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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.
  • 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.