As described in the Episode Policy, an episode's properties are derived from the episode's original world premiere release. The episode numbering and names all follow the Network or Web Channel that originally premiered them. In most cases this data is representative for the rest of the world as well, but sometimes there are differences caused by foreign networks or DVD releases presenting the episodes in different ordering or with different names. Additionally, in some cases we're interested in tracking the premiere dates for other sources than the world premiere. For those scenario's, an Alternate Episode List can be created.
Alternate Lists
A description of supported Alternate List types is below. A single list can have multiple types, for example when a Spanish TV show premieres on an American TV Network with English subtitles, both the "Country Premiere" and "Language Premiere" types can be selected for the same list.
Currently, Alternate Lists can only be created by Trusted Contributors; but adding episodes to an existing Alternate List is open to all Contributors.
DVD release
This type of list may only be created when the show's official home theater (DVD, Blu-Ray, VHS, etc) release has different episode numbering or naming versus the world premiere data.
For each Alternate Episode in this list, you'll have to specify the season- and episode numbering as maintained in the DVD release. Providing a name for the Alternate Episode should only be done if the name differs from the Episode's original name, if left empty the original names will be used. The date should be set to the DVD release date, or left empty if that's unknown.
Verbatim order
According to our episode policy, there are a couple of cases where we do not follow the original network's episode numbering. For example, the first episode number in a season must have the number 1 and subsequent episode numbers must be incremental. It's not allowed for two seasons to run simultaneously, if this happens we'll fall back to year-based numbering instead. Or our policy mandates that an episode should be split in two parts while the original network gives it a single number. This type of list may be created if any of these rules are in effect.
For each Alternate Episode in this list, you can assign episodes the exact season- and episode number that's announced by the original network, without considering the regular episode policy. Providing a name for the Alternate Episode should only be done if the name differs from the Episode's original name (e.g. due to adding or dropping a "Part 2"), if left empty the original names will be used. The airdate should be set to that episode's original airdate.
Streaming premiere
If a show originally premiered on a broadcast TV network, this type of list can be used to indicate the (worldwide) first time the episodes premiered on a Web/Streaming Channel. It may only be used when the Web Channel is in the same country as the original TV network (which excludes global Web Channels such as Netflix, since they are not tied to one specific country). This is a common phenomenon for entities that operate a TV network as well as a related Web Channel, such as CBS vs CBS All Access, or BBC vs BBC iPlayer.
For lists of this type, you must assign the Web Channel that's premiering these episodes.
For each Alternate Episode in this list, you'll have to specify the season- and episode numbering as indicated by the Web Channel. Providing a name for the Alternate Episode should only be done if the name differs from the Episode's original name, if left empty the original names will be used. The date should be set to the episode's premiere date on this Web Channel.
Broadcast premiere
If a show originally premiered on a Streaming/Web Channel, this type of list can be used to indicate the (worldwide) first time the episodes premiered on a TV network. It may only be used when the TV network is in the same country as the original TV network. This is a common phenomenon for entities that operate a TV network as well as a related Web Channel, such as CBS vs CBS All Access, or BBC vs BBC iPlayer.
For lists of this type, you must assign the TV network that's premiering these episodes.
For each Alternate Episode in this list, you'll have to specify the season- and episode numbering as indicated by the Web Channel. Providing a name for the Alternate Episode should only be done if the name differs from the Episode's original name, if left empty the original names will be used. The date should be set to the episode's premiere date on this Web Channel.
Country premiere
This type of list can be used to indicate when episodes are aired for the first time in a different country from where they premiered. It may be used when the "airdate owner" policy is in effect, e.g. when we are not using the world premiere dates. Additionally, it may always be used when episodes premiere for the first time in the following countries:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Canada
For lists of this type, you must assign the TV network or the (local) Web Channel that's premiering these episodes in this country.
For each Alternate Episode in this list, you'll have to specify the season- and episode numbering as indicated by the TV Network or Web Channel. If the episode names are translated on this source, please fill in the translated name, otherwise leave it empty and the original names will automatically be used. The date should be set to the episode's premiere date in this country.
Language premiere
This type of list can be used to indicate when episodes are aired for the first time in a different language than the original, either via subtitling or dubbing. Only official subs or dubs are considered, released by a TV network or curated Web Channel or on a DVD/Blu-ray release. It may currently only be used when the show premieres in one of the following languages:
- English
For lists of this type, you must assign the selected language. Also, either assign the Web Channel or Network that released the episodes in this language, or combine this list with the "DVD release" type.
For each Alternate Episode in this list, you'll have to specify the season- and episode numbering as used by whatever source (Web Channel, Network or DVD) premiered the episodes in this language. If the episode names are translated on this source, please fill in the translated name, otherwise leave it empty and the original names will automatically be used. The date should be set to the episode's premiere date on this source.
Alternate Episodes
Once an Alternate List has been created, Alternate Episodes can be added to it. For each Alternate Episode, at least a season number and episode number should be provided. Additionally, one or more "linked episodes" should be added which link the Alternate Episode to the underlying original Episode entry or entries. There are three possible scenario's for this.
1:1
In the most simple and common scenario, the alternate source (such as a DVD release) merely changed the episode's ordering around compared to the original, but did not re-cut the episodes into different lengths. In this case, each Alternate Episode has a link to exactly 1 original Episode.
For example, in the DVD release for Firefly the first episode is "Serenity", which originally aired as episode 1x11. For this, create an Alternate Episode with season "1", episode number "1" and link it to "S01E11 Serenity".
Merged episodes
In a more complicated and rare scenario, the alternate source will merge two original episodes into one. For example, a cartoon could air back-to-back episodes that are are treated as individual Episode entries according to our policy, but explicitly label them as a single episode on the DVD release.
In that case, create an Alternate Episode with season "1", episode number "1" and link two original episodes to it: both S01E01 and S01E02.
Split episodes
Even more rare is the opposite of merged episodes. In this scenario, an episode that originally aired as a single continuous episode is split into two separate entries on the alternate source.
For such a case, create two Alternate Episodes. First, season "1", episode number "1" and link it to S01E01. Secondly, season "1", episode number "2" and also link it to S01E01.
Random cuts
In extreme scenarios, an alternate source will re-cut the alternate episodes in random pieces. A notorious example is Casa de Papel, which originally aired as 15 episodes of 75 minutes length. When the show was picked up by Netflix, they re-cut them into 22 episodes of 45 minutes length. This means there's no clearly defined link between the alternate episodes and the original episodes, and as such these scenarios cannot be properly expressed in an Alternate List.