Intelligent assignment and data management of stored media content

A network server system that delivers recorded media programs to a plurality of viewers, the system comprising a processor, non-transitory data storage and an interface to a network, wherein the non-transitory data storage comprises computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform an automated process comprising:

• recording an initial number of copies of a media program for storage by the network server system, wherein the initial number of copies is based upon a number of recording timers set for the media program by the plurality of viewers;
• after the initial number of copies of the media program have been recorded, receiving requests from at least some of the viewers to view a copy of the media program;
• assigning, in response to each of the requests received, one of the copies to the viewer making the request to thereby permit access to the assigned copy of the media program by the viewer;
• and
• subsequently deleting at least some of the copies of the media program that are not yet assigned to any of the plurality of viewers.

An automated process performed by a remote storage digital video recorder (RSDVR) system comprising a non-transitory data storage, a processor and an interface to a network, the automated process comprising:

• determining a number of copies of a media program to be recorded for later viewing by a plurality of viewers having access to the RSDVR system, wherein the number of copies is based upon a number of recording timers set for the media program by the plurality of viewers;
• storing the number of copies of the media program in a pooled arrangement by the RSDVR system, wherein individual copies of the media program are not assigned to a specific viewer at the time of storage;
• transcoding at least some of the copies of the media program into multiple adaptive streams each encoded at different quality levels;
• after the number of copies are stored, responding to requests from the plurality of viewers, wherein the requests indicate a desire to obtain access to a copy of the media program stored by the RSDVR system;
• responding to each of the requests by performing, by the RSDVR system, a late assignment in which one of the copies in the pooled arrangement is assigned to the viewer making the request to thereby provide the viewer with access to the assigned copy of the media program;
• and
• subsequently deleting at least some of the previously-recorded copies of the media program that are not yet assigned to any of the plurality of viewers, wherein the deleting comprises deleting some, but not all, of the adaptive streams of the copy of the media program.