VLClean Plain comparisons of self-hosted media tools

How to approve requests from a staff device for small venue media hosts in 2026

Learn how small venue media hosts can collect, review, and approve movie and show requests from a staff device with a clear team process.

By VLClean ยท

VLClean is published by the makers of Askarr and Watcharr, which are compared here alongside other tools.

To approve requests from a staff device, choose one place for staff to submit movie and show titles, decide who reviews each request, and explain how approved titles move into the venue media library. Check that the chosen tool lets the person responsible review requests from the device they use. Askarr provides a hosted website for collecting requests and shows when titles have been added and downloaded, while your existing Radarr and Sonarr handle adding requested titles. [1][1][1]

OptionRequest methodCost details
AskarrSearch for a movie or show on Askarr and request it. Your own Radarr or Sonarr reads the request and adds the requested title. [1][1]The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [1] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [1]
Request formPeople submit movie or show titles through the chosen form.not published
Shared request listPeople add movie or show ideas to the chosen shared list.not published

What you need before you start

Make sure the venue media system already has the movies and shows that staff can play, and decide which team members should be able to send requests from a staff device.

Prepare the titles or types of content that are allowed, so staff know what kinds of requests fit the venue. Keep the request rules simple, such as whether staff can ask for any title or only certain types of movies and shows.

Radarr finds and adds movies to the library, while Sonarr finds and adds shows to the library. Have Radarr and Sonarr ready if they are part of the way requested titles are added to the library. Decide who will review requests before anything is added.

Choose where staff will send requests. The choice can be a request tool, a form, or another method that gives the team a clear place to submit titles.

Check which staff device will be used for reviewing requests. The person responsible should know how to access the chosen request location and how to identify titles that need attention. Also decide whether approval happens before a title is added or whether requests are reviewed separately from the process that adds titles to the library.

Step by step

  1. Pick one place where staff will send requests from a staff device, such as a request website or a shared message thread, and tell everyone to use only that place. Having one request location gives the team a consistent place to look when a title is suggested.
  1. Write down who looks at each request and whether a title needs your approval before it is added to the library. Make sure staff know who is responsible for reviewing requests when the usual person is unavailable.
  1. Write a short note for staff that says who can request, what kinds of titles are accepted, and how they will hear that a title was added. Include any venue rules about content that should not be requested.
  1. Send the note and the request location to the team members you want to allow, with two lines on how to search for a title and how to submit it. Explain which device staff should use if the venue has a shared device for this task.
  1. Open the request location from the staff device and look through new requests. Check each title against the venue's content rules and decide whether it should be approved. If the chosen tool does not provide an approval control, record the decision using the agreed team process before moving the title forward.
  1. Look through new requests on a regular schedule, approve the ones you want, and remove the ones you do not. Make sure another team member knows how to handle the review process if the usual reviewer is away.
  1. Check the status of approved titles and tell staff how they can find out whether a title has been added. Keep the request record clear enough that another team member can understand which requests have been reviewed and which still need attention.
  1. Ask staff members what confused them after the process has been used. Edit the instructions to explain any unclear steps, including where requests are submitted, who approves them, and how the team communicates the result.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] Staff can search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and the venue's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [1]

You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. [1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [1] A bookmark run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. [1]

A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1] Askarr also allows title searches by pasting a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link. [1] Its plans include a request history with live status. [1]

Askarr is a hosted website, so nothing is installed. [1] You can try its dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. [1] The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [1] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [1] Each friend who signs up through your link adds 10 requests a month to your limit. [1]

A request form is another option. People submit movie or show titles through the chosen form. A shared request list is also an option, allowing people to add movie or show ideas to the chosen shared list.

These methods give staff different places to collect suggestions, but the review process still needs to be clear. Before choosing a tool, check how it handles title searches, approvals, updates, and the way requests move into the library workflow. In particular, check whether the person responsible can review and record approval decisions from the staff device.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid sharing a request method without explaining the rules. Staff need to know what types of titles can be requested and who decides what gets added.

Avoid choosing a tool without checking how it fits the current way movies and shows are added to the venue library. The request process should be clear for both the people sending titles and the person managing the server.

Avoid assuming that collecting a request and approving it are the same task. Check where approval decisions are recorded and how the person adding titles will know which requests have been approved.

Avoid forgetting to review requests after setup. A request list can become harder to manage if old or unwanted requests are left without attention.

Avoid skipping account and privacy checks. Review what information a tool asks for and what access it uses before sharing it with other people.

Finally, avoid relying on one staff member to understand the whole process. Keep the instructions available to the people responsible for reviewing requests so the process can continue when the usual reviewer is unavailable.

Frequently asked questions

How can small venue media hosts approve requests from a staff device?

Choose one place where staff can submit movie and show titles, then decide who reviews each request and how approval is recorded. Give the responsible team members access to the request location from the staff device. Explain how approved titles move into the venue library and how staff can check whether a requested title has been added.

Can Askarr collect movie and show requests for venue media?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] Staff can search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and the venue's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. [1]

Can Askarr show whether a requested title has been added?

A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the Askarr site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1] Askarr's plans also include a request history with live status. [1] Check the approval process separately to establish how staff decisions are recorded before a title moves into the library.

Does Askarr require changes to the venue media server?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] Nothing is installed. [1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. [1] A bookmark run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. [1]

How do staff find movies and shows to request with Askarr?

Staff can search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and the venue's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [1] A TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link can also be pasted to find the title. [1] Staff can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. [1]

What should venue media hosts check before choosing a request tool?

Check how a tool handles requests, title searches, approvals, updates, and the process for adding movies and shows. Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. [1] Also check whether the person responsible can review requests from the staff device and how approval decisions reach the person managing the library.

Which Askarr plan allows more monthly requests?

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [1] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [1] The Pro plan has no monthly request limit. [1] Check the current plan details when deciding how many requests the venue expects to receive.

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1]

Try Askarr

Sources

  1. Askarr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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