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Wednesday, August 16th, 2023

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Finding web series

Hi community, 

Most web series seem to be described as 'television series' on imdb. Is there a way to search for web series specifically? Does anyone know why imdb is not using 'web series' to describe web series? 

Many thanks for any help!

Nicky

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2 years ago

Nicky: There is a keyword web-series which is supposed to be used for web series. See the title formatting guide at https://help.imdb.com/article/contribution/titles/title-formatting/G56U5ERK7YY47CQB# which says:

Web Series
"Series Title" (year) i.e."The Walking Dead: Webisodes" (2011)
Please submit as Made for TV: TV Series
Please add the keyword: web-series
A link to the playlist/channel should be added to the Video clips section under Links to Other Sites
The web series should be listed as a standalone TV series even if it is a spin-off of an existing series, for example "The Walking Dead: Webisodes" (2011)
In this case please submit a movie connection for spin off from the original series with an explanation i.e. character xy got their own series

As to why the keyword web-series is not used as often as you might expect, my guess is that the changes in media in recent years have blurred the distinctions between made-for-television programming and made-for-Internet programming. In an era when one can watch YouTube through one's home TV set, and Internet companies such as Netflix, Amazon, and Apple are among the top "networks" receiving Emmy Award nominations, it's harder to say what should be specifically classified as a web series.

On the other hand, looking at the list of titles with the web-series keyword (https://www.imdb.com/search/keyword/?keywords=web-series&sort=num_votes,desc&mode=detail&page=1) it seems that the keyword is indeed used for many Netflix series. So I am not sure if the keyword really is being used as much as it should be, or not.