Frequently asked questions
Questions that come up most often about tracking TV shows with simple/tv/cal. The guide goes through each part of the app in more detail.
Is simple/tv/cal free?
Yes, entirely. There is no subscription, no advertising, no paid tier, and no cap on how many shows you can follow. It is run by one person as a personal project rather than a business.
How do I track which episodes I have watched?
Mark episodes watched from the calendar, from a show's page, or from your unwatched backlog. You can tick a single episode, a whole season, or an entire show at once. Bulk actions show an Undo button for a few seconds afterwards, and it restores exactly what was there before.
Can I add my TV show calendar to Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook?
Yes. Every account gets a private calendar feed URL that you subscribe to from Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, or any app that reads iCal. Episodes appear as all-day events on their date in your time zone, with the release time in the event where it is known, and update automatically as schedules change. Episodes of the same show on the same day are grouped into a single event.
Can I import my watch history from another tracker?
Yes, from a CSV file. The importer reads a header row and needs at least one column identifying the show: a title (also accepted as show, series, or name) or a tmdb_id or imdb_id column. Optional season and episode columns mark specific episodes or whole seasons as watched. Commas, semicolons, and tabs all work as separators. If your export uses different column names, rename the header row in a spreadsheet first.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. It is a website, so it works in any modern mobile browser with no app to install. On small screens the month grid becomes a scrollable day strip with a day-by-day list starting from today. You can also install it to your home screen as a progressive web app.
Where does the show and episode data come from?
Show details, episode lists, artwork, and streaming availability come from TMDB. Ratings come from IMDb via OMDb, so you see the actual IMDb score rather than a site-specific one. Air times come from Trakt (trakt.tv). This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.
Is there a native iOS or Android app?
No. simple/tv/cal is a website that works in the browser on any device. You can add it to your home screen, where it opens in its own window like an installed app, but there is nothing in the App Store or Google Play.
Can I get my data out, or delete my account?
Both, without asking anyone. Export CSV downloads your followed shows and watch status in the same format the importer accepts. Delete account permanently removes your account and all of its data after you confirm your password.
Why is an episode on a different day than the network lists?
Dates are shown in your own time zone. A show released on a Tuesday evening in the US is already Wednesday morning in Europe, so it appears on Wednesday here, with its local release time where one is known. Release times come from Trakt; a show without one keeps its listed date, and if that is a day off for you, the show's page lets you move it by a day. Your time zone follows your device, or you can pick one under Time zone at the bottom of any page.
Do specials count towards my progress?
No. Specials (catalogued as season 0) have their own section at the bottom of a show's page, where you can mark them watched with their own count. They stay out of progress, what to watch next, the Unwatched backlog and stats, so a long list of extras never makes a finished show look incomplete. They are also off your calendar unless you switch on "Show on calendar" in that show's Specials section.
Something not answered here? Email contact@stvcal.com or see the contact page.