TV Series Contribution Guide
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Introduction
Thank you for considering contributing data to our online service. This page covers contribution of TV Series and Episodes to our TV Series database. Since we believe in quality over quantity, it is important that all data contributed to the service follows this contribution guide. We ask that you read this guide closely before starting to contribute TV Series data. Notice that if you locate any data on our service that does not follow this guide, you can either correct the data yourself (recommended), or report the issue to our moderators if you are unsure of how to correct it.
If you have any questions regarding data contributions, and how to ensure that you are contributing data correctly, please use the Data Contribution area of our forums to seek support. Our moderators will gladly help you. Should you contribute incorrect data to the service, you will likely receive a warning from our moderators, and if these warnings are ignored, it can lead to your account being temporary closed until we have ensured that you will follow the contribution guide when contributing. Because of this, it is important that you use an account with an e-mail address that you check frequently.
The TV Series data in the My Movies Online Service originally origins from TheTVDB.com, which does not have the exact same structure and rule set of My Movies. Due to this, there can be data in the system that does not follow this contribution guide - this fact however does not make it acceptable to contribute data that does not follow the guide.
Data contributed to the online service is stored in the My Movies Online Service only. The software does not store this back to TheTVDB.com. At the time an element is contributed to in the My Movies Online Service the section of the element changed will not be further updated from TheTVDB.com.
Notice! You currently do not receive points for reporting incorrect data on TV Series as you do with disc title profiles - this is because the data is mainly imported from TheTVDB.com, and therefore not contributed by users in our online service, where the main purpose of the incorrect reports are to stop users from contributing incorrect data. It is planned that we later on will provide contribution history for TV Series where it will be come visible if data was imported from TheTVDB.com, or contributed by users in our system - in case where the data was contributed by users in our system, we will then be opening up for receiving points for reporting incorrect data.
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TV Series
The data on a TV Series consists of three sections, a section containing global data, one containing country specific data and a third containing language specific data. While you contribute series data though one option, these sections are stored individually. This means that a contribution to a series where only country specific or language specific data is changed will only update data in the "Country Specific" or "Language Specific" section on the online service.
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Global
Release Country
The
Release Country
specifies the country where the series where broadcasted first, which is also typically the same as the country where the series where produced. Notice that several series have an empty value (Neutral) in this drop-down which is because the
Release Country
was not known when importing the data originally from TheTVDB.com. It is highly recommended that you change and contribute the
Release Country
on series where this is not specified. If you change the
Release Country
, you have to ensure that the other global data is correct according the changed release country.
Running Time
The global
Running Time
specifies the complete airing length in the
Release Country
, including commercials. This means that if a show is scheduled to 60 minutes including commercials, but only is 45 minutes actual show length, the full airing length of 60 minutes should be specified.
Disc Runtime
The
Disc Runtime
specifies the actual show length, excluding commercial breaks. This data does not refer to a country, as the actual show length is the same no matter where the show is aired. If the actual show length is known, even though a series is not released on disc, the
Disc Runtime
may still be specified.
Genre(s)
Genre(s)
are for some series listed on the series official website, or on a released disc title for the series, but in other situations
Genre(s)
come down to the individual user’s interpretation. It is recommended to use the series official website, TV.com or a cover from a disc release in that order as source for
Genre(s)
, if you are unsure of which Genres to add.
Notice! The Genre 'Television' should not be used on TV Series, as all TV Series is 'Television', and already known as such in the interface.
First Aired
The global
First Aired
date refers to the date the series was first aired in the
Release Country
. If the
First Aired
selector is disabled, it is because no
Release Country
is selected, and the value instead is inherited from the neutral data imported from TheTVDB.com.
Network
The global
Network
refers to the TV network where the series was first aired in the
Release Country
. In case where a series changes to a different network, while still being in production, the network airing the latest new episode should be listed. If the
Network
text box is disabled, it is because no
Release Country
is selected, and the value instead is inherited from the neutral data imported from TheTVDB.com.
Status
Details will be added later.
Actors
The
Actors
of the series specifies the actors starring in the series in general. Guest stars for individual episodes should not be listed here.
Banner
Please see
Banner
contribution details in the section 'Banners, Backdrops, Posters and Episode Images'.
Backdrop
Please see
Backdrop
contribution details in the section 'Banners, Backdrops, Posters and Episode Images'.
Poster
Please see
Poster
contribution details in the section 'Banners, Backdrops, Posters and Episode Images'.
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Country Specific
Country
The
Country
drop-down does not quality as a data specification, but let's you select from which country you would like the data for the series. If data is not present for the country you have configured in the 'Language and Country' configuration dialog, the data will be downloaded as 'Release Country' which is a neutral placeholder. TheTVDB.com does not hold information about which country a series was released in, therefore the data is by default available under the neutral 'Release Country', as well as United States. Even though United States is not always the release country, the neutral data from TheTVDB.com is created for United States, as this is the release country for most TV Series. This means that series where the release country is not United States, until edited will not have data for the actual country the series was released in, and United States may have data that is not correct. It is recommended that you change the country to your own country and specify the country specific data to what is correct for this country, and contribute it back to the online service.
Running Time
The
Running Time
specifies the complete airing length in the country selected in
Country
, including commercials. This means that if a show is scheduled to 60 minutes including commercials, but only is 45 minutes actual show length, the full airing length of 60 minutes should be specified.
Parental Rating
First Aired
The country specific
First Aired
date refers to the date the series was first aired in the country selected in
Country
.
Air Time
The
Air Time
specifies the time of day where the show runs, or was running in case the show is no longer running. Being country specific, the
Air Time
refers to the country selected in
Country
.
Air Day
The
Air Day
specifies the week day where the show runs, or was running in case the show is no longer running. Being country specific, the
Air Day
refers to the country selected in
Country
. In case where the
Air Day
is not a week day, but is daily, the 'Daily' option should be selected.
Network
The country specific
Network
refers to the TV network where the series was first aired in the country selected in
Country
. In case where a series changes to a different network, while still being in production, the network airing the latest new episode should be listed.
Status
Details will be added later.
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Language Specific
Language
The
Language
drop-down does not quality as a data specification, but let's you select in which language you would like the data for the series.
Title
The
Title
specifies the title for the series in the language selected in 'Langugage'. If the title is shown in gray, it means that the title is not specified for the selected language, but instead is inherited from English. If the title is shown in gray, it is recommended to specify the title for the selected language and contribute it back to the service. The title can typically be found on the official website for the TV Series. If an official title is not available for the country, it should not be specified. You may not create localized titles based on own preferences.
Sort Title
The
Sort Title
equals the title, with exceptions of leading words, such as “The” in English, “Die”, “Das” and “Der” in Germany, and similar, where the leading word must be placed behind the title. An example would be the English Sort Title, “Simpsons, The”, and the German Sort Title “Simpsons, Die”.
Description
The
Description
specifies a description for the series in the language selected in 'Langugage'. If the description is shown in gray, it means that the description is not specified for the selected language, but instead is inherited from English. The description can often be found on the TV Series official website, which is currently the only valid source for descriptions. If the description is shown in gray, you can click the translator button to the left of the description box, and translate the English description into the language selected. A description may be specified as a direct translation from an already existing description in another language.
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TV Seasons
TV Seasons contains only images and child episodes, which means that there for TV Series is no data to contribute. You can contribute season banner and poster images through the image selectors.
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Global
Banner Image
Please see
Banner
contribution details in the section 'Banners, Backdrops, Posters and Episode Images'.
Poster Image
Please see
Poster
contribution details in the section 'Banners, Backdrops, Posters and Episode Images'.
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TV Episodes
As with TV Series, the data for a TV Episode also consists of three sections. The functionality of is the same as for TV Series. Similar, data in the "Personal Data" section is not contributed to the online service.
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Global
Season
The
Season
specifies the
Season
number in the series. The
Season
is added at the time the episode is created, and should normally not be edited. End-users are not allowed to change the
Season
number once an episode have been contributed to the online service - if the
Season
is not specified correct, this must be reported using the 'Report Incorrect Data' tool, allowing a moderator to change it.
Episode
The
Episode
specifies the
Episode
number in the season. The
Episode
is added at the time the episode is created, and should normally not be edited. End-users are not allowed to change the
Episode
number once an episode have been contributed to the online service - if the
Episode
is not specified correct, this must be reported using the 'Report Incorrect Data' tool, allowing a moderator to change it.
Absolute Number
Details to come.
Production Code
Details will be added later.
Guest Actors
Details will be added later.
Crew
Details will be added later.
Episode Image
Details will be added later.
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Country Specific
Country
The
Country
drop-down does not quality as a data specification, but let's you select from which country you would like the data for the episode. If data is not present for the country you have configured in the 'Language and Country' configuration dialog, the data will be downloaded as 'Release Country' which is a neutral placeholder. TheTVDB.com does not hold information about which country a series was released in, therefore the data is by default available under the neutral 'Release Country', as well as United States. Even though United States is not always the release country, the neutral data from TheTVDB.com is created for United States, as this is the release country for most TV Series. This means that episodes where the release country is not United States, until edited will not have data for the actual country the episode was released in, and United States may have data that is not correct. It is recommended that you change the country to your own country and specify the country specific data to what is correct for this country, and contribute it back to the online service.
First Aired
Details will be added later.
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Language Specific
Language
The
Language
drop-down does not quality as a data specification, but let's you select in which language you would like the data for the series.
Title
Details will be added later.
Sort Title
The
Sort Title
equals the title, with exceptions of leading words, such as “The” in English, “Die”, “Das” and “Der” in Germany, and similar, where the leading word must be placed behind the title. An example would be the English Sort Title, “Simpsons, The”, and the German Sort Title “Simpsons, Die”.
Description
The Description specifies a description for the episode in the language selected in 'Langugage'. If the description is shown in gray, it means that the description is not specified for the selected language, but instead is inherited from English. The description can often be found on the TV Series official website, which is currently the only valid source for descriptions. If the description is shown in gray, you can click the translator button to the left of the description box, and translate the English description into the language selected. A description may be specified as a direct translation from an already existing description in another language.
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Images - Banners, Backdrops, Posters and Episode Images
There are some general rules to consider when contributing images to the online service. Notice specifically that our moderators in the end have the final ruling weather or not an image contributed is of a high enough quality, and if it complies with the rules, or complies with the rules close enough, as there are without a doubt gray areas.
Overall
Images may never contain nudity, weather it is cartoonish or photographic.
Images must be uploaded in high quality.
Images may not be upscaled, except in situations where it is specifically written to be allowed.
Images may not be stretched aspect ratio wise.
Banners
Details will be added later.
Backdrops
Contribution rules for backdrops are covered by the page "
Movie and TV Serie Backdrops
". Notice! The rules for backdrops contributed to the My Movies Online Service are more strict than rules for backdrops contributed to TheTVDB.com where the TV Series data origins from. This means that there may be backdrops in the online service that does not follow these rules - that does not make it acceptable to contribute backdrops that does not follow the guidelines. Backdrops originally loaded from TheTVDB.com is for now allowed in the system, even thought they do not follow the guidelines.
Overall, as the contribution guide states that backdrops may not contain text, backdrops are always in neutral language for any new added backdrops - there are however several backdrops imported from TheTVDB.com where the backdrops contains text, and where the language setting is either incorrect by being set to 'United States' even when they are neutral, or where the language is not set at all. We hope that you will help the system by changing the language of these when you meet them, as this would allow us to later on change how backdrops with text is handled.
Posters
Contribution rules for posters are covered by the page "
Movie and TV Serie Posters
". Notice! The rules for posters contributed to the My Movies Online Service are more strict than rules for posters contributed to TheTVDB.com where the TV Series data origins from. This means that there may be posters in the online service that does not follow these rules - that does not make it acceptable to contribute posters that does not follow the guidelines. Posters originally loaded from TheTVDB.com is for now allowed in the system, even thought they do not follow the guidelines.
There are several posters imported from TheTVDB.com where the language setting is either incorrect by being set to 'United States' even when they are neutral, or where the language is not set at all. We hope that you will help the system by changing the language of these when you meet them.
Episode Images
Details will be added later.