Automate Your Content
SignageStudio's scheduling engine lets you automate content delivery based on time, date, location, and more. Create playlists, configure dayparting, and manage campaigns to ensure the right content plays at the right time.
Scheduling Concepts
Hierarchy Overview
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SCHEDULING HIERARCHY │
│ │
│ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ CAMPAIGNS │ │
│ │ └─► Playlists + Schedule Rules + Target Screens │ │
│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ PLAYLISTS │ │
│ │ └─► Scenes + Media + Duration + Order │ │
│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ SCENES / MEDIA │ │
│ │ └─► Individual content items with properties │ │
│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Schedule Resolution: │
│ 1. Player checks assigned campaigns │
│ 2. Evaluates schedule rules (time, date, priority) │
│ 3. Plays matching playlist │
│ 4. Cycles through playlist items │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Key Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Scene | A designed layout with content |
| Playlist | Ordered collection of scenes/media |
| Campaign | Playlist + schedule rules + targets |
| Schedule | Rules defining when content plays |
| Daypart | Time-of-day content segment |
| Priority | Override level for competing content |
Creating Playlists
New Playlist
- Go to Campaigns → Playlists → New Playlist
- Name your playlist
- Add content items
- Configure order and durations
Adding Content
| Method | Description |
|---|
| Drag from library | Drag scenes/media into playlist |
| Browse button | Click "+" to browse and select |
| Bulk import | Select multiple items at once |
| Duplicate | Copy existing playlist and modify |
Playlist Settings
| Setting | Options | Description |
|---|
| Play Order | Sequential, Shuffle, Random | How items rotate |
| Default Duration | Seconds | Time per item if not specified |
| Transition | Cut, Fade, etc. | Between item transition |
| Transition Duration | Milliseconds | Transition speed |
| Loop | Yes/No | Repeat when finished |
Item Configuration
For each item in the playlist:
| Property | Description |
|---|
| Duration | How long this item plays (seconds) |
| Play Count | Number of times to play |
| Weight | Priority in shuffle mode |
| Validity | Date range for this item |
| Conditions | Play only when conditions met |
Creating Campaigns
Campaign Structure
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ CAMPAIGN CONFIGURATION │
│ │
│ BASIC INFO │
│ ├── Name: Summer Promotion 2026 │
│ ├── Status: Active │
│ └── Priority: Normal │
│ │
│ CONTENT │
│ └── Playlist: Summer Promos Playlist │
│ │
│ SCHEDULE │
│ ├── Date Range: June 1 - Aug 31, 2026 │
│ ├── Days: Monday - Friday │
│ ├── Time: 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM │
│ └── Exceptions: July 4 (Independence Day) │
│ │
│ TARGETS │
│ ├── Screen Groups: Retail Locations │
│ └── Individual: Store #42, Store #57 │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
New Campaign Wizard
Step 1: Basic Information
- Campaign name
- Description (optional)
- Priority level
Step 2: Content Selection
- Choose existing playlist
- Or create new playlist inline
Step 3: Schedule Rules
- Date range
- Days of week
- Time of day
- Exceptions
Step 4: Target Assignment
- Select screen groups
- Select individual screens
- Preview affected displays
Step 5: Review and Activate
- Summary of settings
- Activate or save as draft
Schedule Rules
Date Range Scheduling
| Rule Type | Example | Use Case |
|---|
| Always | No restrictions | Default content |
| Date Range | Jan 1 - Jan 31 | Monthly campaigns |
| Specific Dates | Dec 25, Dec 31 | Holiday content |
| Recurring | First Monday each month | Regular events |
Time-of-Day (Dayparting)
| Daypart | Typical Hours | Content Focus |
|---|
| Morning | 6 AM - 11 AM | Breakfast, news, commute |
| Midday | 11 AM - 2 PM | Lunch specials, productivity |
| Afternoon | 2 PM - 5 PM | Snacks, afternoon slump |
| Evening | 5 PM - 9 PM | Dinner, family, entertainment |
| Night | 9 PM - 6 AM | Late night, different audience |
Dayparting Example
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ RESTAURANT DAYPARTING │
│ │
│ TIME CONTENT PRIORITY │
│ ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ 6 AM - 10 AM Breakfast Menu Normal │
│ 10 AM - 11 AM Transition (All Day) Normal │
│ 11 AM - 4 PM Lunch Menu Normal │
│ 4 PM - 5 PM Happy Hour Promos High │
│ 5 PM - 9 PM Dinner Menu Normal │
│ 9 PM - 11 PM Late Night Menu Normal │
│ 11 PM - 6 AM Closed Message Low │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Day-of-Week Scheduling
| Pattern | Days | Use Case |
|---|
| Weekdays | Mon-Fri | Business content |
| Weekends | Sat-Sun | Leisure content |
| Specific Days | Mon, Wed, Fri | Recurring promotions |
| Every Day | All | General content |
Priority System
| Priority | Level | Behavior |
|---|
| Emergency | Highest | Overrides all, immediate |
| High | 80 | Overrides normal/low |
| Normal | 50 | Standard content |
| Low | 20 | Fills gaps, fallback |
| Default | 10 | Plays when nothing else |
When multiple campaigns are valid:
- Highest priority wins
- Same priority: most specific schedule wins
- Tie: most recently modified
Advanced Scheduling
Conditional Playback
Play content based on conditions:
| Condition | Example | Content |
|---|
| Weather | Temperature > 80°F | Cold drink promos |
| Time | Happy hour (4-6 PM) | Drink specials |
| Day type | Rainy day | Umbrella sales |
| Inventory | Stock > 100 | Product promotion |
| Custom trigger | API signal | Dynamic content |
Recurring Schedules
| Pattern | Configuration |
|---|
| Daily | Every day at same time |
| Weekly | Same day(s) each week |
| Monthly | Same date(s) each month |
| Quarterly | Beginning of each quarter |
| Custom | Cron-style expressions |
Exception Dates
| Exception Type | Example |
|---|
| Holiday | Christmas Day - show holiday content |
| Blackout | Election Day - no political ads |
| Event | Store closing - special message |
| Override | Flash sale - priority content |
Screen Targeting
Target Types
| Target | Description |
|---|
| All Screens | Every screen in account |
| Screen Groups | Predefined groups |
| Locations | By geographic location |
| Individual Screens | Specific displays |
| Tags | Screens with matching tags |
Screen Groups
Create logical groups for targeting:
| Group | Screens | Content |
|---|
| Lobby Displays | Reception, entrance | Welcome messages |
| Meeting Rooms | Conference rooms | Room schedules |
| Break Rooms | Kitchen, lounge | News, social |
| Retail Front | Storefront windows | Promotions |
Location-Based Targeting
| Level | Example |
|---|
| Country | All US stores |
| Region | Northeast region |
| State | California stores |
| City | San Francisco |
| Store | Store #123 |
Calendar View
Managing Schedules Visually
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SCHEDULE CALENDAR VIEW │
│ │
│ ◄ February 2026 ► │
│ │
│ Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun │
│ ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ 1 │ 2 │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │ 3 │ 4 │ 5 │ 6 │ 7 │ 8 │ 9 │ │
│ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ │ │ │
│ │ Valentine's Promo (runs Feb 3-14) │ │ │ │
│ ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │ 10 │ 11 │ 12 │ 13 │ 14 │ 15 │ 16 │ │
│ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ │ │ │
│ │ ████ Presidents Day Sale (15-17) █████████████████│ │
│ ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ Legend: ▓ Active Campaign █ High Priority │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Calendar Features
- View campaigns by day/week/month
- Drag to reschedule
- Click to edit
- Color-coded by priority
- Filter by screen group
Emergency Messaging
Alert System
Override all content for urgent messages:
-
Create Alert
- Go to Campaigns → Emergency
- Create alert content
- Set duration or manual dismiss
-
Activate Alert
- One-click activation
- Immediately overrides all content
- Targets all or selected screens
-
Deactivate Alert
- Manual deactivation
- Or automatic after duration
- Normal content resumes
Alert Types
| Type | Use Case | Behavior |
|---|
| Emergency | Fire, evacuation | Full screen override |
| Urgent | Important notice | Banner + content |
| Information | Updates | Ticker overlay |
| Amber Alert | Child safety | Regulatory content |
Best Practices
Scheduling Tips
| Practice | Benefit |
|---|
| Use dayparting | Relevant content for audience |
| Set fallback content | Never show blank screens |
| Test before launch | Avoid scheduling mistakes |
| Use screen groups | Easier management at scale |
| Review regularly | Remove outdated content |
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Prevention |
|---|
| Overlapping schedules | Use priority levels |
| Expired campaigns | Set end dates, use alerts |
| Wrong timezone | Verify player timezone |
| No default content | Always have fallback |
| Orphan screens | Audit screen assignments |
Frequently Asked Questions
Try it on your own screens, free
DigitalSignage.com, which publishes this guide, runs a permanent free plan: the first 3 screens are free forever (no credit card, no ads, no time limit), then from $3 per screen per month with volume pricing via a public calculator. The free SignPlayer runs on Windows, Mac, Android and Android TV, Chrome OS, Raspberry Pi, iPad or any modern web browser. Start free · 2026 pricing
Next Steps
Scheduling documentation maintained by MediaSignage. For support, contact support@digitalsignage.com