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TV api | TVmaze

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Valid sources

In some cases, there might be multiple sources that conflict with each other. When that happens, they should be considered in the following order:

  1. Data shown on-screen during the show's announcement, intro, or credits
  2. Data shown on closed captions from an official (network, web channel, or DVD) source
  3. Data in a press release or press kit
  4. Data on the show's official website
  5. Statements by show crew in articles / interviews

Please note that IMDB should never be used as a source for Cast information, as they don't properly separate show-level credits from episode-level credits.

Cast

A Cast entry specifies a person part of the show's main cast.

The following terms indicate that a credit is considered Main Cast:

The following terms are normally considered Main Cast, though individual shows can have a different policy:

The following terms explicitly indicate a credit is not considered Main Cast. These should be added on the episode level instead, as Guest Cast:

For longer running shows, the Main Cast usually varies throughout the show's run. If a person has been credited as Main Cast during any part of the show's run, they should be included in this list. Cast Appearances on the Episode level can be used to indicate in which exact episodes the cast member was credited.

For UK shows; if none of the official sources explicitly separate Main Cast from Guest Cast, actors appearing in the opening credits should be added as Main Cast and actors only appearing in the closing credits as Guest Cast.

Only Cast members for the original show version should be added. For example, if the Show is originally Japanese, voice actors that worked on the English dubbed version should not be added.

Crew

A Crew entry specifies a person part of the show's crew.

As with Cast, the Main Crew usually varies throughout the show's run. Crew Appearances on the Episode level can be used to indicate in which exact episodes the crew member was credited.

Seasons

A Season (called "series" in the UK) is a set of episodes grouped together.

Number

The unique sequence number of this season. For numbering rules, please refer to the Episode policy.

Name

If the show defines a specific name/title or tagline for this season, it can be entered here. Most shows won't have this, in which case it can be left empty. A name may only be entered if an official source specifically designates it as season name/title/tagline, merely appearing on i.e. a poster is not sufficient.

Network / Web Channel

The Network / Web Channel that this specific season was aired / streamed on. This is useful to track historical information, in case a Show moves between networks throughout its run.

The Network / Web Channel set here is the source that must be used for all episode airdates within this season. Refer to the episode policy for more information.

Episode Order

The amount of episodes that was ordered for this season. This should only be filled when a network explicitly announces the episode order before the start of the season. For season that have already aired, one can simply look at the season's episode list and this information will be redundant.

Premiere Year / Month

The year and month this season is set to premiere in. Since it's not allowed to add Episodes to TVmaze before they are formally announced, these properties can be used to indicate when a Show that's on hiatus will return. As with the episode order, these attributes should only be entered when they are explicitly announced ahead of time. For seasons that have already premiered, their premiere date is automatically calculated based on the first episode's airdate.

Summary

A global description of the events in this season. Mind our copyright policy: season summaries can only be copied from an official source when the source's license specifically allows it.

The season gallery can be used to upload pictures for a season. Only pictures that explicitly belong to a specific season should be uploaded, don't upload generic show images here.

The image must be in poster/portrait format. Poster images on TVmaze will have an aspect ratio of 5:7. It's allowed to upload images with a slightly deviating aspect ratio, but they will automatically be cut and resized into the 5:7 ratio, so carefully check the image preview to see if no important information is lost in that process. Images that deviate too much from the target aspect ratio will be rejected.

Characters

A Character that has appeared on the Show. Characters cannot be created individually, but should be created through the entering of Main- or Guest Cast. Only roles portrayed or voiced by a human person are considered Characters; animal occurrences can't be added.

A Character should be named the way it was credited, considering the valid sources mentioned above. However, there should always only be one entry for each unique character. If the same Character appears on a show multiple times with different credited names, only one Character entry should be created and an AKA (alias) with the secondary name can be added. If a Character is known under different names, the names can be enumerated and separated with a "/", e.g. "Barry Allen / The Flash".

It's uncommon but perfectly valid for one actor to portray multiple Characters in a show, or for one Character to be portrayed by multiple actors.

A few examples to clarify:

Additional Considerations for Comic Book-Based Programs

Comic book-based programs are unique in that many of the characters in the program are known by more than one name: a secret identity (Oliver Queen) and as a superhero/villain (The Arrow). To further complicate matters, the revelation of a character as a superhero/villain is, more often than not, a spoiler and requires some special attention. If both the secret identity and superhero name are listed together in the onscreen credits for the program, then you should follow the standard policy for naming characters and list both the secret identity and the superhero name together. If, however, no onscreen credit is available, the following should be used when naming characters for these types of shows. 

a. If any secret identity and superhero/villain names are promoted in press releases before the premiere of the first episode of season one, or if both the secret identity and superhero/villain names are revealed within the premiere episode of season one, then both the secret identity and superhero name should be listed for the character. (i.e.: Stephen Amell -- Oliver Queen/The Arrow)

b. Unless otherwise specified in onscreen credits, characters should be identified by the first name (either secret identity or superhero/villain) used to introduce the character. (i.e.: Danielle Panabaker -- Caitlin Snow or Chris Klein -- Cicada). If a character is identified by both a secret identity and a superhero/villain within their first episode appearance, then both names can be listed. 

c. If a character's alter ego is revealed anytime after the premiere episode of the series as a superhero/villain, then the superhero/villain name should be listed as an AKA (i.e.: Danielle Panabaker -- Caitlin Snow (with an AKA listing for Killer Frost, Frost) Chris Klein -- Cicada (with an AKA for Orlin Dwyer).

d. If the character is known by any other names other than the secret identity and/or superhero/villain name, those should also be listed as AKAs (i.e. Stephen Amell -- Oliver Queen/The Arrow (with AKAs for The Hood, The Green Arrow)).

e. If you have any questions about how a character should be listed, please create a thread in the Data forums.

Gallery

The show gallery can be used to upload various images for the Show. Only Poster images can be used as main image; the image that's used as the identifying image on the show's main page. The other image types are currently not used in a specific way on TVmaze, but adding this classification can be useful to other (API) clients using our data.

Any number of images can be added to the show's gallery, but since only the show's main image is prominently used, adding many additional images is not very fruitful.

Please upload the highest resolution that's available for a particular image. The site will automatically generate thumbnails in various smaller sizes; and the higher the source resolution the better quality they'll be.

The following image types are available:

Poster (main image)

Also known as "portrait"; an image that is tall and not very wide. Poster images on TVmaze will have an aspect ratio of 5:7. It's allowed to upload images with a slightly deviating aspect ratio, but they will automatically be cut and resized into the 5:7 ratio, so carefully check the image preview to see if no important information is lost in that process. Images that deviate too much from the target aspect ratio will be rejected.

Accepted content for the main image is, in the following order:

  1. Official posters released by the Network (example: https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/36568/swamp-thing)
  2. Poster with no text; must be comprised of official resources AND show signs to that specific series (example: https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/42664/restage-dream-days)
  3. Product/Box Art; Official product artwork such as DVD or Blu-ray covers
  4. Fanmade posters; A fanmade poster that combines the official promotional image with the official font (example: https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/33589/un-bore-mercher)
  5. Book cover that the series is based on (example: https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/42567/the-pale-horse)

Once a show has premiered, an official poster without premiere date and/or other scheduling information is preferred over a version that does contain such text.

Unacceptable formats and content are:

Also known as "landscape"; an image that is wide and not very tall. Banner images should have an aspect ratio around 1:5.41, images that deviate too much from the target aspect ratio will be rejected.

Banners are horizontally oriented images containing the tv show characters/tv show logo or title. They should have the series logo on them, the logo should have a reasonable size and be clearly readable.

Background

Images that can be used as a fullscreen background for media screens. Background images should have an aspect ratio around 16:9, images that deviate too much from the target aspect ratio will be rejected.

Typography

Images of a tv show logo/iconography/typography.

AKAs

An AKA ("Also Known As") is an alias for a show, to be added when a show is known under multiple names. An AKA may only be added when that name is officially used by the show's Network or Web Channel; for example in a press release or on the show's official website.

Also, an AKA may only be added when the alternate name significantly differs from the Show's primary name. For example, if the only difference is punctuation or capitalization, no AKA should be created. AKA's must adhere to the same rules that apply to a Show's regular name. For example, suffixes that are not part of the original name may not be included.

An AKA can either refer to the Show's original country, or it can indicate an alias in a specific foreign country. In the first case, the country property should be left blank; in the second case the country property should be set to the country the AKA applies to.

Genres

Genres are simple classifications for shows to help with searches or finding similar stylistic shows. For example, while a program may be "Scripted" as a Show Type, the Show Genre allows for more specifics as to what sort of scripted program it is. Most television shows can fit into more than one genre, and we limit shows to no more than three different genres. Over at http://www.tvmaze.com/faq/32/genre-definitions is a list of the genres used here and a brief description as to what each genre means.

Relations

Show relations must always be created on the oldest show. E.g. to relate "CSI" and "CSI: NY" together, go to CSI to create this relationship. This relationship will automatically be visible on CSI: NY's page as well.

Relations should not be set recursively. E.g., create a relation between both "CSI" and "CSI: NY", and "CSI" and "CSI: Miami"; but not between "CSI: NY" and "CSI: Miami" as well. Even without explicitly adding it, the latter relationship will be automatically listed on both show's pages under "indirect relations".

Each pair of shows can only have one type of relationship set. If multiple types of relationships as described below would apply, consider the highest listed types first.

After Show

A show discussing or explaining events that happened on the main show.

Examples:

Talk Show Franchise

Multiple incarnations of the same talk/news show with a different host.

Examples:

Serial Specials

Side episodes to a main show that form a serial storyline of their own.

Examples:

Reboot

A show with mostly the same characters as a previous show, remade for a different era

Examples:

Foreign Remake

A version of a previous show with mostly the same concept or storyline and characters, set in a different country/language.

Examples:

Franchise

A show that's closely related to an existing show; because they share a similar name and premise, (main) crew or cast members portraying the same character, cinematic universe, and/or a continous storyline. This relation only applies when the similarites are present for the majority of the show's run; an occasional "crossover episode" between two shows that otherwise share no similarities does not warrant creating a show relation.

Examples:

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