How to notify users when requested media is ready to stream for family media curators in 2026

Learn how family media curators can tell viewers when requested movies and shows are ready to stream.

By VLClean · 2026-10-14

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

Family media curators can notify viewers that a requested title is ready to stream by keeping one record of requests, showing the ready status in one place, and telling each viewer where to look.

Option	How viewers are told	Cost details
Askarr	A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1] The plans include a request history with live status. ^[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 has no monthly request limit. ^[1]
Status update tool	Viewers see a status on their request in the chosen tool.	not published
Shared notification list	Viewers get a short note in the chosen shared place when a title is ready.	not published

What you need before you start

Make sure the family library already has the movies and shows that viewers can watch, and keep one record of which friend or family member asked for each title, so each person can be told when their own request is ready.

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

Radarr and Sonarr are free helper programs that find and add movies (Radarr) and shows (Sonarr) to their library. Have them ready if they are part of the way requested titles are added to the library, because a status can report when a title is added.

Choose where the ready status will be shown. The choice can be the request tool's own status, a shared message thread, or another method that gives every viewer a clear place to check whether a requested title is ready to stream.

Step by step

Pick one place where the ready status appears, such as a request website or a shared message thread, and tell everyone to check only that place for whether their requested title is ready.

Keep a list of each request with the viewer's name and the title, and write down who changes the status when a title is added to the library.

Write a short note for viewers that says where the status appears, how they will know a title is ready, and whether they need to do anything before watching.

Send the note and the status location to the friends and family members you want to allow, with a line on how to check a title's status.

Look through new requests on a regular day each week, approve the ones you want, and update the status when a title is added.

Ask a few viewers after the first week what confused them, and edit your note to fix those points.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1]

You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. ^[1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. ^[1]

For notifying viewers, a webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. ^[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]

Askarr also allows title searches by pasting a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link. ^[1] The dashboard can be tried with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. ^[1] Askarr's project file marks its code as private. ^[1]

No other tool is named here because no source facts about other tools were provided. Before choosing a tool, check how it reports when a title is ready, how it handles title searches, approvals, and updates, and how the status moves into the library workflow.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid telling viewers where the status appears without explaining the rules. Friends and family need to know which place to check, what the ready status means, and whether they must do anything before watching.

Avoid choosing a tool without checking how it fits the current way movies and shows are added to the library. The status should reach viewers only when a requested title is actually ready to stream, so the reporting path matters.

Avoid forgetting to review requests after setup. A request list can become harder to manage if old or unwanted requests are left without attention, and a stale status can mislead viewers.

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

Frequently asked questions

How can family media curators notify users when requested media is ready to stream?

A curator chooses one place where the ready status is shown, keeps a record of who asked for each title, and tells every viewer where to check. The important parts are giving viewers a clear place to see the status and keeping the update simple, so a title is reported as ready only when it can actually be streamed.

How does Askarr show when requested media is ready to stream?

A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. ^[1] The source gives that detail without naming a plan, so check the plan page for which ones include it. Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[1]

Does Askarr require changes to the Plex server?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] A bookmark run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. ^[1]

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

Friends and family can request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1] A TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link can also be pasted to find the title. ^[1]

What should be checked before choosing a tool to notify viewers?

Check how a tool reports when a title is ready, how it handles requests, title searches, updates, and the process for adding movies and shows. Askarr's plans include a request history with live status, which the source gives without naming a plan, so check the plan page for which ones include it. ^[1] Compare those details with the way the library is managed before choosing a tool.

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

Try Askarr

Sources

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