VLClean Plain comparisons of self-hosted media tools

How to keep media requests in one channel for gaming community hosts

Keep movie and show requests in a dedicated community channel with clear rules, a review routine, and status updates for members.

By VLClean ยท

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

Pick one channel as the only place for media requests, write a short rule for which movies and shows fit, and name who reviews each request before anything is added. Askarr is a hosted site that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1]

OptionRequest methodCost details
AskarrMembers search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [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

What you need before you start

Decide which channel will hold requests and whether it is the only place members may ask.

Write a short rule for what kinds of titles are welcome, such as movies, shows, or both, so members know what fits the community. Choose who reads the channel and who approves a title before it is added. Keep a list of titles already added, so repeat requests are easy to spot.

Askarr is a hosted site that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] Before you start, check that the channel rule matches how you want requests handled.

Step by step

  1. Pick the one channel that will hold media requests, and pin a message that says it is the only place to ask.
  1. Write the request rule: which kinds of movies and shows fit, and how a member should name a title so others can find it.
  1. Decide who reviews each request and set a regular day each week when hosts go through the list.
  1. Post the rule and one short example request so members see the format once.
  1. Ask members to include a link from a movie or show database site when they can, since the title is then easier to match.
  1. Mark each request as approved, added, or declined so members can see its status.
  1. After the first few weeks, ask members what confused them, and edit the pinned rule to answer those points.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is made by the team behind VLClean, the publisher of this site. Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] Members search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [1]

You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr one time 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] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. [1] Each friend who signs up through your link adds 10 requests a month to your limit. [1]

Before choosing a tool, check how it takes requests in a channel, who approves them, and how it reports back when a title is added.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid opening a request channel without a written rule. Members need to know which kinds of titles are accepted and who decides what gets added.

Avoid letting requests pile up in the channel with no review day. A list that nobody checks can become hard to act on, and members may stop trusting that their request will be seen.

Avoid choosing a tool before checking how it handles approvals and status updates.

Edit the pinned rule when members ask the same questions again, so the channel stays easy to follow.

Frequently asked questions

How can gaming community hosts keep media requests in one channel?

Choose a single channel, pin a message that says it is the only place for requests, and post a short rule for which movies and shows fit. Name the people who review each request and set a regular day to go through the list. Explain how members will receive decisions on their requests. Keep the rule short so people actually read it, and edit it after the first few weeks based on the questions members ask.

Can Askarr work with Radarr and Sonarr?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr one time 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]

Does Askarr need to be installed on a server?

Nothing is installed. [1] A bookmark you run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. [1] Radarr and Sonarr tell the site when a title is added and downloaded. [1]

Can gaming hosts try Askarr before signing up?

Yes. You can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. [1] Check whether the demo shows the request details your channel needs before deciding whether it suits you.

How much does Askarr cost for a community channel?

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] Check which plan fits the number of requests your channel is likely to send before you choose one.

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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