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Scheduling Concepts

Definitions

  • Lineup: A channel's lineup describes its programming sequence. Channel lineups are looped infinitely and based off of the channel's start time.
  • Programming: A channel's programming refers the actual media in a channel lineup
  • Filler: Filler content refers to media that is used to "round out" a schedule. For instance, a 22-minute television episode may need 8 minutes of "filler" distributed within a 30-minute slot to replicate a true "TV" experience
  • Flex: Flex time refers to chunks of time in which one or more pieces of filler are placed within a channel lineup. Content used to fill periods of flex time are not chosen until stream time.
  • Padding: Padding generally refers to applying flex time in order to have content start at "nice" times, e.g. 12:00, 12:30, etc. These times are on the server's local clock, the same clock that slot start times use.
  • Slot: Tunarr includes programming tools called slot editors. Using slots allows for fine-grained control over channel lineups. A slot refers to a "grouping" of programming with either a set duration or start time.
  • Slot Isolation: By default, every slot is isolated: it maintains its own position in its program list, independent of all other slots. Two slots for the same show will each start at episode 1 and advance separately, which means duplicates are possible unless the slots are linked.
  • Slot Linking: Slots can be linked into an iteration group so they share a single program iterator. This is configured per-slot via the Link control in the slot editor. Linked slots support two link modes:
    • Continue: The shared iterator advances every time any group member plays. Each slot picks up where the last one left off.
    • Rerun: The shared iterator advances only after every group member has played the current item. All members see the same episode until the whole group has consumed it.

  • Filler Types: When using slot editors, filler can be configured per-slot and be one of several types, each of which behave differently.

    • Head: Filler that plays at the beginning of each slot
    • Pre: Filler that plays before each program within a slot
    • Post: Filler that plays after each program within a slot
    • Tail: Filler that plays at the end of each slot
    • Mid: Filler that plays during mid-roll breaks inserted within a program
    • Fallback: Filler that is played during flex time in the slot

    Filler is placed inside the slot rather than added on top of it: head, pre, post, and tail filler draw from the slot's unused time, including any padding applied to the programs around them. A slot only omits filler when it has genuinely no time left to give.

    A filler list that has no programs in it is ignored when the schedule is generated: the slot simply gets no filler from that list (and the empty list is noted in the server log). The slot editor marks such lists so they can be spotted before saving.

Removing a Slot Schedule

A channel saved from the Slot Editor or Time Slots editor keeps its schedule. The channel's programming page then shows a notice that manual edits will make the channel drift from that schedule. To return the channel to manual programming, click Remove schedule on that notice. The channel keeps its current programs, and the notice goes away.

Scheduling Movies

Slot editors have no movie slot type. To schedule movies in a slot:

  1. Add the movies to a custom show, in the order you want them to play.
  2. Add a Custom Show slot that uses that show.

A custom show slot supports filler, mid-roll breaks, and linking.

Upgrading From Movie Slots

Earlier versions had a Movie slot type, which drew from every movie, music video, and other video in the schedule. That pool also picked up commercials from the schedule's filler lists. On upgrade, Tunarr replaces each movie slot with a custom show slot:

  • Tunarr creates a custom show named <Channel> Movies from the channel's saved movies, music videos, and other videos. Programs that the schedule only plays as filler are left out. If the channel's movie slots used different sort orders, Tunarr creates one show per order and adds the order to the name: <Channel> Movies (Oldest First), (Newest First), (A-Z), or (Z-A).
  • The show is sorted to match the old slot order. Alphanumeric slots sort by title. Next, chronological, and ordered shuffle slots sort by release date. The old ascending or descending direction is kept.
  • The slot keeps its filler, mid-roll breaks, links, weight, cooldown, and timing.
  • A movie slot with no movies to schedule becomes a flex slot.

The new custom show is a snapshot. Movies added to the channel later are not added to it, so add them to the custom show yourself.