So… what's this website all about then?
We are next-episode.net - the name is kind of a give away actually. You can use this site to monitor your favourite television shows and see when the next episodes are on. That, and oh so much more.
Who runs this site?
That would be Santah. He does all the fancy work with designing and updating the website, adding cool features, and providing the majority of the news posts. You'll see the names Karenbear and Arashi pop up every now and then as well. But don't worry, we're a friendly bunch once you get to know us.
What is this "oh so much more" you talked about?
There are tons of useful/fun features on the website, and this FAQ will cover them all as well as the general stuff you should know to navigate your way around. Just click on a link below to read all about it:
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Do I have to register?
Nope. But most of the really cool features will only work if you do. Trust me, it's worth it. This FAQ covers most of the cool stuff, so just keep reading if you want to see what's available.
How much will it cost me to register?
Nothing. This is a completely free website. Aren't we generous?
Okay, so where do I go to register?
http://next-episode.net/register.php
If I register, am I going to get a ton of spam to my email address?
Nope. We don't even ask for your email address. All you need is a username and password to fill out the registration form.
Why do you need to know what country I'm from?
We can't just want to get to know you better?
Okay, it's actually used to figure out your timezone, which is needed to figure out your calendar, and exactly when today/tomorrow/yesterday is for you (a feature on the homepage after you register).
Damn! It says my username has already been taken. What should I do?
When at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
Okay, so I filled in the form, clicked on register, and I was told that I'd registered successfully, but when I clicked on the link to go back to the homepage nothing changed. What did I do wrong?
Nothing, you just need to login. At the top of the page you'll see a space for you to fill in your username and password, then click on "login". Now you should see a change.
Cool! Uh, what now?
Now you should probably add some shows to your watchlist.
What's a watchlist?
Your watchlist is the list of shows that you are interested in, taken from over 300 that are available on the site.
You can see the list of shows available to choose from using the drop down box at the top left of the homepage.
The list is divided into active shows (ones still showing on television), and cancelled/ended shows, and then listed alphabetically.
How do I add a show to my watchlist?
Click on a show from the drop down list, and it will take you to that particular show page. You will find a link near the top right saying "add to watchlist"... I image you can figure it out from there.
And what does that do?
You should now see the name of the show (and some other information, depending on what settings you have - settings are covered in their own FAQ) appearing on the left hand side of the screen under the heading "Your watchlist:"
So I have to go to each individual show page and click on the link? I want to add a ton of shows, this will take forever!
Lazy bugger! Oh alright, you can also add shows by clicking on the "settings" link at the top of the screen and then clicking on the "manage watchlist" option. This will give you a list of all shows available listed alphabetically. Simply tick the box next to each show you would like included on your watchlist, and then click on the update button at the bottom.
What if I want to remove something from my watchlist?
You can either go to the show page, and click on the "remove from watchlist" link, or you can go back to settings/manage watchlist, and untick/update your list from there.
Right, so I've added all my favourite shows to my watchlist. Why is that useful?
Because now it's incredibly easy to monitor when your shows are on. The homepage is filled with useful information about this.
The left of the screen lists all of the shows on your watchlist, and depending on what settings you have (specific settings are covered in their own FAQ) it can also show the date of the next episode, as well as the season/episode number.
The right hand side has your calendar, which can show a maximum of 9 days into the past and future (this can be changed in your settings) so you can easily see what shows on your watchlist have just been on, or are showing soon.
In the middle of the homepage you have the Today/Tomorrow/Yesterday section, which, as the name suggests shows the episodes of television that are on today, on tomorrow, or were on yesterday. You can have this display only shows on your watchlist, or all active shows covered by the website.
Your watchlist is also used to generate your Stuff to Watch page (covered in it's own FAQ).
All of that sounds really complicated.
Just play around with your setting, and explore the way things work - you'll get the hang of it.
My favourite show doesn't appear on the dropdown list of available shows. Can I get it added?
Maybe. First of all check to see if it's listed on tv.com - that's where we get all of our information. If it is listed, then you can absolutely get it added.
You can either use the feedback link that is at the bottom of every page to message Santah, or you can ask for it in the forums - both of these are covered in more detail in their own FAQs
Damn, my show isn't on tv.com! Can't I get it added anyway - it's only one show?
Sorry, no. All the information about these shows and when they're on is generated automatically using the tv.com database. Adding a show that isn't listed means that we would have to monitor and update the information manually. And you know, we have lives dude!
Fair enough. Now, if this website is all about telling you when the next episode is on, why do you cover inactive shows?
Because we wanted to make the site as useful as possible. You can use the information on cancelled/ended shows like an episode guide, and they can be used in the Stuff to Watch feature, which as mentioned before, has it’s own FAQ.
Where do I find this feature?
As with most features on next-episode.net, there is a handy link on the title bar.
There's nothing there!
If there is nothing on the page it's because you haven't added any shows to your watchlist. Go and read that FAQ, add some shows, and then come back here.
Now I have a list of all the shows on my watchlist with a [+/-] next to them. What is this feature for?
This feature can have a number of uses, it just depends on your needs. Basically it's where you can keep track of the television episodes you've seen. You could also use it to track the episodes you've managed to download, or the ones you've bought on DVD. It's really up to you how you use it.
How does it do that?
Try clicking on one of the [+/-] signs.
Wow, it just expanded into all the seasons of that show, and then all the episodes
This is how you keep track. To get rid of an episode from that list (thereby indicating that you've seen/downloaded/bought/whatever it) just click on the little [-] sign next to the episode name, and it will disappear from the list. Once you've done that for all the episodes you've seen you're left with a handy list of all the ones left.
But I've added a ton of shows to my watchlist, and some of them have a lot of episodes. Do I have to click next to every single episode?
No. You should see a link called 'Manage watched/unwatched episodes' near the top of the page. Click on that. This should take you to a different table.
As you can see from here you can click one link to indicate an entire series of television as watched. Then you will only have to click on the individual episodes as new ones are shown.
But I haven't seen every season of all the shows on my watchlist. Can't I do this season by season?
Yes you can. Try clicking on the 'one by one' link, and then you'll see you can mark individual seasons as seen, as well as individual episodes.
Just don't forget to click on the 'make changes' button at the bottom of the page once you're done.
I've gone through all the shows on my watchlist and marked the episodes I've watched. That took forever!
Depending on the number of shows on your watchlist it can take a while, but it's a one-time task, and it's worth doing to make the feature as useful as possible. And we've done our best to make the process as simple and quick as we can.
How do I make sure that the new episodes of all the shows on my watchlist will appear on my Stuff to Watch page?
Nothing. On the day the new episode is broadcast it will appear automatically on your page. It's just up to you to mark them once you've seen them.
I only have one episode I want to mark off, do I have to keep clicking on those [+/-] signs to get to the right season and episode every single time?
There is an alternative way of viewing this page if you prefer.
The default view is called the Tree View. This is the view with the [+/-] signs so you can expand or contract a series to show the seasons/episodes. This is useful if you have a lot of episodes still to watch because it keeps the page tidy, and stops you from having to search through a long list to get to the episode you want.
The other view is called the Flat View. This view doesn't require any expansion, as all the episodes from your watchlist are there in series/season/episode order in one long list. This view is useful if you only have a few episode left to watch, as it means you can mark them off easily without having to click any links to expand to the right episode.
You can switch between these views by clicking on the link at the top right of the page.
Dammit! I just clicked on the wrong [-] sign to mark an episode as seen. How do I undo that?
You need to click the 'Manage watched/unwatched episodes' link, and then the 'one by one' link next to the relevant show. From here you can untick the box for the episode you mistakenly marked as seen.
What are show pages?
Each of the over 300 television shows that we feature on next-episode.net has it's own page, filled with useful information.
How can I get to them?
There is a drop-down box on the title bar. Just click on that and pick a show, it will take you directly to that show page.
What's all this information then?
There is a picture and a synopsis of the show, as well as a link to the tv.com page for that show.
If there is a forum dedicated to that show (go to the forum FAQ for more information on them), there will be a link to take you directly there.
There will be a link to add or remove the show from your watchlist (covered in the watchlist FAQ).
If you've specified a custom search engine (covered in the Settings FAQ) there will be a link allowing you to perform a search on the show.
There is information on where and when the show airs (this is the local time and channel for where the show premiers in its country of origin - we do not give information on when and where the show airs in other countries).
There are links detailing the show genre that will take you to the site's browse feature (also covered by it’s own FAQ).
There are two forms of star rating. The first labelled 'Rating' is taken from the tv.com rating system, the second labelled 'Hotness' is derived by how many people using next-episode.net have the show in their watchlist. This rating system is dynamic, and changes as people change their watchlists.
There are links to episode schedules, that when clicked on will give details of each episode on that season, a link to the episode page on tv.com, and the date the episode premiered. If the show is still active, the next episode to air will be highlighted in blue.
The show status is at the bottom of the page. If the show is still active, then information on the next and the previous episode is detailed.
Wow, that's a lot of information.
Isn't it just!
Uh… thanks?
You're welcome.
How do I find this feature?
Aren't you tired of this question already? Say it with me now… there is a link on the title bar.
What does all this do then?
It allows you to browse through the various shows available on next-episode.net using different variables:
Status - whether the show is active or inactive
Genre - such a Sci-fi, Drama, Comedy, etc
Channel - the channel the show is broadcast on in its country of origin
How does it work?
Simply click on the drop-down boxes and choose the criteria you want to search on. You can choose an option from just one drop-down box, or all three. Then just click on the filter button.
Your results will appear in a long list just below.
If you just want to search on a genre you can also use the links above the filter bar. There are also genre links on the individual show pages that will take you to the browse feature.
How do I use the results?
Each of the shows that appear in your list of results have links to the individual show pages. From there you can read up about the show, or add the show to your watchlists.
How do I change my settings?
Right up at the top of the title bar, where the site greets you with a cheery 'Hey there', you will find a link to your settings.
What settings are available for me to change?
Now there is a big question! Lets take each of the four categories one at a time.
Okay then, Manage my watchlists?
Self-explanatory. This setting is also covered by the watchlist FAQ. It provides a long list of all the shows available, so you can simple tick or untick to add/remove shows from your watchlist. Remember to click on the update button at the bottom.
Change my timzone?
Also self-explanatory. Once you click on this option simply find your new timezone from the drop-down list and click on update.
My search engine(s)?
This setting allows you to add a number of custom searches to your account. What this means is that a link will appear on the homepage, in the today/tomorrow/yesterday section, as well as in the show page itself, and in the stuff to watch feature, that will search for that show in the engine(s) you specify here.
Huh?
For example, if you want an easy way to search for the torrent files for the shows on the site, then you can add a custom search on mininova (or any of the other numerous torrent sites out there).
Where it says Name just type Mininova (or the name of whatever site you are searching on)
Where is says URL use the following code:
http://www.mininova.org/search/#show_name#/added
Then click on the 'Add Engine' button.
And that's all there is to it. Now when you go to the homepage you will see an extra link on the today/tomorrow/yesterday section, or on the show page just above the synopsis, and on the Stuff to Watch page, that will automatically search for that show on whatever search engine you specify.
How did you come up with the URL to the search engine?
The easiest way is to go to the site you want to search with, and do a search in the usual way. When you get your results copy the URL on your browser's address bar, and paste it where it says URL on the search engine settings.
For example, when I searched for Stargate Atlantis on torrentspy.com I got the following URL:
http://www.torrentspy.com/search.asp?query=stargate+atlantis
After you paste it in your settings, simply replace the show name with the code #show_name#
This would leave you with the URL:
http://www.torrentspy.com/search.asp?query=#show_name#
Easy!
Can I have more than one custom search engine?
Absolutely. Have as many as you like. To add more, just click on the 'Add New' link and follow the same procedure as above.
I think I made a mistake, how to I edit a search engine?
Go back to your search engine settings and you will find a link that allows you to either delete or edit an engine you have already set up.
Okay, and the last option, Other Settings?
There are a number of settings here that affect the way your watchlist and calendar on the homepage are displayed. I'll take each in turn:
Show dates in watchlist:
This option will add the date of the next new episode underneath the name of each show on your watchlist.
Sort watchlist by dates / CountDown:
This option will sort the shows in your watchlist by the date of the next new episode, with the most recent at the top. Without this option the shows are placed in alphabetical order.
Show CountDown:
This option will show a countdown of the number of days until the next new episode is shown for each show on your watchlist.
Show cancelled/ended shows in my watchlist (soon to come):
This option isn't available yet, but when it is, it will mean that all your shows can appear on the watchlist, not just the active ones.
Show season and episode number in watchlist along with the date:
This option will add the details of the season and episode number of the next new episode underneath the name of each show in your watch list, in the format 1x02 (1 = season number, 02 = episode number)
Only shows from watchlist in Today's, Tomorrow's ...:
This option will exclude any show not on your watchlist from appearing in the today/tomorrow/yesterday section of the homepage.
Calendar settings:
This option allows you to change the number of days into the past and future the calendar on the right of the homepage will show. Each one can be changed to show between 0-9 days.
What does a website about television shows need with a personal messaging system?
Because we have quite a few members at this point and we thought it would be fun to allow them to message each other. Don't be such a killjoy!
Where do I find my messages?
There is a link to your inbox on the title bar, right next to the link for the settings.
Aw, it says I have no messages yet.
Then maybe you should try sending one, see if you get a reply.
How do I send a message?
There are a couple of ways:
1) Just click on the link that says 'Write Message', and manually fill in the username of the person you want to message.
2) Click on the username of the person you want to message in either the babe of the day, or the news comments.
Then it's just a matter of writing out the subject and the body of your message, and clicking send, just like an email.
How will I know if I have a new message waiting for me?
We've made sure to include a really annoying, blinking icon next to your inbox link on the homepage. If you see that you have a new message.
I want to reply to a message that I've got, how do I do that?
A handy reply box is included underneath your messages. Just fill out your reply and hit send.
What's with the [quote] thing in the reply box?
That is put there automatically. It quotes from the message that you are replying to. If you don't want to quote just delete it.
Can I send messages to more than one person at a time.
No.
My list of messages is getting quite long, can I get rid of some of them?
Sure. Tick the boxes next to the messages you want to delete and then, as you can probably guess, you click on delete.
You can also delete from your sent items, but this time the option is to delete all using the link at the bottom of the sent items page.
What's up with the links that are sometimes posted on the homepage
That would be our news section. The most recent news post appears on the homepage.
The most recent? So where are the rest?
There is a link to our news archive on the title bar.
The last five news items are immediately visible, but you can access the full archive, by month, by using the drop-down box at the top.
I'm looking for something specific that I remember was posted a few months ago, but I can't remember exactly when.
There is a search box right beside the archive. Try typing a few keywords in there.
What kind of news is posted here?
Anything that takes our fancy to be honest. Sometimes we include information on our favourite television shows, sometimes we post links to things that amuse or amaze us, and sometimes we create our own quizzes for you to enjoy.
Basically we post anything we think is worth sharing, whether it has to do with television or not.
I found something really cool online that I think would be great for the news section, should I sent it to you?
Absolutely! We're always grateful for contributions to the site. You can send what you've found to Santah by using the feedback link that is at the bottom left hand side of every page. That will take you to the site's personal messaging system (covered by it’s own FAQ).
I have something I want to say about the most recent news item, what should I do?
As long as you are logged in you can leave comments on any news item posted. Just click where it says 'comments' underneath the post, and any comments posted so far by other users, and a place where you can type your own comment, will appear.
We love hearing from the people who use the site, so don't be shy.
Damn, I screwed up! Can I edit my comment?
Sorry, nope.
This is a website about television shows. Why do you have a babe of the day section?
Because we can.
How do I find it?
Just click the link on the title bar.
Hey, she's gorgeous! Can I comment to articulate my appreciation?
Sure. Provided you are logged in, you can use the comment box underneath the picture. Just type what you have to say in the box, and then click on "Post New Comment"
Damn, I screwed up! Can I edit my comment?
Sure, just click on the [Edit] link and modify the comment.
Who is she?
The name of each babe is mentioned above the picture. If you still don't know who she is, there is this amazing little thing called google - you should try it.
Can I see a larger version of the picture?
Try clicking on it.
Who updates the botd page?
Karenbear.
Isn't Karenbear a girls name?
Yes, yes it is. But then she is a girl, so it's okay.
Why do you have a girl updating botd?
Because the world is a wonderfully diverse place. And because she volunteered.
Can I make suggestions for who I'd like to see included? I have a great picture saved on my hard drive.
Absolutely! Send any suggestions you have, or specific pictures you'd like to see, to nextepisodebotd[at]googlemail.com.
And they'll definitely get used?
Not necessarily, no. They'll have to pass Karenbear's strict screening process. And before you make suggestions, or send in pictures, you should consider the following:
-- How many times have they been featured before?
-- Is the picture high quality?
-- Is the picture high res (at least 800x800 pixels - preferably more)?
-- Is the picture in good taste (we don't mind a little nudity, but we aren't a porn website)?
Don't be surprised if Karenbear uses the babe you suggest, but chooses a completely different picture herself. She's picky that way.
How can I tell if someone has been featured before?
There is a drop down box at the top of the page. You can use it to see all the previous babes in the order they appeared.
Hey! Today's picture was of a guy. Guys aren't babes!
How narrow-minded of you! Karenbear does feature a photo of a guy every now and then, but she usually includes some kind of warning the day before if you really find it all that offensive. Unless she's feeling mischievous of course…
Can't we just have a separate Male-Babe of the Day section?
No, we can't. BOTD can be quite time intensive to update with a different babe every day, and we have lives you know.
Wow, today's picture looks really photoshopped! Should I comment about that?
Sure, because nobody ever does that.
Today's picture was a bit racy, shouldn't you label it NSFW (not safe for work)?
The page is called Babe of the Day, what were you expecting? Always go with the assumption that a little skin might be showing, just to be safe.
What's with all the comments about shoes?
Don't ask...
I want to contact someone who runs the site, how do I do that?
The easiest way is to use the feedback link that is at the bottom left hand side of every page. Click on that and it will automatically take you to the personal messaging system on the site so that you can send a message to Santah.
Are there any other ways?
Sure. It just depends on what you want to talk about.
If you want to ask for a show to be added to the site, then you can either message Santah, or you can write a post in the forums.
If you want to say something about Babe of the Day then you can either email nextepisodebotd[at]googlemail.com, or you can send a message to Karenbear.
If you're lonely and just feel like saying hi, then you might want to think about getting some friends. Or you could try to generate some discussion by creating a topic in the forums.
How long will it take to get a reply?
No clue. It depends on who you contacted, how you contacted them, what you contacted them about. Not to mention the fact that this is a hobby for us. We have lives and jobs beyond this site, so if we're busy it may take a while. We'll do our best to reply as soon as we get the chance.
I love this site, and visit it often. Is there a way I can show my appreciation?
Well thank you, that's very nice of you to say. And hearing just that is a great way to show your appreciation.
You could always submit a news story, or a photo for babe of the day.
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