With the Planner App, frame-accurate broadcast schedules for each day can be created with ease. It allows to add trailers, secondary events and advertisements to the program plan previously created in the Programmer App. These features can either be performed manually or automatically by using wizards.

First of all, here is an overview of the functions associated with the broadcast planning, which is performed in the Plan tab.

1. Configuration of channel and date: This is where channel and date are determined.

2. Basic features: Locking the plan, undo & redo and refreshing the plan.

3. Additional features and settings: Display of active users, adding notes, overview of shortcuts, quick settings, expanding and collapsing elements, and setting the start time of the gird.

4. Left-side menu: The left-side menu contains a variety of functionalities, including (from top to bottom):

• Trailer versions (T): Adding trailer versions to the plan.
• Design elements (D): Adding design elements to the plan.
• Secondary elements (S): Adding secondary elements to the plan.
• Commercial versions (AD): Adding commercial versions to the plan.
• Program versions (V): Adding program versions, including episode versions, to the plan.
• Folders, Favorites and Clipboard: Both folders, favorites and the clipboard are places to collect content. From there, it can be scheduled to the plan.
• Actions: Performing operations to the entire (loaded) plan, including emptying slots, adapting slot lengths to the content, status transfers and commercial adjustments (adapt ab break lengths to the content).
• Assistants: Creating rules and executing assistants, e. g. finding and removing elements in the plan for a selected time period.

5. Further planning information: Planning status, remaining time (gaps), errors, material status etc.

1 How to perform general plan features

There is a multitude of general options to be performed in the plan, which will be explained in the following.

1.1 Set channel and date

Starting off with basic plan data, channel and date have to be defined.

Channel (1) and date (2) are selected from the ribbon above the plan.

The Today button (1) allows to select the current day.

1.2 Change the start time of a channel in the plan

The app settings allow to adapt the default starting time of the plan.

First of all, the app settings (1) have to be accessed via the user settings.

After navigating to the Plan tab (1), the start time can either be set specifically (starting hour – 2) or or be taken from the channel configuration (Take start time from channel – 3).

1.3 Refresh the plan, undo & redo and lock the plan

The plan can be refreshed by clicking the Refresh button (1).

The buttons for undoing actions (2) and redoing actions (3) are located to the left of it.

When the schedule is finished, it can be locked so that no further editing is possible. By clicking the lock icon (4) again, the plan can be unlocked.

1.4 Shortcuts

There is a variety of shortcuts for executing certain plan actions. All of those shortcuts can be found in a list.

By clicking Show shortcuts (1), the list of shortcuts opens in a new window.

In this list, all shortcuts available for plan actions are listed, along with the functions they perform:

1.5 Add notes

Another basic feature is to add notes. Notes can be used to leave remarks for individual days in the plan.

From this list, notes can be expanded and collapsed by clicking the Open notes button (1).

The individual days can be left with a note by clicking the Add note button (1) above the plan, leading to a new dialog.

This dialog contains various fields, allowing to define a title (1), note color (2), channel (3), time span (4) and the note itself (5).

Setting a time range allows to provide multiple days at once with a note. 

The note color (2) can be determined using a color picker.

1.6 Expand slots, blocks, versions and ad breaks & show secondaries

By clicking the quick settings button (1), the menu to expand and collapse plan elements such as slots and blocks is accessed.

Elements can be expanded by ticking their respective checkboxes. By removing the checkmarks, the elements can be collapsed again.

1.7 Display of active users

In order to obtain an overview when working in the plan together, the app allows to view information about other users working with the plan.

The application provides a feature (1) to see how many users are currently online and active within the currently loaded time period of the plan.

By hovering the mouse above, the respective user(s) (2) will be visible.

1.8 Adjust table columns

By opening the context menu, a column can be pinned (1). As soon as a column is pinned, it will stay in the same position when scrolling through the other table columns.

Besides pinning, there are the following other options available via the context menu:

• Move to start: Moves a column to the first position.
• Move to end: Moves a column to the last position.
• Auto size this column: Adjusts column widths based on the widest column.
• Hide columns: Hides a column so they have to be displayed again (see Display and hide columns).

1.9 Configure coloring for plan elements and alerts

The app settings allow to configure the coloring for plan elements and alerts.

First of all, the app settings (1) have to be accessed via the user settings.

After navigating to the Plan tab (1),  the coloring can be set under Events (2) for the individual elements, e. g. for slots (3). 

By clicking Back to default colors (4), the coloring of the elements can also be set to default.

The color fill (5) in the broadcast schedule can be set either 50 or 100 %.

1.10 Display errors

The quick settings, which are accessed via the ribbon, allow to set the display of errors by using the checkboxes.

Error checks include:

• Duration errors: Checks for errors regarding the length of an event. This kind of error can occur, for example, if the asset length or the time codes of an ad cut have been changed, but the event length has not been corrected yet (via the context menu).
• License errors: Checks for programs if they have a (license) window that is valid within the loaded time span of the plan.
• Parental rating errors: Checks if the scheduled content is allowed to be broadcast within the loaded time according to their parental rating. The parameters allow to create the individual ratings and to assign times to it when content with that respective parental rating is allowed to be broadcast. However. If there is a license error already. The parental rating error will not be displayed.
• Period of usage error: Checks for trailers if their periods of usage are valid within the loaded time span of the plan.

This is what the different errors look like when displayed in the plan:

Duration errors

Duration errors are displayed in two spots:

• By the general error sign (1) on to the left: By hovering the mouse above it, the specific type of error will be displayed.
• In the status column (2).

License errors

License errors are displayed in the License column.

Parental rating errors

Like the duration errors, parental rating errors are displayed in two spots:

• By the general error sign (1) on to the left: By hovering the mouse above it, the specific type of error will be displayed.
• In the status column (2).

Period of usage errors

Like the duration and parental rating errors, are displayed in two spots:

• By the general error sign (1) on to the left: By hovering the mouse above it, the specific type of error will be displayed.
• In the status column (2).

2 How to import content

Content, e. g. trailers or commercials, can be imported if the corresponding imports have been established:

• see Execute imports

After executing the import, the next step is to navigate to the Plan tab and then to the corresponding section. Here, the Import icon has to be clicked.

Elements are displayed with a red dot when they have not yet been transferred to the schedule.
Via Expand all, the individual elements within the block become visible. The Import into plan button schedules the elements in the plan.

The status displays green when all elements have been placed in the schedule.

3 How to schedule content manually

When the planner is opened for the first time, the programs and the commercial breaks are visible. The
times are fixed with the pins. By clicking the expand and collapse icons, slots and blocks can be expanded and collapsed to determine whether subordinate content is visible or not.  The header in the plan can be configured with a right-click or via the plus button.

The tabs below the plan provide insight into the statuses of the different areas, e. g. trailers.

After selecting the content type in the left-side menu (trailer versions, design elements, secondary elements, commercial versions and program versions), content can be scheduled via drag and drop. Content can also be scheduled from folders, favorites or from the clipboard.

Multiple elements can be selected with SHIFT; they are scheduled in the order they were selected.

By clicking the filter icon (1), sorting and filter options for trailers, design elements, secondary elements, commercials and program versions appear:

• Search and sort items
• Filter items

Also, elements with periods of use, including trailers, design elements, secondary elements and commercials, can be filtered for channel elements (1) and all elements available in the stock (2). Channel elements include elements that are available for the set channel and time period according to activations and periods of use, while all [content type] covers the entire stock:

Related topics:

• Periods of use are added directly to trailer and commercial versions. This section explains how this is done using a commercial versions as an example (see Add periods of use). Channels are activated along with the periods of use.

The context menu of an event contains a variety of options. Those will be listed and explained down below.

• Event settings: Opens the settings for the selected event.
• Edit version: Allows editing of the event's version in the Content App.
• Edit asset: Edits the associated asset/media in the Asset App.
• Edit series: Edits the series information in the Content App.
• Unpin: Removes the time lock/pin from the event. This can also be done by clicking the pin icon in the gird or via the event settings (see chapter 3.1.1).
• Split segment: Splits the event into multiple segments.
• Change version: Switches to a different version of the event.
• Add ad break: Adds a commercial break at this position.
• Correct event length: Corrects the duration of the event if there is an asset or ad cut.
• Edit time: Changes the start/end time of the event.
• Resolve conflict by shortening: Resolves time conflicts by shortening (grayed out/inactive).
• Fill gaps by lengthening: Fills gaps by lengthening (grayed out/inactive).
• Planning status: Displays where and when an event is scheduled.
• Layout: Allows to recalculate the positions of secondary events.
• Add to clipboard: Copies the event to the clipboard so they can be found in the corresponding side tab.
• Delete: Deletes the event from the schedule.

Related topics:

• Create and edit program versions
• Create and edit programs, series, episodes and sequences
• Create and edit trailers, commercials, secondaries and design elements

3.1 Slot settings

Like the event settings, slot settings (1) are entered via the context menu. They originate from the program planning in the Programmer and allow to manage all kinds of slot data, including:

• Basic settings such as begin and end
• SI data (title, genre, epg texts etc.)
• Attributes (customer-specific)
• Doku (data for advertising such as genre and program type)
• Viewership (expected metrics for the program slot, broken down by different audience demographics)

3.1.1 Basic settings

The basic settings is the part of the slot settings where the following data can be determined:

1. Begin, end and duration: Slots can be specified time-wise regarding begin, end and duration. By clicking the pin icon, the slot´s starting time can be set fixated or variable. When the starting time is fixated, the pin icon will appear in red. Also, the duration of a slot can be set variable by using the toggle switch.
2. Type: This is where slot types, previously created in the Programmer, can be selected.
3. Title: The title, based on the slot type, can be adapted if needed. 

3.1.2 SI data

Service information data (SI data) are essential when it comes to program plan exports (epg exports). 

The SI data tab is where program information is entered that is typically used for metadata services such as electronic program guides (epg).

The name of the selected event resembles the title of the program version (1). The title can be adjusted for the epg if needed.

This duration (2) of the slot can be set, as well. However, time changes executed in the SI data will not affect the time in the schedule since they are only associated with the epg data. Actual time changes can be executed via the basic settings.

From a drop-down menu, slots can be assigned a genre (3), as well.

The Audio options field (4) can be used to specify special audio characteristics.

Texts (5) – both long and short texts – can be added to provide more comprehensive or brief summaries of a slot.

3.2 Pin and unpin sub events of a block

In sub events of a block can all be unfixed by clicking Unfix all sub-events (1) in the context menu of a block.

By clicking the same button, the sub events can be fixed again.

As a result, the sub events are unpinned, so there is no pin icon anymore, while the block remains pinned, which can be unpinned by clicking the pin icon.

3.3 Actions performed via event settings

As mentioned above, event settings are entered via the context menu.

The basic settings consist of three sections, including basic settings, attributes and material.

3.3.1 Basic settings

Both the start time and fixation of events cannot only be adapted via the context menu, but also in the event settings. By changing the start time, the end time will adapt based on the duration. The pin icon allows to pin and unpin events.

By ticking the logo checkbox, a logo can be selected from the drop-down menu.

3.3.2 Set attributes

Attributes, which are customer-specific, can be activated or deactivated by using the checkboxes.

3.3.3 Display material information

Both the clip number (1) and material name (2) are displayed under Material. Both the clip number and the material name can be used to find the asset connected to the program version.

3.4 Create assets and correct event length

As long as no asset has been connected to a program version, NO (1) will be displayed in the Material column. 

By clicking Edit version (2),  the editing dialog of the program version can be accessed to add the asset file to the version:

• Add assets to program versions
• Create asset files 

After adding the asset file, the camera icon (1) will turn green and state OK. Then the event length can be adapted to the length of the asset file by opening the context menu and clicking Correct event length (2). Otherwise, the length will correspond to that of the program version.

As a result, the option to edit the asset file (3) will become active, leading to the Assets App.

3.5 Create ad cuts

After connecting an asset to the program version (see Add assets to program versions), ad cuts can be created in the Assets App.

First of all, the editing dialog of the connected asset has to be accessed by clicking Edit asset (1).

Then, an ad cut can be created (see Create ad cuts).

3.6 Split segments, apply ad cuts and update segment lengths

The context menu also allows to split events into multiple segments by clicking Split segment (1) via the context menu.

In this example, the event has a length one and a half hours.

As a result, there will be two equally long segments (1 and 2) with a five-minute ad break between them.

The segments can then be further split by selecting one of the two segments, e. g. the first segment (1) can be split again.

In this case, three equally long segments (3 x 30 minutes) will be created.

If an ad cut with a matching number of segments has been connected to the program version previously, it will be applied. As a result, the segment lengths (1 and 2) will correspond to the segment lengths set in the ad cut.

The selection of ad cuts can be managed via event settings (1), which are accessed via the context menu.

In the Material tab (1) of the event settings, the ad cut can be selected from a drop-down menu (2). 

The drop-down list will display all ad cuts according to the number of segments of the respective event. If there are two segments (and one break), all ad cuts that contain two segments can be selected.

By default, the system will assign an ad cut automatically to the other segments of an event, as well. This can, however, be turned off by ticking the checkbox No automatic assignment (3), so that the other segments have to be assigned ad cuts manually.

Instead of splitting the segments manually in the Planner, the segmentation can already be determined in the Programmer. See the following chapters:

• Create ad break schemes
• Apply ad break schemes via wizard
• Apply ad break schemes via the context menu
• Edit ad breaks via context menu

If a new ad cut has been selected or if the applied ad cut has been changed, the segment lengths can be updated by clicking Correct event length (1).

Split segments can be reunited to one segment via the context menu by selecting the segments and clicking Unite segments (1).

3.7 Add ad breaks

Ad breaks can also be added manually via the context menu. In contrast to splitting segments, this feature will not create different segments of an event.

3.7.1 Add general ad breaks

Ad breaks can also be added by clicking Add ad break (1) and be specified regarding their type via the context menu, e. g. general ad breaks (2).

In the follow-up dialog, the ad break can be specified in terms of begin, end, duration, price group and tariff category.

The duration, which is pinned by default, has to be unpinned when changing it by clicking the pin icon.

The ad break (1) will then be placed at the corresponding position before or after the main event (2) it was added to – in this case before it.

Example:

If the starting time of the ad break is set to 11:10 am, which is during the run time runtime of the main event (1) from 11 am to 12 pm, the ad break (2) will be placed after the main event, starting at 12 pm.

3.7.2 Add secondary ad breaks

It is also possible to add breaks for secondary commercials, which are commercials that run simultaneously to a main event.

Like the other break types, ad breaks for secondary commercials are also added via the context menu by clicking Add ad break (1). Then, trailer blocks (2) have to be selected as break type.

In the follow-up dialog, the ad break can be specified in terms of begin, end, duration, price group and tariff category.

When it comes to the placement of the secondary ad block in the grid, the same rules apply as for adding general ad breaks (see chapter 3.6.1).

In this case, the secondary ad break (1) is placed after the main event (2) it was added to.

3.7.3 Add trailer blocks

There is also a feature that allows to add trailer blocks. 

Like the other break types, trailer blocks are also added via the context menu by clicking Add ad break (1) Then, ad break for trailers (2) have to be selected as break type.

In the follow-up dialog, the trailer block can be specified in terms of begin, end, duration, price group and tariff category.

The duration, which is pinned by default, has to be unpinned when changing it by clicking the pin icon.

When it comes to the placement of the trailer block in the grid, the same rules apply as for adding general ad breaks (see chapter 3.6.1).

In this case, the trailer break (1) is placed before the main event (2) it was added to.

3.8 Change version

Another feature in the plan is to replace versions of a program or episode.

Versions can be replaced by opening the context menu of an event and clicking Change version (1), opening a new dialog.

In this dialog, all versions of the given program are listed. 

The version to replace the old one (1) is selected by clicking on it. By using the toggle (2), all events of the selected versions in the loaded time period are replaced.

If a version shall be replaced by a version that belongs to a different program/series, it can be found via the search bar (3) or within a particular folder (4).

3.9 Planning status

 It is also possible to obtain an overview of the entire scheduling of a specific event.

Viewing the planning status (1) is also a feature that is accessed via the context menu.

Under Planning status (1), there will be an overview of where (which channels) and when the selected event has been scheduled.

3.10 Layout

The Layout feature allows to manage secondary events.

By clicking Layout (1), the corresponding section (2) will open below the plan.

In this section, the positions of the selected secondary events can be viewed in relation to the main event. If the position of the main event (or its segments) changes, the secondaries can be recaluclated to match the length of the main event again. 

In this case, either the positions of all calculated secondary events can be recalculated by clicking Recalculate all (1) or only the positions of the selected ones by clicking Recalculate section (2).

The zoom can be increased and decreased by using the zoom level bar (3).

4 How to perform plan actions

Using planning actions, extensive changes in the plan can performed with only a few clicks.

Those actions can be executed from the Actions side tab (1).

• Empty slots: Removes all empty slots in the loaded plan.
• Slot length: Adapts slots to the content in the entire plan.
• Status transfer: Sets the status of the loaded plan (in progress, completed, approved or broadcast).
• Commercial: Adapts ad break lengths to the lengths of their content in the loaded plan.

5 How to schedule content with assistants

Like plannning actions (see previous chapter), asssistants allow to perform large-scale scheduling operations by creating rules. Those rules can be saved and reused.

Also, groups of rules can be created to perform multiple rules at once.

After accessing the Assistants side tab in the left-side menu, new rules can be created with Create new rule.

After giving the rule a name (1), multiple channels (2) can be selected via a drop-down menu. By assigning channels to the rule, the rule can be executed on those channels.

However, the rule, can only be performed on the channel that is currently loaded within the set time range. Performing the rule on multiple channels at the same time is therefore not possible.

5.1 How to use single rules

The first option is to create and use individual rules.

5.1.1 Define the source

In this part of the dialog, users can specify what content to schedule.

Users can specify the source (1) in terms of content type and search conditions.

Content types include design elements, trailer versions, commercial versions and secondary elements.

Search conditions allow to search specific elements by name or reference number or to include elements from a specific folder or of a specific type.

When opting for folder content, users can determine to what extent and in which order they want to rule to process the content within the selected folder. Hence, they can include etiher all content (1) or a certain number of it (2) (All or Count).

Furthermore, it is possible to define in what order the content will be processed (3 and 4).

5.1.2 Define the target

In this part of the dialog, users can specify the target content.

Users can specify the target (1) in terms of content type (2), and they can select specific conditions (3) depending on the content type (e.g. on what segments to schedule the source content). Conditions vary depending on the target content type.

By clicking Add conditions (4), further conditions can be set depending on the target content type, e. g. specific age ratings, genre etc. for progams or specific tariff categories for ad breaks. This allows to further specify the target content to be processed by the rule.

When it comes to selecting the target content type, users can define how to place the source content by ticking the checkboxes (1) (e. g. before or after progams). 

5.1.3 Define the time range

Finally, the time period during which the rule should be executed can be configured, with two options available.

The rule can either be executed within the currently loaded plan or within an individual period (1), for which a starting and end time can be determined.

Also, users can define what action the rule performs regarding the source and target under Choose condition (2).

For all content types selected as source and target, there are three conditions available:

• Schedule selected items, do not delete items in the plan
• Find and remove selected elements in the plan
• Schedule selected elements and delete identical elements in the plan

In addition, a minimum space can be defined between elements in the plan (in minutes) by ticking the checkbox (1) and adding a number into the field. The rule is then only applied to elements located in this space to each other.

The rule can be executed right away by clicking Apply (2). In this process, the rule is saved automatically.

Alternatively, a rule can be saved (3) first and then be executed from the list of all rules (see next chapter), or the dialog can be left without saving the rule by clicking Close (4).

5.1.4 Execute the rule

A rule is executed by selecting it from the list and clicking Apply. In this process, the rule is saved automatically.

Select from list:

Apply:

5.2 How to use groups of rules

Group of rules serve to execute multiple rules at once.

Groups can be created by clicking Create new group.

After giving the group a name (1), channels (2) for the group to be available on can be selected.

Also, indidividual rules can be added to the group by clicking Add rules (3).

By clicking the plus button, the individual rules are added to the group. Added rules will be displayed on the right side.

Rules that have been added can then be configured individually by clicking the edit button (1), which leads to the dialog described previously (see chapter 4.1 to 4.3).

Alternatively, they can be removed from the group by clicking the bin icon (2).

6 How to copy events between channels

The Copy channel wizard allows to copy events from channel to another automatically.

It is accessed via the left-side menu and allows the source and target in terrms of channel, date and time range.

By clicking the Execute button below, the events are copied from the source channel to the target channel.

7 How to manage content

In addition to the context menu in the grid, content can also be managed from the Versions side tab (1). This includes editing and adding content to favorites, folders and to the clipboard. After being added to favorites, folders and to the clipboard, content is collected in the corresponding side tabs, where it can be scheduled from (see Schedule content manually).

Related topics:

• Manage folders
• Manage favorites