diff --git a/source/net/filebot/web/AnidbClient.java b/source/net/filebot/web/AnidbClient.java
index edde0bbc..0f7b7aa7 100644
--- a/source/net/filebot/web/AnidbClient.java
+++ b/source/net/filebot/web/AnidbClient.java
@@ -158,6 +158,12 @@ public class AnidbClient extends AbstractEpisodeListProvider {
 				}
 
 				if (type == 1) {
+					// adjust for forced absolute numbering (if possible)
+					if (sortOrder == SortOrder.AbsoluteAirdate && airdate != null) {
+						// use airdate as absolute episode number
+						number = airdate.getYear() * 1_00_00 + airdate.getMonth() * 1_00 + airdate.getDay();
+					}
+
 					episodes.add(new Episode(animeTitle, null, number, title, number, null, airdate, id, new SeriesInfo(seriesInfo))); // normal episode, no seasons for anime
 				} else {
 					episodes.add(new Episode(animeTitle, null, null, title, null, number, airdate, id, new SeriesInfo(seriesInfo))); // special episode
diff --git a/source/net/filebot/web/TheTVDBClient.java b/source/net/filebot/web/TheTVDBClient.java
index aa0c13dc..37ea870f 100644
--- a/source/net/filebot/web/TheTVDBClient.java
+++ b/source/net/filebot/web/TheTVDBClient.java
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ public class TheTVDBClient extends AbstractEpisodeListProvider implements Artwor
 				Integer episodeNumber = getInteger(it, "airedEpisodeNumber");
 				Integer seasonNumber = getInteger(it, "airedSeason");
 
-				// use preferred numbering if possible
+				// adjust for forced absolute numbering (if possible)
 				if (sortOrder == SortOrder.DVD) {
 					Integer dvdSeasonNumber = getInteger(it, "dvdSeason");
 					Integer dvdEpisodeNumber = getInteger(it, "dvdEpisodeNumber");
@@ -198,8 +198,12 @@ public class TheTVDBClient extends AbstractEpisodeListProvider implements Artwor
 						episodeNumber = dvdEpisodeNumber;
 					}
 				} else if (sortOrder == SortOrder.Absolute && absoluteNumber != null && absoluteNumber > 0) {
-					episodeNumber = absoluteNumber;
 					seasonNumber = null;
+					episodeNumber = absoluteNumber;
+				} else if (sortOrder == SortOrder.AbsoluteAirdate && airdate != null) {
+					// use airdate as absolute episode number
+					seasonNumber = null;
+					episodeNumber = airdate.getYear() * 1_00_00 + airdate.getMonth() * 1_00 + airdate.getDay();
 				}
 
 				if (seasonNumber == null || seasonNumber > 0) {
diff --git a/test/net/filebot/web/TheTVDBClientTest.java b/test/net/filebot/web/TheTVDBClientTest.java
index ce0023a9..b078bd5c 100644
--- a/test/net/filebot/web/TheTVDBClientTest.java
+++ b/test/net/filebot/web/TheTVDBClientTest.java
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ public class TheTVDBClientTest {
 	}
 
 	@Test
-	public void getEpisodeListNumbering() throws Exception {
+	public void getEpisodeListNumberingDVD() throws Exception {
 		List<Episode> list = db.getEpisodeList(firefly, SortOrder.DVD, Locale.ENGLISH);
 
 		Episode first = list.get(0);
@@ -100,6 +100,20 @@ public class TheTVDBClientTest {
 		assertEquals("2002-12-20", first.getAirdate().toString());
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void getEpisodeListNumberingAbsoluteAirdate() throws Exception {
+		List<Episode> list = db.getEpisodeList(firefly, SortOrder.AbsoluteAirdate, Locale.ENGLISH);
+
+		Episode first = list.get(0);
+		assertEquals("Firefly", first.getSeriesName());
+		assertEquals("2002-09-20", first.getSeriesInfo().getStartDate().toString());
+		assertEquals("The Train Job", first.getTitle());
+		assertEquals("20020920", first.getEpisode().toString());
+		assertEquals(null, first.getSeason());
+		assertEquals("2", first.getAbsolute().toString());
+		assertEquals("2002-09-20", first.getAirdate().toString());
+	}
+
 	public void getEpisodeListLink() {
 		assertEquals("http://www.thetvdb.com/?tab=seasonall&id=78874", db.getEpisodeListLink(firefly).toString());
 	}
diff --git a/test/net/filebot/web/TheTVDBClientV1Test.java b/test/net/filebot/web/TheTVDBClientV1Test.java
index e3bdba7f..90cc1fcd 100644
--- a/test/net/filebot/web/TheTVDBClientV1Test.java
+++ b/test/net/filebot/web/TheTVDBClientV1Test.java
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ public class TheTVDBClientV1Test {
 	}
 
 	@Test
-	public void getEpisodeListNumbering() throws Exception {
+	public void getEpisodeListNumberingDVD() throws Exception {
 		List<Episode> list = db.getEpisodeList(firefly, SortOrder.DVD, Locale.ENGLISH);
 
 		Episode first = list.get(0);
@@ -97,6 +97,20 @@ public class TheTVDBClientV1Test {
 		assertEquals("297999", first.getId().toString());
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void getEpisodeListNumberingAbsoluteAirdate() throws Exception {
+		List<Episode> list = db.getEpisodeList(firefly, SortOrder.AbsoluteAirdate, Locale.ENGLISH);
+
+		Episode first = list.get(0);
+		assertEquals("Firefly", first.getSeriesName());
+		assertEquals("2002-09-20", first.getSeriesInfo().getStartDate().toString());
+		assertEquals("The Train Job", first.getTitle());
+		assertEquals("20020920", first.getEpisode().toString());
+		assertEquals(null, first.getSeason());
+		assertEquals("2", first.getAbsolute().toString());
+		assertEquals("2002-09-20", first.getAirdate().toString());
+	}
+
 	public void getEpisodeListLink() {
 		assertEquals("http://www.thetvdb.com/?tab=seasonall&id=78874", db.getEpisodeListLink(firefly).toString());
 	}