Can a title be both a web series and a TV mini-series?

Can a title simultaneously be both a web series and a TV mini-series?

There are currently 712 titles on IMDb that have both the keywords "web-series" and "tv-mini-series."

https://www.imdb.com/search/keyword/?keywords=web-series%2Ctv-mini-series&ref_=kw_ref_key&sort=moviemeter,asc&mode=detail&page=1

Of those 712 titles, 694 are also categorized (not in a keyword sense, but in the data "type") as "TV Mini-Series."

https://www.imdb.com/search/keyword/?keywords=tv-mini-series%2Cweb-series&ref_=kw_ref_typ&sort=moviemeter,asc&mode=detail&page=1&title_type=tvMiniSeries

If a title cannot be both a TV mini series and a web series simultaneously, any theories as to how so many titles ended up listed this way (with both keywords)? Is there any way this can be easily fixed?

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Bethanny

Employee

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5.6K Messages

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58.9K Points

3 years ago

Hi keyword_expert-

Yes in this case @mbmb is right. It can be both. Because of the way we display the categorization of a web series on the site, technically all web series are labeled as a "TV Series" - if the series is also a mini-series, it would be okay to have this keyword as well, in addition to web-series.

Cheers!

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M

mbmb

1.7K Messages

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22.9K Points

3 years ago

I think web-series keyword is also added to OTT series like from Netflix, Amazon, Hulu etc.. so yes it can be mini series too since these platforms produce mini series too.

In my eyes these professional big OTT shows are not really different than network TV shows. I would only add web-series keyword to things like Youtube videos or webisodes etc. But adding it to OTT shows is probably OK too. Maybe it should be defined what is a web series and should big OTT shows be counted as web series?

I think your issue is it saying "tv-mini-series" right? But even web series are listed as "TV Series" after all. Even podcasts were listed as "TV Series" until a while ago if you think about it.

(edited)

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Peter_pbn

Champion

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15.7K Messages

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344.2K Points

3 years ago

The table here, where miniseries are one title type and TV series another, suggests that a miniseries is produced for TV and a TV series for TV or internet, and says that web series are categorized as TV series.

1

M

mbmb

1.7K Messages

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22.9K Points

That wouldn't really reflect reality and practice. Some things in that table are obsolete or outdated. As Michelle says "...this is an older guide with some outdated information..."

There are many OTT mini series produced and they are listed as such, according to that table these some recent popular examples couldn't be listed as miniseries: Hawkeye, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Queen's Gambit, WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

because they are not "on TV", but they and many others are listed as such and not listing them as mini series wouldn't really make sense. So I think that's one of the "outdated" parts of that table.

And if OTT shows like Stranger Things get web-series keyword and OTT mini series productions can be listed as mini series as we can see in practice they do, then both keywords are applicable to OTT mini series listings inevitably.

Another thing I know is obsolete in that table is the "TV Movie" and "TV Miniseries" decision based on "parts" and "running time". That "1 or 2 part" and "less than 240 min" criteria are not really effective and valid to list as TV Movie anymore, both in contributor practice and staff decisions. They do not consider it to decide if something should be listed as a "TV Movie" or "TV Miniseries". If it's more than one part, then it's a series. There was a discussion about it here.

Another thing that do not apply anymore on that table would be the OTT original films, according to table, OTT films like Netflix originals etc. all should be listed as "Video" but that's not the case, OTT original films are listed as "Film", as noted by an addition to this guide but that's not reflected in table.

Also the table restricts "TV Specials" to only "on TV" but stand-up specials debuted on OTT platforms are also listed as TV Special, but that table would make it "Video", so that's another thing outdated in the table.

And it says "2 to 4" episodes for Miniseries but we know in practice that's not really accurate. There are tons of mini series with more than 4 episodes.

3 years ago

keyword_expert

Can a title be *both* a web series and a TV mini-series?

Bethanny

mbmb

Peter_pbn

mbmb

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Can a title be both a web series and a TV mini-series?