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Page History: TV Series Contribution Guide

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Page Revision: 2011/05/06 12:51


Introduction

Thank you for considering contributing data to our WebService. 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 WebService 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 WebService is stored in the My Movies WebService only. The software does not store this back to TheTVDB.com. At the time an element is contributed to in the My Movies WebService 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 WebService, 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.

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 WebService.

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.

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'.

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 WebService.

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.

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.

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.

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'.

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 WebService.

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 WebService - 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 WebService - 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.

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 WebService.

First Aired

Details will be added later.

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.

Images - Banners, Backdrops, Posters and Episode Images

There are some general rules to consider when contributing images to the WebService. 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 WebService 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 WebService 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 WebService 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 WebService 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.