Introduction

The original collection of databases was compiled several decades ago in Microsoft Access as part of a planned reference book on the subject. Although a publisher had been secured, the project experienced repeated delays due to time constraints and external pressures. During this period, the increasing dominance of the internet led to a decline in demand for printed encyclopaedias, prompting a shift toward a digital format.

This transition resulted in the creation of the website sftvdb.com, designed to modernise the original material and present it in an accessible, expandable form. The project involves updating and standardising the legacy data while generating new entries as required. Much of the source material was accumulated over a period of more than thirty years.

What Is Included?

Determining what qualifies for inclusion can be challenging, but in general the database covers all live‑action (including puppet shows) and animated productions (including CGI). This also extends to Cinema Serials, shows originally produced for theatrical release before television existed. Mini‑series are included as well, typically defined as limited‑run productions consisting of only a few episodes. Serials are also accepted: short‑run shows with a defined story arc, a beginning, and an end.

Shows with a science‑fiction basis or theme are included. However, the boundary between science fiction and fantasy is not always clear, so some fantasy‑leaning productions appear here too, for example, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Modern formats introduce additional considerations, such as web‑only episodes or short‑form productions released exclusively online. These may be included if they are of significant importance, but inclusion is not guaranteed. This does not apply to shows from services such as Amazon or Netflix, as these are typically produced in the traditional manner and merely distributed via streaming platforms.

Why?

So why create this site? Doesn’t Wikipedia already cover everything? They’re fair questions. This project is not intended to replace Wikipedia; rather, it serves as a focused portal dedicated exclusively to science fiction television. Its purpose is to maintain a concentrated, curated index of as many science‑fiction shows as possible , including many that never appear on the English‑language Wikipedia.

Some series may exist only on the Dutch, German, or Japanese editions of Wikipedia, with no English translation. Others may be obscure productions long forgotten, mentioned only on a personal blog or archived website. This database helps surface those hidden or overlooked works.

Another important aspect of a single‑topic site is discoverability. By browsing the category pages, you can easily find shows you may never have encountered before. You might explore which series first aired in the year you were born, or filter specifically for Superhero stories, Alien Invasion narratives, or any other theme that interests you.

Titles

Show titles should begin with an uppercase letter. Minor words such as as, on, the should remain lowercase. All other words should begin with an uppercase letter. Example: Aliens in the Family

Categories, Countries, Language

When adding categories, countries, or languages, first review the lists on the front page to ensure the entry already exists and follow the same formatting.

Year

The Year field should reflect the year the show first aired. In the info box, you may specify both the starting and ending years, e.g. 2002–2004.

Status

The status field should be either:

Ended — for shows no longer in production

Live — for shows that are still ongoing

Summary

The summary should generally describe the main plot of the show. Some flexibility is allowed if additional context improves the entry.

Cast

Cast entries should list the character name first, in Proper Case (e.g., Jean‑Luc Picard), followed by the actor’s name in uppercase (e.g., PATRICK STEWART), with each entry ending in a comma.

If an actor appears only in certain seasons, include the season range in brackets: PATRICK STEWART (1–2)

aka - Put here shows which have alternative titles, for example some shows might change their name depending on which country it airs, or might have English language translactions.

Sources - Add another sources you have used to find the information in your article.

Lists of Lists - List shows that are based on a franchise, such as Star Wars, Star Trek or Ultraman.