When it comes to planning, a distinction is made between program planning, in which only the main content (movies/programs and series episodes) is scheduled for weeks in advance, and broadcast planning/daily planning, in which all content – including trailers and commercials – is planned frame-precise for each day.
The programmer is the long-term planning tool for linear TV, allowing to schedule content in advance. In short, all schedulable elements that could potentially appear in the epg data (electronic program guide) are planned here. Content and assets (video files) are created and managed in the corresponding Web Apps (Content and Assets respectively).
NOTE
Usually, versions of a program (movie), episode, trailer or commercial are scheduled, e. g. original or synchronized versions.
However, there are exceptions to this where planning without versions is also possible.
1 Scheme tab
Slots serve as an orientation for the content to schedule. So they can be related to the time of the year or genre, for example. After adding slot types and eventually slots to a slot scheme, a scheme can be imported into the plan. In the plan, content can be scheduled based on the slot scheme.
Furthermore, follow and repeat connectors can be set to make the scheduling of series and repititions (runs, reruns etc.) easier.
1.1 Create and edit slot schemes
By clicking Plus (1), a new slot scheme can be added, leading to a new dialog.
Instead of setting up a weekly schedule, user can customize schedules (1).
Here, the time period is set as well as the start day, start time and end time. The start day and planning area (start and end time) should follow the channel’s planning times to avoid shifts.
Slot schemes can be searched by name in the search bar (1), and they can be filtered (2) by title and creation date in an ascending and descending order (3).
After selecting the scheme, the left-side menu can be closed to create more space in the grid.
NOTE
A slot scheme is only associated to weekdays and times, but not to certain channels or dates. As a result, it can be imported to any point in the plan, where the slots can be further edited and filled with events (program versions).
If further assistance is needed, the following chapter will explain the procedure in a bit more detail:
1.2 Schedule slots
In the slot scheme, slot types can be scheduled from the list by drag and drop.
A slot´s duration can be expanded by using the lower handle. By using the upper handle, a slot can be repositioned vertically, adjusting its start time and duration.
If further assistance is needed, the following chapter will explain the procedure in a bit more detail:
1.3 Copy slots
Slots can be selected and copied using Windows shortcuts.
Use Ctrl+C to copy, Ctrl+V to paste and Ctrl+A to select all. Finally, they can be placed by dropping them into the desired spot (1).
Here an overview of all shortcuts:
In the Quick section, there’s a switch that allows to choose whether to copy only the slots (toggle off, as shown in the picture) or the slots together with their content (toggle on).
When a slot is supposed to be copied alone while the toggle is switched on (copy slots & events altogether), an exact selection of the slot without the event is necessary.
1.4 Specify desired times of a slot
Slots can be changed time-wise both via slot settings and manually.
Slot settings can be accessed via the context menu to specify the desired times using the time picker.
In order to close gaps to next and/or previous slots, the duration of a slot can be enhanced into both directions.
By selecting a slot, opening the context menu and clicking Slot actions (1), there are three ways to enhance the duration of a slot:
- Enhance duration to next object (2) – The slot duration is enhanced to end at 9 am, which is the starting time of the next slot.
- Enhance duration to previous object (3) – The slot duration is enhanced to begin at 7 am, where the previous event ends.
- Enhance duration between objects (4) – The slot duration is enhanced in both directions, starting at 7 am and ending at 9 am to close the gap to the other two events.
Times can also be changed by moving a slot via drag and drop. For this purpose, all individual slots of the chain have to be marked using Shift and placed into the desired position (1).
1.5 Create slot chains with follow and repeat connectors
When slots are expanded to several days, the individual slots can be connected, creating a slot chain. Slot chains are useful for any type of large-scale planning such as series planning since all episodes can be planned at once for the entire duration of the slot chain.
Connectors establish relationships between slots in the schedule:
-
Follow connector: Links a slot to a different subsequent slot, establishing a sequential relationship between
different content blocks. -
Repeat connector: Links a slot to another slot containing the same content, typically used to schedule reruns
or repeated broadcasts across various slots or days.
Using the right handle, the slot can be stretched across multiple days. Users can then decide whether to set follow connectors or not. Setting follow connectors is what creates a slot chain.
To set a connector, select the source and the target slot, choose Set repeat connector or Set follow connector from the context menu. Connectors can be removed at any time using the Remove options.
To visualize connector relations, click on any connector. This will highlight all linked slots across the schedule. Both slots connected through follow connectors and repeat connectors can be shown this way.
When clicking on the red connector icon (1), the follow connector chain is shown.
When clicking on the green connector icon (1), the repeat connector chain is shown.
NOTE
It is important to add the content to the first slot, where the repeat connector is set from. Otherwise, the content will only be scheduled in the second slot.
Only the slot the repeat connector is set from is allowed to be part of a slot chain (i. e. it has a follow connect to the next slot). As a result, the following connections are possible:
- Repeat connectors between two independent slots that are not part of a slot chain
- Repeat connectors between one slot of a slot chain and one independent slot
Hence, the following connection is NOT possible:
- Repeat connectors between two slots that are both part of a slot chain
2 Plan tab
The following two chapters will deal with importing slot schemes and scheduling content. Both of these features are performed in the Plan tab.
2.1 Import slot schemes
In order to apply a slot scheme with its slot types, it has to be imported into the plan.
Slot schemes are imported from Schemes tab (1) in the left-side menu.
Select the channel (2), starting date (3) and time period (4) in the grid, then choose the schema (5) from the left-side panel by clicking on it.
Toggle Show all (6) to view schemas created by other users.
Before importing the scheme, it can both be cut to a specific time period (1) and moved to a specific date and time (2) by switching the toggles. By default, a slot scheme will st take up the time period it was created with and start on the corresponding day and time.
By ticking the checkboxes at the bottom, a scheme can overwrite the current plan (3) instead of just being added to the current plan. In the Options section, you can choose to clear the target area and specify how many times the scheme should be imported, allowing for multiple consecutive imports in a single action.
When imported into the plan, the slot scheme will appear in the form it was set up previously.
NOTE
The import is not limited to the visible area in the grid. For example, if one month is displayed and
you import a monthly scheme with the quantity set to 2, the scheme will also be imported into the
following month, even though it is not visible.
Once imported, the planning grid provides the same scheme modification capabilities that are available in
the Scheme tab, where schemes are created.
2.2 Schedule content
Clicking the versions symbol located on the left side menu opens the filter options.
Content types (e.g., series only) can be filtered specifically.
The default behavior displays only versions with valid broadcast windows and channel assignments. To override this and display all
available versions regardless of window or channel settings, enable the 'All versions' option.
In the settings, specify whether overlapping is allowed or not.
The quick settings menu provides access to additional configuration options
Content is put to the desired position (1) in the plan by drag and drop.
Scheduling a series into a slot chain automatically opens the configuration wizard, where episodes per slot, the starting point of the scheduling can be determined.
Also, repetition slots can be included or excluded from the scheduling.
In the next step, the assistant shows the episodes that have been preselected. The selection can be changed manually. After confirmation, the episodes are placed into the slots.
If further assistance is needed, the following chapter will explain the procedure in a bit more detail:
3 Create and edit ad break schemes in the Advertising tab
An ad break scheme is a structured plan that defines how commercial breaks are inserted into programs. With ad break schemes, break length, break frequency and break positions can be specified.
The existing ad break schemes are displayed in the Advertising tab. They can be searched, filtered and selected from the left-hand side (1) and edited in terms of title, channel and timeline (2). The table in the middle (3) displays the timeline(s) along an entire week. If there are several timelines, they can be selected correspondingly (4).
On the right-hand side the ad break schemes can be deleted, copied and saved (5).
By clicking the plus icon (6), new schemes can be added, leading to a new dialog.
This is the dialog that appears when creating new schemes:
- Here, the title of the scheme and the channel and time period the scheme is valid for can be determined. This becomes relevant when applying the scheme to the plan.
Break rules are specified using timeline-based definitions.
By clicking the New timeline button (1), new timelines can be created. Existing timelines can be edited can entering the context menu and clicking the edit button (2).
The first step is to outline the basic data about the timeline.
Timelines can be given a name (1) and be specified in terms of hours (2) and active weekdays (3). Holidays (HO) can both be included or excluded from an ad break scheme. For this purpose, ad break schemes designed especially for holidays can be created.
Clicking the Continue button (4) allows to move on to the next tab, where length ranges can be defined.
After outlining the basic data of the timeline, the next step is to specify the length range. It is both possible to create one or multiple length ranges. This process is used to set the rules for ad breaks based on a program's duration.
Both the time range for events and slots (1) and the slot types (2) can be defined to limit where an ad break scheme can be applied later on in the plan.
It is also possible not to define the slot type for ad blocks specifically. This allows to apply the ad break scheme to all slot types.
By clicking the plus icon (3), new length ranges can be added and accessed from above (4). Clicking the delete button (5) deletes the selected length range.
Ad break types are added to the configuration by dragging them from the selection area and dropping them
into the target list.
If there are several length ranges, they can be selected from above (1).
There are different ad block types available, such as AB (ad block before event – 2), AA (ad block after event – 3) and AD (ad blocks that interrupt events – 4). The ad block types can be added to the desired position in the scheme by drag and drop, where they can be further specified regarding their begin time and duration.
Each AD (4) that is added between segments creates an additional segment. The durations of the segments are valid as long as no asset has been connected to the program version.
Tariff categories (5), which determine what type of commercials can be scheduled later on in the plan into the ad blocks, can be assigned to the ad break, as well.
After configuration, The timeline will be displayed correspondingly in the grid, with the colored blocks reflecting the positioning and types of ad breaks.
4 Create and edit price schemes in the Advertising tab
Here, advertising price groups are assigned to the advertising tariff types. Legacy schemas remain
functional and can be used without modification.
Clicking the plus icon (framed) allows to create new price schemes.
Here, advertising price groups (1) are assigned to the advertising tariff types (2). While the tariff category determines what kind of commercials are allowed be scheduled, the price group defines how commercials will cost. Legacy schemes remain functional and can be used without modification.
Ad break types (3), times (4) and days (5) are assigned to the price schemes, as well. Holidays (HO) can both be included or excluded from a price scheme. For this purpose, price schemes designed especially for holidays can be created.
New areas can be added by clicking the plus icon (6).
5 Apply ad break and price schemes
The wizard section applies the break pattern to the selected slots or events. Breaks are then assigned advertising groups based on the advertising price schema, and finally receive their complete encoding configuration.
Wizards are executed in the Plan tab.
5.1 Load advertising scheme
The Load advertising scheme wizard creates ad blocks by applying an ad break scheme to events or slots.
- First of all, an ad break scheme has to be selected. Each schema displays its validity period and its associated channels (e.g., "All channels" or specific channel names). By switching the toggle, all schemes from all users are displayed.
- Then the plan area has to be specified since the wizard can be applied to different parts of the plan
- Apply scheme to all events: Applies ad blocks of the selected scheme to all events in the plan
- Apply scheme to all slots: Applies ad blocks of the selected scheme to all slots in the plan
- Apply scheme to selected events: Applies ad blocks of the selected scheme to all selected events
- Apply scheme to selected slots: Applies ad blocks of the selected scheme to all selected slots
Finally, the wizard can be executed by clicking the Apply button at the bottom.
NOTE
The system indicates which items (events or slots) will receive the advertising blocks based on the selected
option.
ATTENTION
When applying the scheme, all current advertising blocks will be deleted and replaced with the new
schema configuration.
5.2 Enable promotional pricing schemes
Using this wizard, add pricing schemes can be applied to slots and/or events.
Before applying pricing schemes, tariff categories have to be assigned to ad breaks first. This can either be done by applying ad break schemes or by manually editing ad breaks via the context menu.
By applying the pricing scheme wizard, it will then look for ad breaks with the set tariff category and assign the according price group to them.
- Create ad break schemes
- Apply ad break schemes: see previous chapter
- Assign tariff categories manually
- Create price schemes
The wizard to apply pricing schemes can be executed, following the steps listed below:
- First of all, a pricing scheme has to be selected. Each schema displays its validity period and its associated channels (e.g., "All channels" or specific channel names). By switching the toggle, all schemes from all users are displayed.
- Then the plan area has to be specified since the wizard can be applied to different parts of the plan, including the following options:
- Apply only to selected objects: Applies the scheme only to manually selected items (including both slots and events) in the plan.
- Apply holiday regulations: Includes special pricing rules for holidays if the checkbox is ticked.
- Apply to slots: Applies the promotional pricing to slot-level objects.
- Ignore trailer blocks: Excludes trailer blocks from the promotional pricing application.
These options can be combined to create a customized application scope for the promotional pricing
scheme.
As a result, the ad breaks are now provided with the corresponding tariff category and price group, which is visible in the editing dialog of ad breaks (accessed via context menu).
5.3 Ad break index number
Ad breaks can be assigned index numbers, which are managed with the Ad break index number wizard.
There are three different options available:
-
Assign index numbers: Assigns sequential index numbers to existing ad breaks that don't currently have
index numbers. -
Assign new index numbers to all adbreaks: Reassigns index numbers to all ad breaks in the plan, replacing
any existing numbering with a new sequential order. -
Check adbreak index numbers for duplicates: Scans the plan to identify and report any duplicate index
numbers among ad breaks.
After selecting the desired option, clicking the Run button executes the indexing operation.
5.4 Edit ad breaks
The right-click context menu on events/breaks includes a function for editing ad breaks (1).
´This example shows a correctly encoded break, with a price group (1) being assigned to a tariff category (2).
Ad breaks are displayed as small rectangles on the right side of the slot/event.
