Automation Programs
Automation Programs enables users to create programs that will play content from your playlists or series dynamically based on configuration. With it, you can set schedules weeks in advance with confidence that your programming will always be up to date, playing the latest or random videos and episodes. This is particularly useful for daily news shows or segments that are frequently updated, so you can set it and forget it. As long as your content is flowing into Frequency Studio, and playlists are properly configured with rules to pick up the latest content, it will play out in your channel. This can also be used for the purposes of stripping a schedule, where you can enforce rules that make sure that content is not reused with a time frame.There are two approaches to using this feature, with a dynamic playlist, or with series episodes.
Create a Playlist
To begin, you can learn how to create a playlist here:Dynamic Playlists
Using search and dynamic rules, you can add content to your playlist.
Once you have a playlist with dynamic rules you are happy with, you can use it in your Automation Programs.
Series Metadata
Another way to leverage Automation Programs is with series metadata. To use automations with series episodes will require 2 things:
1. Series metadata associated to the videos. Learn more:Managing Series Metadata
2. Linear programs created for these videos already. Learn more: Create Linear Programs
3. (Optional) A playlist that can be used for backup content if content fails to populate due to configuration.
Once these are ready, you can move onto creating Automation Programs.
Creating Automations
Begin by selecting the "AUTOMATION" tab in MANAGE.
In the AUTOMATION screen, select "Create New Automation", or edit/delete an existing one by clicking on the ellipses buttons.
Then select if you would like to create an automation based on playlists or series.
Create Series Automation
When selecting series, it will ask you which series you would like to use for the automation. You can select up to three. Content will be drawn from these according to the configuration set in following screens.
Begin filling out the fields, the red star indicates that they are required. definitions are below.
Settings Definitions
Once you are happy with your configuration, save, and it will now show in the list of automations.
Title - Title of the program that displays on the EPG
Internal Title - Displays in the UI on the schedule, but not in the EPG. Can be used to display important information about the configuration of the automation without exposing it in the output
Description - Description of the program that displays on the EPG. Should be generic as it can have a variety of content
Linear Program Selection - If multiple Linear Programs exist for a series, how it is selected if it matches the automations duration.
Latest - The latest video from the series.
Shuffle - Selects randomly from the episodes of a series with linear programs created.
Shuffle FIFO (First in First Out) - Selects episodes randomly and allows a user to specify different versions of episodes based on the internal title. Additionally, if "Do Not Repeat" runs out of content, it will default to the episode used longest ago. The priority of the program it selects based on it's internal title is: 1. Contain's the current channel name, 2. Contains the text "Default", 3. Has no internal title.
Do Not Repeat Within (X Minutes) - The duration of time before a previously used program is able to be used again in an automation. Not required
Ad Load % - Target ad load when it generates the program. It will get as close to this as possible given the content available
Ad Load % - Target ad load when it generates the program. It will get as close to this as possible given the content available
Set Schedule Before Start Time - How long before a rule executes and the program gets videos inserted into it on the schedule. For news oriented content it is advisable to use 15-30 minutes. For series oriented content, you can use 6+ hours so you can visually validate it before it plays out. This is also a good way to test a configuration without impacting playout
Additional Tasks -These options allow different ways for content to be returned from playlists and series
Current Order - Play videos out in the order they exist in the playlist or series
Reverse Order - Reverse the order of the content returned
Shuffle All - Randomize the videos returned
Shuffle Manual - Shuffle only the videos manually in the playlist (for example, if you had a dynamic asset at the top of your playlist, and wanted to randomize a large playlist of content behind it)
Shuffle Dynamic -Shuffle only the videos returned dynamically (for example, if you had an interstitial at the front of your playlist that you always wanted at the front, but randomize everything else returned)
Shuffle Dynamic and Manual - Shuffles the videos of each respective to their own section (dynamic videos are shuffled separate from manual videos)
Use First Dynamic Only - Selects content only from the first rule that returns videos (used for when you have backup rules for content)
Create Playlist Automation
If you select playlist, it will ask you to select from your playlists in BUILD.
Once selected, you will get to this screen:
Settings Definitions:
Once you are happy with your configuration, save, and it will now show in the list of automations.
Title - Title of the program that displays on the EPG
Internal Title - Displays in the UI on the schedule, but not in the EPG. Can be used to display important information about the configuration of the automation without exposing it in the output
Description - Description of the program that displays on the EPG. Should be generic as it can have a variety of content
Linear Program Selection - If multiple Linear Programs exist for a series, how it is selected if it matches the automations duration.
Do Not Repeat Within (X Minutes) - The duration of time before a previously used program is able to be used again in an automation. Not required
Ad Load % - Target ad load when it generates the program. It will get as close to this as possible given the content available
Ad Load % - Target ad load when it generates the program. It will get as close to this as possible given the content available
Set Schedule Before Start Time - How long before a rule executes and the program gets videos inserted into it on the schedule. For news oriented content it is advisable to use 15-30 minutes. For series oriented content, you can use 6+ hours so you can visually validate it before it plays out. This is also a good way to test a configuration without impacting playout
Additional Tasks -These options allow different ways for content to be returned from playlists and series
Current Order - Play videos out in the order they exist in the playlist or series
Reverse Order - Reverse the order of the content returned
Shuffle All - Randomize the videos returned
Shuffle Manual - Shuffle only the videos manually in the playlist (for example, if you had a dynamic asset at the top of your playlist, and wanted to randomize a large playlist of content behind it)
Shuffle Dynamic -Shuffle only the videos returned dynamically (for example, if you had an interstitial at the front of your playlist that you always wanted at the front, but randomize everything else returned)
Shuffle Dynamic and Manual - Shuffles the videos of each respective to their own section (dynamic videos are shuffled separate from manual videos)
Use First Dynamic Only - Selects content only from the first rule that returns videos (used for when you have backup rules for content)
Adding an Automation in Schedule
Go to SCHEDULE and select the channel you would like to add an automation to. Select "Edit Schedule". An automation can be added to your schedule by clicking on the "Add Program +" button and selecting "Automation". You can also right-click where you want this program added.
Set your Target Duration and add to schedule. It is highly advised to test your automations before letting them play out in a real live schedule. Once you have created an automation, it will show up in the list. Select your desired duration and start time, and place it on the schedule.
Your program has now been published to your schedule. They will appear in purple. When copied and pasted, it will execute the rules in the same manner, so you can reuse this same program multiple times and get varying outcomes depending on the configuration.
