "subtitles-menu-text-size",
-            tracks = listOf(entry("Off"), entry("English", selected = true)),
+            tracks = listOf(entry("Off"), entry("🇬🇧  English", selected = true)),
             focusedSize = 2,
         )
     }
@@ -79,14 +79,14 @@ class SubtitleMenuScreenshotTest {
             name = "subtitles-menu-long-list",
             tracks = listOf(
                 entry("Off"),
-                entry("English", selected = true),
-                entry("English · SDH"),
-                entry("Français"),
-                entry("Deutsch · Forced"),
-                entry("Italiano"),
-                entry("Español · Default"),
-                entry("Português (Brasil)"),
-                entry("Nederlands · SDH · Burned in"),
+                entry("🇬🇧  English", selected = true),
+                entry("🇬🇧  English · SDH"),
+                entry("🇫🇷  Français"),
+                entry("🇩🇪  Deutsch · Forced"),
+                entry("🇮🇹  Italiano"),
+                entry("🇪🇸  Español · Default"),
+                entry("🇧🇷  Português (Brasil)"),
+                entry("🇳🇱  Nederlands · SDH · Burned in"),
             ),
             focused = 1,
         )
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ class SubtitleMenuScreenshotTest {
     fun `download offered with nothing suitable in the list`() {
         capture(
             name = "subtitles-menu-download-offered",
-            tracks = listOf(entry("Off", selected = true), entry("Deutsch")),
+            tracks = listOf(entry("Off", selected = true), entry("🇩🇪  Deutsch")),
             downloads = SubtitleDownloadState(
                 available = true,
                 entries = listOf(entry("Search for subtitles…", prominent = true)),
@@ -134,16 +134,16 @@ class SubtitleMenuScreenshotTest {
     fun `download results`() {
         capture(
             name = "subtitles-menu-download-results",
-            tracks = listOf(entry("Off", selected = true), entry("Deutsch")),
+            tracks = listOf(entry("Off", selected = true), entry("🇩🇪  Deutsch")),
             downloads = SubtitleDownloadState(
                 available = true,
                 expanded = true,
                 entries = listOf(
                     entry("Search again", prominent = true),
-                    entry("English · 98% match"),
-                    entry("English · Hearing impaired · 96% match"),
-                    entry("English · Forced · 91% match"),
-                    entry("Italian · 84% match"),
+                    entry("🇬🇧  English · 98% match"),
+                    entry("🇬🇧  English · Hearing impaired · 96% match"),
+                    entry("🇬🇧  English · Forced · 91% match"),
+                    entry("🇮🇹  Italian · 84% match"),
                 ),
             ),
             focusedDownload = 1,

app/src/test/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/settings/VersionHistoryTest.kt

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package com.ponzischeme89.memby.ui.settings
 import org.junit.Assert.assertEquals
 import org.junit.Assert.assertTrue
 import org.junit.Test
+import java.time.ZoneId
 
 class VersionHistoryTest {
 
@@ -69,4 +70,19 @@ class VersionHistoryTest {
             releases.map { it.version },
         )
     }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `release dates are shown day first`() {
+        assertEquals("11 Aug 2026", formatReleaseDate("2026-08-11"))
+        assertEquals("unknown", formatReleaseDate("unknown"))
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `device activity is shown in local day first format`() {
+        assertEquals(
+            "11 Aug 2026, 10:05 pm",
+            formatDeviceLastSeen("2026-08-11T10:05:00Z", ZoneId.of("Pacific/Auckland")),
+        )
+        assertEquals("not-a-date", formatDeviceLastSeen("not-a-date", ZoneId.of("UTC")))
+    }
 }

app/src/test/java/com/ponzischeme89/memby/ui/whatsnew/WhatsNewTest.kt

@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 package com.ponzischeme89.memby.ui.whatsnew
 
+import com.ponzischeme89.memby.ui.MEMBY_UPDATE_NOTIFICATION_ID
+import com.ponzischeme89.memby.ui.membyUpdateNotification
 import org.junit.Assert.assertEquals
+import org.junit.Assert.assertFalse
+import org.junit.Assert.assertNull
 import org.junit.Test
 
 class WhatsNewTest {
@@ -49,4 +53,14 @@ class WhatsNewTest {
         assertEquals(WhatsNewDecision.Nothing, decide(installed = "  "))
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun `an installed update becomes a local Notifications entry`() {
+        val alert = membyUpdateNotification("0.2.52", "2026-08-11T10:00:00Z", read = false)!!
+        assertEquals(MEMBY_UPDATE_NOTIFICATION_ID, alert.id)
+        assertEquals("Memby updated", alert.title)
+        assertEquals("This TV is now running Memby 0.2.52.", alert.message)
+        assertFalse(alert.readAt != null)
+        assertNull(membyUpdateNotification(" ", null, read = false))
+    }
+
 }

deploy-server.ps1

@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ The remote deployment:
   - installs .env from the local .env.example, overwriting the deployed
     copy, and keeps the old one alongside as .env.previous;
   - preserves the named database volume;
-  - tells every signed-in television a deployment is starting, through the
-    gateway that is still running, before the build begins;
+  - unless --Quiet is supplied, tells every signed-in television a deployment
+    is starting through the gateway that is still running before the build begins;
   - pulls Redis and PostgreSQL, then builds the Memby server;
   - starts each service and waits for its health check;
   - restores the previous application files if activation fails.
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ This deploys the current local working tree, including uncommitted server change
 
 .EXAMPLE
 .\deploy-server.ps1 -ReleaseNotes 'Required security update' --m
+
+.EXAMPLE
+.\deploy-server.ps1 --Quiet
 #>
 
 #Requires -Version 7.2
@@ -82,16 +85,27 @@ param(
     [Alias('m')]
     [switch] $MandatoryUpdate,
 
-    # PowerShell advanced scripts do not bind GNU-style double-dash switches. Accept
-    # --m explicitly as the sole positional argument so it can still sit at the end.
+    [Parameter()]
+    [switch] $Quiet,
+
+    # PowerShell advanced scripts do not bind GNU-style double-dash switches by name.
+    # Accept the two documented flags in either positional order instead.
     [Parameter(Position = 0)]
-    [ValidateSet('--m')]
-    [string] $MandatoryFlag
+    [string] $TrailingFlag0,
+
+    [Parameter(Position = 1)]
+    [string] $TrailingFlag1
 )
 
 Set-StrictMode -Version Latest
 $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
-$mandatoryRelease = $MandatoryUpdate -or $MandatoryFlag -eq '--m'
+$trailingFlags = @($TrailingFlag0, $TrailingFlag1) | Where-Object { -not [string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($_) }
+$unknownFlags = @($trailingFlags | Where-Object { $_ -notin @('--m', '--Quiet', '--quiet') })
+if ($unknownFlags.Count -gt 0) {
+    throw "Unknown deployment option: $($unknownFlags -join ', ')"
+}
+$mandatoryRelease = $MandatoryUpdate -or $trailingFlags -contains '--m'
+$quietDeployment = $Quiet -or $trailingFlags -contains '--Quiet' -or $trailingFlags -contains '--quiet'
 
 if ($mandatoryRelease -and $SkipAppRelease) {
     throw '--m cannot be combined with -SkipAppRelease because no update would be published.'
@@ -108,6 +122,9 @@ function Write-Banner {
     if ($mandatoryRelease) {
         Write-Host '│  Update  mandatory (viewers cannot skip it)' -ForegroundColor Yellow
     }
+    if ($quietDeployment) {
+        Write-Host '│  Notice  quiet (no advance television announcement)' -ForegroundColor DarkGray
+    }
     Write-Host '╰─' -ForegroundColor Magenta
     Write-Host ''
 }
@@ -534,6 +551,7 @@ destination='__DESTINATION__'
 health_timeout=__HEALTH_TIMEOUT__
 publish_release=__PUBLISH_RELEASE__
 mandatory_update=__MANDATORY_UPDATE__
+quiet_deployment=__QUIET_DEPLOYMENT__
 parent=$(dirname "$destination")
 staging="${destination}.new.$$"
 backup="${destination}.previous.$$"
@@ -750,7 +768,9 @@ step '[remote 4/10] Telling the televisions'
 #
 # Entirely best-effort: a deployment must never fail over a banner, and a first
 # deployment (or one onto a host with no curl) has nothing to announce with.
-if [ -z "$previous_admin_token" ]; then
+if [ "$quiet_deployment" -eq 1 ]; then
+    detail 'Quiet deployment; skipping the television announcement'
+elif [ -z "$previous_admin_token" ]; then
     detail 'No previous release to announce from; skipping'
 elif ! command -v curl >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     detail 'curl is unavailable on the NAS; skipping the announcement'
@@ -895,6 +915,10 @@ success 'Memby gateway: https://mserver.sublogue.com'
         '__MANDATORY_UPDATE__',
         $(if ($mandatoryRelease) { '1' } else { '0' })
     )
+    $remoteCommand = $remoteCommand.Replace(
+        '__QUIET_DEPLOYMENT__',
+        $(if ($quietDeployment) { '1' } else { '0' })
+    )
     # This file is edited on Windows, so the here-string above arrives with whatever line
     # endings it was saved with. A remote shell reads a trailing carriage return as part
     # of the token — 'set -eu\r' fails with "illegal option" before anything runs — so the

server/cmd/memby-server/main.go

@@ -190,6 +190,9 @@ func run(log *slog.Logger, events *logging.Buffer) error {
 	go server.WatchMaintenance(ctx, 30*time.Second)
 	// One probe per gateway, not per TV: the answer is the same for the whole house.
 	go server.WatchEmbyReachability(ctx, cfg.EmbyHealthInterval)
+	// One Sonarr catalogue reading per day records lifecycle changes for the household and
+	// materialises cancellation notifications for every known viewer.
+	go server.WatchSonarrLifecycle(ctx, 24*time.Hour)
 
 	if err := server.LoadUpdatePolicy(ctx); err != nil {
 		return err

server/internal/api/admin.go

@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ func (s *Server) adminRoutes() http.Handler {
 	mux.Handle("POST /admin/api/update-policy", s.adminAuth(s.handleAdminUpdatePolicy))
 	mux.Handle("POST /admin/api/request-policy", s.adminAuth(s.handleAdminRequestPolicy))
 	mux.Handle("POST /admin/api/playback-policy", s.adminAuth(s.handleAdminPlaybackPolicy))
+	mux.Handle("GET /admin/api/hero/search", s.adminAuth(s.handleAdminHeroSearch))
+	mux.Handle("POST /admin/api/hero-policy", s.adminAuth(s.handleAdminHeroPolicy))
 	mux.Handle("POST /admin/api/mdblist-settings", s.adminAuth(s.handleAdminMDBListSettings))
 	mux.Handle("POST /admin/api/subtitle-settings", s.adminAuth(s.handleAdminSubtitleSettings))
 	mux.Handle("POST /admin/api/subtitle-test", s.adminAuth(s.handleAdminSubtitleTest))
@@ -264,6 +266,7 @@ type adminStatus struct {
 	ForYouRunning  bool                  `json:"forYouRunning"`
 	RequestPolicy  store.RequestPolicy   `json:"requestPolicy"`
 	PlaybackPolicy store.PlaybackPolicy  `json:"playbackPolicy"`
+	HeroPolicy     heroAdminPolicy       `json:"heroPolicy"`
 	MDBList        mdblistAdminSettings  `json:"mdblist"`
 	Subtitles      subtitleAdminSettings `json:"subtitles"`
 	Features       featureResponse       `json:"features"`
@@ -329,6 +332,7 @@ func (s *Server) handleAdminStatus(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			}
 			return policy
 		}(),
+		HeroPolicy:   s.heroAdminPolicy(ctx),
 		Subtitles:    s.subtitleAdminSettings(ctx),
 		Features:     featurePayload(s.currentFeaturePolicy(ctx), ProtocolVersion),
 		RequestUsers: requestUsers,

server/internal/api/admin/pages/hero.html

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+<section class="card">
+  <div class="card-head">
+    <h2 class="card-title" data-icon="star" data-icon-tone="note">Pinned titles</h2>
+    <p class="card-note">Pinned films and series lead the four-card launcher grid in this order. Empty
+      places are filled by Memby’s existing mix of recent digital releases, premieres and
+      highly rated library titles. Pinning changes placement only; labels and reasons remain natural.</p>
+  </div>
+  <div id="hero-pins"></div>
+  <label class="field"><span>Prime-card subtitle</span>
+    <em>Optional wording under the large first card. Leave blank to use Memby’s natural release or rating reason.</em>
+    <input id="hero-prime-subtitle" type="text" maxlength="160"
+      placeholder="Leave blank for the automatic reason"></label>
+  <div class="card-foot">
+    <button class="primary" id="hero-save">Save hero</button>
+    <button id="hero-clear">Clear pins</button>
+  </div>
+</section>
+
+<section class="card">
+  <div class="card-head">
+    <h2 class="card-title" data-icon="search" data-icon-tone="info">Find a title</h2>
+    <p class="card-note">Search the imported Emby catalogue. Up to four films or series can be pinned.</p>
+  </div>
+  <div class="row">
+    <label class="field"><span>Title</span>
+      <input id="hero-query" type="search" placeholder="Search films and television shows"></label>
+    <button id="hero-search">Search</button>
+  </div>
+  <div class="grid" id="hero-results"></div>
+</section>

server/internal/api/admin/pages/hero.js

@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+const { fmt, ui, $ } = Admin;
+let pins = [];
+let pinsDirty = false;
+
+function renderPins() {
+  $('hero-pins').innerHTML = pins.length
+    ? '<div class="chips">' + pins.map((item, index) =>
+      '<button class="quiet small" data-remove="' + fmt.escape(item.id) + '">' +
+      (index + 1) + '. ' + fmt.escape(item.name) + (item.year ? ' (' + item.year + ')' : '') +
+      ' · remove</button>').join('') + '</div>'
+    : ui.empty('No titles are pinned. The hero is entirely release-aware and automatic.');
+  for (const button of $('hero-pins').querySelectorAll('[data-remove]')) {
+    button.addEventListener('click', () => {
+      pins = pins.filter((item) => item.id !== button.dataset.remove);
+      pinsDirty = true;
+      renderPins();
+    });
+  }
+}
+
+Admin.onStatus((status) => {
+  if (pinsDirty || !Admin.settled($('hero-pins'))) return;
+  pins = (status.heroPolicy?.pinnedItems || []).slice(0, 4);
+  Admin.fill($('hero-prime-subtitle'), status.heroPolicy?.primeSubtitle || '');
+  renderPins();
+});
+
+async function search() {
+  const query = $('hero-query').value.trim();
+  if (!query) return;
+  const payload = await Admin.api('/admin/api/hero/search?q=' + encodeURIComponent(query));
+  const items = payload.items || [];
+  $('hero-results').innerHTML = items.length ? items.map((item) =>
+    '<section class="card"><h2 class="card-title">' + fmt.escape(item.name) + '</h2>' +
+    '<p class="card-note">' + fmt.escape(item.type || 'Title') + ' · ' +
+      (item.year || 'Year unknown') + '</p>' +
+    '<button data-add="' + fmt.escape(item.id) + '">Add to hero</button></section>').join('')
+    : ui.empty('No playable films or series matched that search.');
+  for (const button of $('hero-results').querySelectorAll('[data-add]')) {
+    button.addEventListener('click', () => {
+      const selected = items.find((item) => item.id === button.dataset.add);
+      if (!selected || pins.some((item) => item.id === selected.id)) return;
+      if (pins.length >= 4) {
+        Admin.error('Remove a pinned film before adding another.');
+        return;
+      }
+      pins.push(selected);
+      pinsDirty = true;
+      renderPins();
+      Admin.error('');
+    });
+  }
+}
+
+Admin.ready(() => {
+  $('hero-search').addEventListener('click', () => Admin.act(search));
+  $('hero-query').addEventListener('keydown', (event) => {
+    if (event.key === 'Enter') Admin.act(search);
+  });
+  $('hero-save').addEventListener('click', () => Admin.act(async () => {
+    await Admin.api('/admin/api/hero-policy', {
+      method: 'POST', body: JSON.stringify({
+        pinnedItemIds: pins.map((item) => item.id),
+        primeSubtitle: $('hero-prime-subtitle').value.trim(),
+      }),
+    });
+    pinsDirty = false;
+  }));
+  $('hero-clear').addEventListener('click', () => {
+    pins = [];
+    pinsDirty = true;
+    renderPins();
+  });
+  $('hero-prime-subtitle').addEventListener('input', () => { pinsDirty = true; });
+});

server/internal/api/admin_console.go

@@ -112,6 +112,11 @@ var adminNav = []adminNavGroup{
 	{
 		Label: "Experience",
 		Items: []adminNavItem{
+			{
+				ID: "hero", Label: "Home hero", Title: "Home hero",
+				Intro: "Choose films or television shows for the launcher spotlight while recent releases fill the remaining places.",
+				Icon:  "m12 3 2.1 5.4 5.9.4-4.6 3.8 1.5 5.7-4.9-3.2-4.9 3.2 1.5-5.7L4 8.8l5.9-.4L12 3Z",
+			},
 			{
 				ID: "features", Label: "Features", Title: "Features",
 				Intro: "Roll out, stop and recover optional behaviour with no app release.",

server/internal/api/hero.go

@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ponzischeme89/memby/server/internal/radarr"
 	"github.com/ponzischeme89/memby/server/internal/recommend"
 	"github.com/ponzischeme89/memby/server/internal/sonarr"
+	"github.com/ponzischeme89/memby/server/internal/store"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -134,6 +135,7 @@ type heroKind int
 
 const (
 	heroMovie heroKind = iota
+	heroSeries
 	heroSeriesPremiere
 	heroSeasonPremiere
 )
@@ -345,6 +347,8 @@ func heroReason(candidate heroCandidate, now time.Time, location *time.Location)
 		return "A well-reviewed new series, " + heroWhen(candidate.ReleasedAt, now, location)
 	case candidate.Kind == heroSeriesPremiere:
 		return "A new series premiered " + heroWhen(candidate.ReleasedAt, now, location)
+	case candidate.Kind == heroSeries && fresh:
+		return "A new series premiered " + heroWhen(candidate.ReleasedAt, now, location)
 	case candidate.Kind == heroSeasonPremiere:
 		return "A new season started " + heroWhen(candidate.ReleasedAt, now, location)
 	case fresh && acclaimed && candidate.Estimated:
@@ -363,6 +367,19 @@ func heroReason(candidate heroCandidate, now time.Time, location *time.Location)
 	}
 }
 
+func heroReasonForPosition(
+	candidate heroCandidate,
+	position int,
+	primeSubtitle string,
+	now time.Time,
+	location *time.Location,
+) string {
+	if position == 0 && strings.TrimSpace(primeSubtitle) != "" {
+		return strings.TrimSpace(primeSubtitle)
+	}
+	return heroReason(candidate, now, location)
+}
+
 // heroWhen words a date the way somebody would say it out loud. Nothing here is more
 // precise than the evidence: a digital release date carries no time of day, so a card
 // never claims an hour.
@@ -648,23 +665,30 @@ func (s *Server) heroRow(
 		location = time.Local
 	}
 	candidates := s.heroCandidates(ctx, rows, now)
+	policy, err := s.store.HeroPolicy(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		s.loggerFor(ctx).Warn("hero policy unavailable", "error", err)
+		policy = store.HeroPolicy{}
+	}
+	pinned := s.pinnedHeroCandidates(ctx, policy.PinnedItemIDs)
 	// Rank a pool, then draw the row out of it. Ranking straight to the row's length is
 	// what made the hero the same four cards for a week — see rotateHeroCandidates.
 	pool := rankHeroCandidates(candidates, now, heroPoolLimit)
-	ranked := rotateHeroCandidates(
+	organic := rotateHeroCandidates(
 		pool,
 		heroVariationSeed(userID, heroRotationSlot(now, location)),
 		heroRowLimit,
 	)
+	ranked := mergePinnedHeroCandidates(pinned, candidates, organic, heroRowLimit)
 	if len(ranked) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
 	items := make([]json.RawMessage, 0, len(ranked))
-	for _, candidate := range ranked {
+	for index, candidate := range ranked {
 		items = append(items, injectHeroFields(
 			candidate.Item,
 			heroLabel(candidate, now),
-			heroReason(candidate, now, location),
+			heroReasonForPosition(candidate, index, policy.PrimeSubtitle, now, location),
 		))
 	}
 	return &recommend.Row{
@@ -675,6 +699,79 @@ func (s *Server) heroRow(
 	}
 }
 
+// mergePinnedHeroCandidates places explicit operator choices in the visible grid first,
+// then fills it with the normal release-aware rotation. When a pin also qualified
+// organically, its release or premiere evidence is retained so pinning changes placement,
+// never presentation.
+func mergePinnedHeroCandidates(
+	pinned, evidence, organic []heroCandidate,
+	limit int,
+) []heroCandidate {
+	if limit <= 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := make([]heroCandidate, 0, limit)
+	seen := map[string]bool{}
+	evidenceByID := make(map[string]heroCandidate, len(evidence))
+	for _, candidate := range evidence {
+		evidenceByID[candidate.ID] = candidate
+	}
+	for index, candidate := range pinned {
+		if natural, ok := evidenceByID[candidate.ID]; ok {
+			pinned[index] = natural
+		}
+	}
+	appendUnique := func(candidates []heroCandidate) {
+		for _, candidate := range candidates {
+			if len(out) == limit {
+				return
+			}
+			if candidate.ID == "" || len(candidate.Item) == 0 || seen[candidate.ID] {
+				continue
+			}
+			seen[candidate.ID] = true
+			out = append(out, candidate)
+		}
+	}
+	appendUnique(pinned)
+	appendUnique(organic)
+	return out
+}
+
+// pinnedHeroCandidates resolves policy against the imported catalogue. A deleted or
+// unsupported id quietly drops out, so an old admin choice can never make Home fail.
+func (s *Server) pinnedHeroCandidates(ctx context.Context, ids []string) []heroCandidate {
+	items, err := s.store.LibraryItemsByID(ctx, ids)
+	if err != nil {
+		s.loggerFor(ctx).Warn("pinned hero titles unavailable", "error", err)
+		return nil
+	}
+	byID := make(map[string]heroCandidate, len(items))
+	for _, raw := range items {
+		fact, ok := heroFactsOf(raw)
+		if !ok || !fact.Playable ||
+			(!strings.EqualFold(fact.Type, "Movie") && !strings.EqualFold(fact.Type, "Series")) {
+			continue
+		}
+		rating, rated := heroRatingOf(raw)
+		kind := heroMovie
+		if strings.EqualFold(fact.Type, "Series") {
+			kind = heroSeries
+		}
+		byID[fact.ID] = heroCandidate{
+			ID: fact.ID, Name: fact.Name, Kind: kind, Item: raw,
+			ReleasedAt: fact.Premiere, Rating: rating, Rated: rated,
+		}
+	}
+	out := make([]heroCandidate, 0, len(ids))
+	for _, id := range ids {
+		if candidate, ok := byID[id]; ok {
+			out = append(out, candidate)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
 // heroCandidates gathers everything eligible, premieres first.
 //
 // Premieres lead the input order so that they win a tie against a film of identical

server/internal/api/hero_admin.go

@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+package api
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/ponzischeme89/memby/server/internal/store"
+)
+
+type heroAdminItem struct {
+	ID   string `json:"id"`
+	Name string `json:"name"`
+	Type string `json:"type"`
+	Year int    `json:"year,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type heroAdminPolicy struct {
+	PinnedItems   []heroAdminItem `json:"pinnedItems"`
+	PrimeSubtitle string          `json:"primeSubtitle"`
+}
+
+func adminHeroItem(raw json.RawMessage) (heroAdminItem, bool) {
+	fact, ok := heroFactsOf(raw)
+	if !ok || !fact.Playable ||
+		(!strings.EqualFold(fact.Type, "Movie") && !strings.EqualFold(fact.Type, "Series")) {
+		return heroAdminItem{}, false
+	}
+	return heroAdminItem{ID: fact.ID, Name: fact.Name, Type: fact.Type, Year: heroYearOf(fact)}, true
+}
+
+func (s *Server) heroAdminPolicy(ctx context.Context) heroAdminPolicy {
+	policy, err := s.store.HeroPolicy(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		s.loggerFor(ctx).Warn("hero policy unavailable to admin", "error", err)
+		return heroAdminPolicy{PinnedItems: []heroAdminItem{}}
+	}
+	items, err := s.store.LibraryItemsByID(ctx, policy.PinnedItemIDs)
+	if err != nil {
+		s.loggerFor(ctx).Warn("pinned hero titles unavailable to admin", "error", err)
+		return heroAdminPolicy{PinnedItems: []heroAdminItem{}}
+	}
+	byID := make(map[string]heroAdminItem, len(items))
+	for _, raw := range items {
+		if item, ok := adminHeroItem(raw); ok {
+			byID[item.ID] = item
+		}
+	}
+	out := heroAdminPolicy{
+		PinnedItems:   make([]heroAdminItem, 0, len(policy.PinnedItemIDs)),
+		PrimeSubtitle: policy.PrimeSubtitle,
+	}
+	for _, id := range policy.PinnedItemIDs {
+		if item, ok := byID[id]; ok {
+			out.PinnedItems = append(out.PinnedItems, item)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func (s *Server) handleAdminHeroSearch(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	items, err := s.store.SearchLibrary(r.Context(), r.URL.Query().Get("q"), 20)
+	if err != nil {
+		s.loggerFor(r.Context()).Error("hero library search failed", "error", err)
+		writeError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, "could not search the library")
+		return
+	}
+	results := make([]heroAdminItem, 0, len(items))
+	for _, raw := range items {
+		if item, ok := adminHeroItem(raw); ok {
+			results = append(results, item)
+		}
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]any{"items": results})
+}
+
+func (s *Server) handleAdminHeroPolicy(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	var request struct {
+		PinnedItemIDs []string `json:"pinnedItemIds"`
+		PrimeSubtitle string   `json:"primeSubtitle"`
+	}
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&request); err != nil {
+		writeError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid hero policy")
+		return
+	}
+	ids := uniqueHeroIDs(request.PinnedItemIDs)
+	if len(ids) > 4 {
+		writeError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, "the hero can pin at most four titles")
+		return
+	}
+	items, err := s.store.LibraryItemsByID(r.Context(), ids)
+	if err != nil {
+		s.loggerFor(r.Context()).Error("hero title validation failed", "error", err)
+		writeError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, "could not validate hero titles")
+		return
+	}
+	valid := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, raw := range items {
+		if item, ok := adminHeroItem(raw); ok {
+			valid[item.ID] = true
+		}
+	}
+	for _, id := range ids {
+		if !valid[id] {
+			writeError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, "every pinned item must be a playable library film or series")
+			return
+		}
+	}
+	policy := store.HeroPolicy{PinnedItemIDs: ids, PrimeSubtitle: request.PrimeSubtitle}
+	if err := s.store.SetHeroPolicy(r.Context(), policy); err != nil {
+		s.loggerFor(r.Context()).Error("hero policy write failed", "error", err)
+		writeError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, "could not save hero policy")
+		return
+	}
+	s.invalidateAllHomeCaches(r.Context())
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]any{"saved": true})
+}
+
+func uniqueHeroIDs(ids []string) []string {
+	seen := map[string]bool{}
+	out := make([]string, 0, len(ids))
+	for _, id := range ids {
+		id = strings.TrimSpace(id)
+		if id == "" || seen[id] {
+			continue
+		}
+		seen[id] = true
+		out = append(out, id)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func (s *Server) invalidateAllHomeCaches(ctx context.Context) {
+	users, err := s.store.KnownUsers(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		s.loggerFor(ctx).Warn("hero cache invalidation could not list users", "error", err)
+		return
+	}
+	for _, user := range users {
+		if err := s.cache.InvalidateUser(ctx, user.ID); err != nil {
+			s.loggerFor(ctx).Warn("hero cache invalidation failed", "user", user.ID, "error", err)
+		}
+	}
+}

server/internal/api/hero_test.go

@@ -537,6 +537,78 @@ func TestHeroRotationSlotIsLocal(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestPinnedHeroMoviesLeadAndOrganicSelectionFillsTheGrid(t *testing.T) {
+	pinned := []heroCandidate{
+		{ID: "custom-2", Item: json.RawMessage(`{"Id":"custom-2"}`)},
+		{ID: "custom-1", Item: json.RawMessage(`{"Id":"custom-1"}`)},
+	}
+	organic := []heroCandidate{
+		// A pinned title can also qualify organically; it must still appear only once.
+		{ID: "custom-1", Item: json.RawMessage(`{"Id":"custom-1"}`), Kind: heroSeasonPremiere},
+		{ID: "release-1", Item: json.RawMessage(`{"Id":"release-1"}`)},
+		{ID: "release-2", Item: json.RawMessage(`{"Id":"release-2"}`)},
+		{ID: "library-1", Item: json.RawMessage(`{"Id":"library-1"}`)},
+	}
+
+	got := mergePinnedHeroCandidates(pinned, organic, organic[1:], 4)
+	want := []string{"custom-2", "custom-1", "release-1", "release-2"}
+	if strings.Join(heroIDs(got), ",") != strings.Join(want, ",") {
+		t.Fatalf("pinned hero order = %v, want %v", heroIDs(got), want)
+	}
+	if got[1].Kind != heroSeasonPremiere {
+		t.Fatalf("pin lost its natural premiere evidence: %+v", got[1])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPinnedHeroMergeHonoursAnEmptyOrShortGrid(t *testing.T) {
+	candidate := heroCandidate{ID: "custom", Item: json.RawMessage(`{"Id":"custom"}`)}
+	if got := mergePinnedHeroCandidates([]heroCandidate{candidate}, nil, nil, 0); got != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("zero-sized grid = %v, want nil", heroIDs(got))
+	}
+	if got := heroIDs(mergePinnedHeroCandidates([]heroCandidate{candidate}, nil, nil, 4)); strings.Join(got, ",") != "custom" {
+		t.Fatalf("short grid = %v, want custom", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPrimeSubtitleChangesOnlyTheLargeFirstCard(t *testing.T) {
+	candidate := heroCandidate{ReleasedAt: heroDaysAgo(2), Kind: heroMovie}
+	if got := heroReasonForPosition(candidate, 0, "  Family pick tonight  ", heroNow, time.UTC); got != "Family pick tonight" {
+		t.Fatalf("prime subtitle = %q", got)
+	}
+	if got := heroReasonForPosition(candidate, 1, "Family pick tonight", heroNow, time.UTC); got == "Family pick tonight" || !strings.Contains(got, "Released") {
+		t.Fatalf("secondary card lost its natural reason: %q", got)
+	}
+	if got := heroReasonForPosition(candidate, 0, "", heroNow, time.UTC); !strings.Contains(got, "Released") {
+		t.Fatalf("blank override did not fall back to the natural reason: %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPinnedSeriesUsesTheSameNaturalPresentationAsOrganicTitles(t *testing.T) {
+	candidate := heroCandidate{Kind: heroSeries, ReleasedAt: heroDaysAgo(3)}
+	if got := heroLabel(candidate, heroNow); got != heroLabelNewRelease {
+		t.Fatalf("recent series label = %q, want %q", got, heroLabelNewRelease)
+	}
+	if got := heroReason(candidate, heroNow, time.UTC); !strings.Contains(got, "new series premiered") {
+		t.Fatalf("recent series reason = %q", got)
+	}
+	candidate.ReleasedAt = heroDaysAgo(100)
+	candidate.Rated, candidate.Rating = true, 0.9
+	if got := heroLabel(candidate, heroNow); got != heroLabelAcclaimed {
+		t.Fatalf("older acclaimed series label = %q, want %q", got, heroLabelAcclaimed)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAdminHeroSearchAcceptsFilmsAndSeriesOnly(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, itemType := range []string{"Movie", "Series"} {
+		if item, ok := adminHeroItem(heroItem("id", "Title", itemType)); !ok || item.Type != itemType {
+			t.Fatalf("%s was not accepted: %+v, %t", itemType, item, ok)
+		}
+	}
+	if _, ok := adminHeroItem(heroItem("episode", "Episode", "Episode")); ok {
+		t.Fatal("episode was accepted as a pinnable hero title")
+	}
+}
+
 func heroIDs(candidates []heroCandidate) []string {
 	ids := make([]string, 0, len(candidates))
 	for _, candidate := range candidates {

server/internal/api/sonarr_status.go

@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+package api
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/ponzischeme89/memby/server/internal/sonarr"
+	"github.com/ponzischeme89/memby/server/internal/store"
+)
+
+// WatchSonarrLifecycle seeds the durable status history on startup, then refreshes it
+// daily. History stores changes rather than identical daily snapshots: it still records
+// the complete lifecycle while making an active-to-cancelled transition unambiguous.
+func (s *Server) WatchSonarrLifecycle(ctx context.Context, interval time.Duration) {
+	if s.sonarr == nil || interval <= 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	scan := func() {
+		if err := s.scanSonarrLifecycle(ctx); err != nil && ctx.Err() == nil {
+			s.log.Warn("Sonarr lifecycle scan failed", "error", err)
+		}
+	}
+	scan()
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(interval)
+	defer ticker.Stop()
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return
+		case <-ticker.C:
+			scan()
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (s *Server) scanSonarrLifecycle(ctx context.Context) error {
+	series, err := s.sonarr.Series(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("read Sonarr series: %w", err)
+	}
+	now := time.Now().UTC()
+	observations := make([]store.SonarrSeriesStatus, 0, len(series))
+	for _, item := range series {
+		key := sonarrSeriesStatusKey(item)
+		if key == "" || strings.TrimSpace(item.Status) == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		observations = append(observations, store.SonarrSeriesStatus{
+			SeriesKey: key, SonarrSeriesID: item.ID, TVDBID: item.TVDBID,
+			Title: item.Title, Year: item.Year, Status: item.Status, ObservedAt: now,
+		})
+	}
+	changes, err := s.store.RecordSonarrSeriesStatuses(ctx, observations)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	cancellations := make([]store.SonarrSeriesStatusChange, 0, len(changes))
+	for _, change := range changes {
+		if sonarrBecameCancelled(change.PreviousStatus, change.Current.Status) {
+			cancellations = append(cancellations, change)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(cancellations) == 0 {
+		s.log.Info("Sonarr lifecycle scan complete", "series", len(observations), "changes", len(changes))
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	users, err := s.store.KnownUsers(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	preferences := map[string]store.NotificationPreferences{}
+	preferenceErrors := map[string]bool{}
+	notifications := 0
+	for _, change := range cancellations {
+		for _, user := range users {
+			prefs, ok := preferences[user.ID]
+			if !ok && !preferenceErrors[user.ID] {
+				prefs, err = s.store.NotificationPreferences(ctx, user.ID)
+				if err != nil {
+					preferenceErrors[user.ID] = true
+					s.log.Warn("notification preferences unavailable during Sonarr lifecycle scan",
+						"user", user.ID, "error", err)
+					continue
+				}
+				preferences[user.ID] = prefs
+			}
+			if preferenceErrors[user.ID] || !prefs.Enabled {
+				continue
+			}
+			eventAt := change.Current.ObservedAt
+			sourceKey := fmt.Sprintf("show-cancelled:%s:%d", change.Current.SeriesKey, change.HistoryID)
+			message := change.Current.Title + " is now listed as cancelled in Sonarr."
+			if err := s.store.UpsertNotification(
+				ctx, user.ID, sourceKey, "show-cancelled", "",
+				"Show cancelled", message, &eventAt,
+			); err != nil {
+				s.log.Warn("Sonarr cancellation notification failed",
+					"user", user.ID, "show", change.Current.Title, "error", err)
+				continue
+			}
+			notifications++
+		}
+	}
+	s.log.Info("Sonarr lifecycle scan complete",
+		"series", len(observations), "changes", len(changes),
+		"cancelled", len(cancellations), "notifications", notifications)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func sonarrSeriesStatusKey(series sonarr.Series) string {
+	if series.TVDBID > 0 {
+		return "tvdb:" + strconv.Itoa(series.TVDBID)
+	}
+	if series.ID > 0 {
+		return "sonarr:" + strconv.Itoa(series.ID)
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+func sonarrBecameCancelled(previous, current string) bool {
+	previous = strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(previous))
+	current = strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(current))
+	active := previous == "continuing" || previous == "upcoming"
+	cancelled := current == "ended" || current == "deleted" ||
+		current == "cancelled" || current == "canceled"
+	return active && cancelled
+}

server/internal/api/sonarr_status_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+package api
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/ponzischeme89/memby/server/internal/sonarr"
+)
+
+func TestSonarrSeriesStatusKeyPrefersTVDBIdentity(t *testing.T) {
+	series := sonarr.Series{ID: 42, TVDBID: 1234}
+	if got := sonarrSeriesStatusKey(series); got != "tvdb:1234" {
+		t.Fatalf("status key = %q, want tvdb:1234", got)
+	}
+	series.TVDBID = 0
+	if got := sonarrSeriesStatusKey(series); got != "sonarr:42" {
+		t.Fatalf("fallback status key = %q, want sonarr:42", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSonarrCancellationRequiresAnActiveHistory(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, transition := range [][2]string{
+		{"continuing", "ended"},
+		{"upcoming", "deleted"},
+		{"Continuing", "cancelled"},
+	} {
+		if !sonarrBecameCancelled(transition[0], transition[1]) {
+			t.Errorf("%q -> %q should be a cancellation", transition[0], transition[1])
+		}
+	}
+	for _, transition := range [][2]string{
+		{"", "ended"},      // first scan is a baseline, not news
+		{"ended", "ended"}, // an unchanged cancelled show is not announced daily
+		{"ended", "continuing"},
+		{"continuing", "continuing"},
+	} {
+		if sonarrBecameCancelled(transition[0], transition[1]) {
+			t.Errorf("%q -> %q should not be a cancellation", transition[0], transition[1])
+		}
+	}
+}

server/internal/store/my_shows.go

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package store
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 )
 
@@ -31,6 +32,24 @@ type UserNotification struct {
 	ReadAt    *time.Time `json:"readAt,omitempty"`
 }
 
+// SonarrSeriesStatus is one daily observation. SeriesKey prefers Sonarr's stable TVDB id;
+// the local Sonarr id is retained for diagnosis and as a fallback when TVDB has no answer.
+type SonarrSeriesStatus struct {
+	SeriesKey      string
+	SonarrSeriesID int
+	TVDBID         int
+	Title          string
+	Year           int
+	Status         string
+	ObservedAt     time.Time
+}
+
+type SonarrSeriesStatusChange struct {
+	HistoryID      int64
+	PreviousStatus string
+	Current        SonarrSeriesStatus
+}
+
 func (s *Store) SaveUserShow(ctx context.Context, userID string, show UserShow) error {
 	_, err := s.pool.Exec(ctx, `
 		INSERT INTO user_shows (emby_user_id, item_id, title, year, image_tag)
@@ -89,6 +108,83 @@ func (s *Store) UserShows(ctx context.Context, userID string) ([]UserShow, error
 	return shows, rows.Err()
 }
 
+// RecordSonarrSeriesStatuses appends only first sightings and changes. A first sighting is
+// the baseline and is deliberately absent from the returned changes, so enabling the
+// scanner cannot announce every series that was already cancelled before it existed.
+func (s *Store) RecordSonarrSeriesStatuses(
+	ctx context.Context, observations []SonarrSeriesStatus,
+) ([]SonarrSeriesStatusChange, error) {
+	tx, err := s.pool.Begin(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("store: begin Sonarr status history: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer tx.Rollback(ctx)
+
+	rows, err := tx.Query(ctx, `
+		SELECT DISTINCT ON (series_key) series_key, status
+		FROM sonarr_series_status_history
+		ORDER BY series_key, observed_at DESC, id DESC`)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("store: read Sonarr status history: %w", err)
+	}
+	previous := map[string]string{}
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var key, status string
+		if err := rows.Scan(&key, &status); err != nil {
+			rows.Close()
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("store: scan Sonarr status history: %w", err)
+		}
+		previous[key] = status
+	}
+	if err := rows.Err(); err != nil {
+		rows.Close()
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("store: iterate Sonarr status history: %w", err)
+	}
+	rows.Close()
+
+	changes := []SonarrSeriesStatusChange{}
+	seen := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, observation := range observations {
+		observation.SeriesKey = strings.TrimSpace(observation.SeriesKey)
+		observation.Title = strings.TrimSpace(observation.Title)
+		observation.Status = strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(observation.Status))
+		if observation.SeriesKey == "" || observation.Title == "" || observation.Status == "" ||
+			seen[observation.SeriesKey] {
+			continue
+		}
+		seen[observation.SeriesKey] = true
+		prior, known := previous[observation.SeriesKey]
+		if known && strings.EqualFold(prior, observation.Status) {
+			continue
+		}
+		if observation.ObservedAt.IsZero() {
+			observation.ObservedAt = time.Now()
+		}
+		var historyID int64
+		err := tx.QueryRow(ctx, `
+			INSERT INTO sonarr_series_status_history
+				(series_key, sonarr_series_id, tvdb_id, title, year, status, observed_at)
+			VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7)
+			RETURNING id`,
+			observation.SeriesKey, observation.SonarrSeriesID, observation.TVDBID,
+			observation.Title, observation.Year, observation.Status, observation.ObservedAt,
+		).Scan(&historyID)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("store: append Sonarr status history: %w", err)
+		}
+		if known {
+			changes = append(changes, SonarrSeriesStatusChange{
+				HistoryID: historyID, PreviousStatus: prior, Current: observation,
+			})
+		}
+		previous[observation.SeriesKey] = observation.Status
+	}
+	if err := tx.Commit(ctx); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("store: commit Sonarr status history: %w", err)
+	}
+	return changes, nil
+}
+
 func (s *Store) NotificationPreferences(ctx context.Context, userID string) (NotificationPreferences, error) {
 	prefs := NotificationPreferences{Enabled: true, ShowReturnAlerts: true, LeadDays: 7}
 	err := s.pool.QueryRow(ctx, `

server/internal/store/schema.sql

@@ -239,6 +239,23 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS user_notifications (
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS user_notifications_user_created_idx
     ON user_notifications (emby_user_id, created_at DESC);
 
+-- A change-only history of Sonarr's lifecycle answer for every series. The first reading
+-- is a baseline; later rows mean Sonarr changed its answer, which lets the daily scanner
+-- distinguish a show that was already over from one that has just been cancelled.
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS sonarr_series_status_history (
+    id               BIGSERIAL   PRIMARY KEY,
+    series_key       TEXT        NOT NULL,
+    sonarr_series_id INT         NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+    tvdb_id          INT         NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+    title            TEXT        NOT NULL,
+    year             INT         NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+    status           TEXT        NOT NULL,
+    observed_at      TIMESTAMPTZ NOT NULL DEFAULT now()
+);
+
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS sonarr_series_status_history_series_time_idx
+    ON sonarr_series_status_history (series_key, observed_at DESC, id DESC);
+
 -- Recommendation-relevant Tracearr history. The public Tracearr API has no user or
 -- since cursor, so stable source ids make these rows the durable deduplication boundary.
 -- Deliberately omit artwork, stream-detail blobs and other fields unused by ranking.

server/internal/store/settings.go

@@ -18,14 +18,84 @@ const MaintenanceKey = "maintenance"
 // RequestPolicyKey controls which Emby users may send titles to Sonarr/Radarr.
 const RequestPolicyKey = "request_policy"
 
-// PlaybackPolicyKey controls presentation behavior that should be adjustable without
+// PlaybackPolicyKey controls presentation behaviour that should be adjustable without
 // shipping a new TV build.
 const PlaybackPolicyKey = "playback_policy"
 
+// HeroPolicyKey stores the operator's explicit choices for the launcher hero.
+const HeroPolicyKey = "hero_policy"
+
 // MDBListSettingsKey stores the optional movie-ratings integration. The API key stays
 // in this server-owned document and is never included in client or admin status payloads.
 const MDBListSettingsKey = "mdblist_settings"
 
+// HeroPolicy stores only Emby ids and the optional prime-card copy. Names and artwork
+// remain library data, so a metadata correction appears without rewriting operator policy.
+type HeroPolicy struct {
+	PinnedItemIDs        []string  `json:"pinnedItemIds"`
+	LegacyPinnedMovieIDs []string  `json:"pinnedMovieIds,omitempty"`
+	PrimeSubtitle        string    `json:"primeSubtitle"`
+	UpdatedAt            time.Time `json:"updatedAt"`
+}
+
+func normalizeHeroPolicy(policy HeroPolicy) HeroPolicy {
+	if len(policy.PinnedItemIDs) == 0 && len(policy.LegacyPinnedMovieIDs) > 0 {
+		policy.PinnedItemIDs = policy.LegacyPinnedMovieIDs
+	}
+	seen := map[string]bool{}
+	ids := make([]string, 0, min(len(policy.PinnedItemIDs), 4))
+	for _, id := range policy.PinnedItemIDs {
+		id = strings.TrimSpace(id)
+		if id == "" || seen[id] || len(ids) == 4 {
+			continue
+		}
+		seen[id] = true
+		ids = append(ids, id)
+	}
+	policy.PinnedItemIDs = ids
+	policy.LegacyPinnedMovieIDs = nil
+	policy.PrimeSubtitle = strings.TrimSpace(policy.PrimeSubtitle)
+	runes := []rune(policy.PrimeSubtitle)
+	if len(runes) > 160 {
+		policy.PrimeSubtitle = string(runes[:160])
+	}
+	return policy
+}
+
+func (s *Store) HeroPolicy(ctx context.Context) (HeroPolicy, error) {
+	var raw []byte
+	err := s.pool.QueryRow(ctx, `SELECT value FROM app_settings WHERE key = $1`, HeroPolicyKey).Scan(&raw)
+	if errors.Is(err, pgx.ErrNoRows) {
+		return HeroPolicy{PinnedItemIDs: []string{}}, nil
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return HeroPolicy{}, fmt.Errorf("store: read hero policy: %w", err)
+	}
+	var policy HeroPolicy
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &policy); err != nil {
+		return HeroPolicy{}, fmt.Errorf("store: decode hero policy: %w", err)
+	}
+	return normalizeHeroPolicy(policy), nil
+}
+
+func (s *Store) SetHeroPolicy(ctx context.Context, policy HeroPolicy) error {
+	policy = normalizeHeroPolicy(policy)
+	policy.UpdatedAt = time.Now().UTC()
+	raw, err := json.Marshal(policy)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	_, err = s.pool.Exec(ctx, `
+		INSERT INTO app_settings (key, value, updated_at)
+		VALUES ($1, $2::jsonb, now())
+		ON CONFLICT (key) DO UPDATE SET value = EXCLUDED.value, updated_at = now()`,
+		HeroPolicyKey, string(raw))
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("store: write hero policy: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 var defaultMDBListSources = []string{
 	"imdb", "tomatoes", "audience", "metacritic", "letterboxd", "rogerebert",
 	"tmdb", "trakt", "mal", "anilist", "anidb", "kitsu", "score", "score_average",

server/internal/store/settings_test.go

@@ -25,6 +25,31 @@ func TestPlaybackPolicyDefaultsAndClampsDuration(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestHeroPolicyKeepsFourUniqueTrimmedItemIDsInOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	got := normalizeHeroPolicy(HeroPolicy{PinnedItemIDs: []string{
+		" movie-2 ", "movie-1", "movie-2", "", "movie-3", "movie-4", "movie-5",
+	}, PrimeSubtitle: "  Tonight’s pick  "})
+	want := []string{"movie-2", "movie-1", "movie-3", "movie-4"}
+	if len(got.PinnedItemIDs) != len(want) {
+		t.Fatalf("pinned ids = %v, want %v", got.PinnedItemIDs, want)
+	}
+	for index := range want {
+		if got.PinnedItemIDs[index] != want[index] {
+			t.Fatalf("pinned ids = %v, want %v", got.PinnedItemIDs, want)
+		}
+	}
+	if got.PrimeSubtitle != "Tonight’s pick" {
+		t.Fatalf("prime subtitle = %q", got.PrimeSubtitle)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestHeroPolicyReadsTheEarlierMovieOnlyShape(t *testing.T) {
+	got := normalizeHeroPolicy(HeroPolicy{LegacyPinnedMovieIDs: []string{"movie-1"}})
+	if len(got.PinnedItemIDs) != 1 || got.PinnedItemIDs[0] != "movie-1" {
+		t.Fatalf("legacy pinned ids = %v", got.PinnedItemIDs)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestMDBListSettingsAreOptionalAndNormalizeSources(t *testing.T) {
 	defaults := DefaultMDBListSettings()
 	if defaults.Enabled || defaults.APIKey != "" || len(defaults.Sources) == 0 {
@@ -35,7 +60,7 @@ func TestMDBListSettingsAreOptionalAndNormalizeSources(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	if got.APIKey != "secret" || len(got.Sources) != 2 ||
 		got.Sources[0] != "imdb" || got.Sources[1] != "letterboxd" {
-		t.Fatalf("normalized MDBList settings = %+v", got)
+		t.Fatalf("normalised MDBList settings = %+v", got)
 	}
 }