jellyfin.org/docs/general/server/media/shows.md

---
uid: server-media-shows
title: Shows
---

# Shows

The most common naming scheme for shows is categorizing the files by series and then season. Another common method is simply using series folders, especially for shows that are organized by air date and those without seasons. Adding the year at the end in parentheses will yield the best results when scraping metadata.

:::tip

In order to help with identifying a series, Jellyfin can make use of media provider identifiers. This can be specified in your show's folder name, for example: `Series Name (2018) [tmdbid-65567]` or `Series Name (2018) [tvdbid-65567]` (`imdbid` is not supported for shows)

:::

```txt
Shows
├── Series Name A (2010)
│   ├── Season 00
│   │   ├── Some Special.mkv
│   │   ├── Series Name A S00E01.mkv
│   │   └── Series Name A S00E02.mkv
│   ├── Season 01
│   │   ├── Series Name A S01E01-E02.mkv
│   │   ├── Series Name A S01E03.mkv
│   │   └── Series Name A S01E04.mkv
│   └── Season 02
│       ├── Series Name A S02E01.mkv
│       ├── Series Name A S02E02.mkv
│       ├── Series Name A S02E03 Part 1.mkv
│       └── Series Name A S02E03 Part 2.mkv
└── Series Name B (2018)
    ├── Season 01
    |   ├── Series Name B S01E01.mkv
    |   └── Series Name B S01E02.mkv
    └── Season 02
        ├── Series Name B S02E01-E02.mkv
        └── Series Name B S02E03.mkv
```

:::note

Avoid special characters such as \* in M\*A\*S\*H, use MASH instead.

:::

:::note

Do not mix episodes inside season folders and episodes on the Series root folder.

Do not abbreviate the Season folder with `S01` or `SE01` or alike.

:::

:::note

Season folders shouldn't contain the series name, otherwise Jellyfin can in certain cases (Stargate SG-1 due to the dash and one, for instance) misdetect your episodes and put them all under the same season.

:::

## Show Specials

Show specials can be added in the `Season 00` folder. If supported by your metadata provider those files will be matched. In case your metadata provider does not provide information about the special, it is recommended to use a name which describes the content of the special instead of naming it `Series Name S00Exy.mkv`. This is done to avoid wrong metadata being pulled for the special and to provide a proper presentation.

:::note

Episode numbering for specials may vary from metadata provider to metadata provider.

:::

Specials can also be shown within a season if so desired. This can be helpful when they are part of a continued storyline during the season. This requires 2 settings:

1. The option `Display specials within their series they aired in` under `Dashboard -> Library -> Display` must be enabled
2. The season and episode they aired before/after must be set within the metadata.
   - These can be set in the Metadata editor or in an NFO using the `airsbefore_season`, `airsafter_season`, and `airsbefore_episode` tags.
   - When the `Airs before season` field is set but `Airs before episode` is not set, the special will play at the start of the specified season, before the first episode.
   - The `Airs before season` can also be combined with the `Airs before episode` field to insert it as a mid-season special before the specified episode. For example, if `Airs before season` is set to `2` and `Airs before episode` is set to `7`, the special will play between S02E06 and S02E07.
   - With `Airs after series`, set the Special will be shown (and played) at the end of the specified Season. This will take priority over the `Airs before season/episode` fields if they are set.
   - When multiple specials have the same position, they will play in the order in which they are stored in the specials season. For example, if S00E01 and S00E03 both have `Airs before season` set to `3` and `Airs before episode` set to `7`, the order the content will play in is: S03E06 → S00E01 → S00E03 → S03E07.

Note that this will show them in both the `Specials` season, as well as the season specified.

## Episodes Split Across Multiple Parts

Episodes that are split into multiple files can be stacked together if named correctly. Files should be named as follows:

- `Series Name (2010)/Season 02/Series Name (2010) S02E01<separator><parttype><separator><partnumber>.mkv`

The separator is optional between `<parttype>` and `<partnumber>`. `<partnumber>` can be any number, or the letters a-d.

Supported part types are:

- `cd`
- `dvd`
- `part`
- `pt`
- `disc`
- `disk`

Supported separators are:

- `(space)`
- `. (period)`
- `- (dash)`
- `_ (underscore)`

## Show Extras

Show extras can include deleted scenes, interviews, and other various things that you would want to include alongside your show. Extras can be added at both the series and season level. Jellyfin supports several different methods of adding these files.

:::note

Season level extras are only supported when season folders are used.

:::

### Extras Folders

One of the cleanest ways of adding extras is to place them in subfolders within your show or season folder.

Supported folder types are:

- `behind the scenes`
- `deleted scenes`
- `interviews`
- `scenes`
- `samples`
- `shorts`
- `featurettes`
- `clips`
- `other` - Generic catch all for extras of an unknown type.
- `extras` - Generic catch all for extras of an unknown type.
- `trailers`

```txt
Shows
└── Series Name (2010)
    ├── Season 01
    │   ├── Series Name S01E01.mkv
    │   ├── Series Name S01E02.mkv
    │   ├── featurettes
    │   │   └── Some Featurette.mkv
    │   └── interviews
    │       └── Interview with the Director.mp4
    ├── Season 02
    │   ├── Series Name S02E01.mkv
    │   ├── Series Name S02E02.mkv
    │   └── behind the scenes
    │       └── Behind the Scenes.mp4
    └── extras
        └── Fantastic Extra.mkv
```

### File Suffix

If you would rather keep everything in a single folder, you can append special suffixes to the filename which Jellyfin picks up and uses to identify the file as an extra. Unless noted, these suffixes **DO NOT** contain any spaces.

<!-- markdownlint-disable MD038 -->

- `-trailer`
- `.trailer`
- `_trailer`
- ` trailer` - This is a space followed by the word `trailer`
- `-scene`
- `-clip`
- `-interview`
- `-behindthescenes`
- `-deleted`
- `-deletedscene`
- `-featurette`
- `-short`
- `-other`
- `-extra`
<!-- markdownlint-enable MD038 -->

```txt
Shows
└── Series Name (2010)
    ├── Season 01
    │   ├── Series Name S01E01.mkv
    │   ├── Series Name S01E02.mkv
    │   ├── Alternate Ending-deleted.mkv
    │   └── Interview with the Director-interview.mp4
    └── Fantastic Extra-extra.mkv
    └── Making the Show-featurette.mp4
```

:::note

Trailers support a special option if you only have a single file of that type per series/season. The option is to name the filename 'trailer.ext' when stored in the same folder as the series or season.

:::

## 3D Videos

Please refer to ['3D Movies' in the movies section](/docs/general/server/media/movies#3d-movies)

## Images

Posters, Backdrops, and Logos may also be embedded into video containers that support it (such as mkv) and will be read out by the `Embedded Image Extractor` if enabled as an `Image Extractor` on the library configuration page.

### Poster

- folder.ext
- poster.ext
- cover.ext
- default.ext
- show.ext

Examples:

- Series Name:
  - Series Name (2010)/poster.jpg
- Season posters:
  - Numbered seasons:
    - Series Name (2010)/Season 01/cover.jpg
    - Series Name (2010)/season1-poster.jpg
  - Specials:
    - Series Name (2010)/season-specials-poster.jpg

### Backdrop

- backdrop.ext
- fanart.ext
- background.ext
- art.ext
- extrafanart/\*.ext

Examples:

Series Name (2010)/fanart.jpg _for the first backdrop image_

Series Name (2010)/extrafanart/fanart1.jpg, Series Name (2010)/extrafanart/fanart2.jpg, _etc for additional backdrop images_

### Banner

- banner.ext

Example:

Series Name (2010)/banner.jpg

### Thumb

- thumb.ext
- landscape.ext

Examples:

Series Name (2010)/landscape.jpg

Series Name (2010)/Season 01/episode filename-thumb.jpg _for the thumbnail of an episode named "episode filename.mkv"_

### Logo

- logo.ext
- clearlogo.ext

Example:

Series Name (2010)/logo.png

## Other

### Theme Videos

- backdrops/\*

Example:

Series Name (2010)/backdrops/S1Intro.ext

### Theme Music

- theme.ext
- theme-music/\*

Examples:

Series Name (2010)/theme.ext

Series Name (2010)/theme-music/intro-song.ext