What a screen plays

A screen can be targeted by several programs at the same time. At any moment, it shows only one. This page explains how it chooses, and where to check it in the app.

Priority orderCopy Anchor Link

When two pieces of content fall at the same time, the screen picks in this order:

1. Emergency
2. Instant broadcast
3. Campaign
4. Schedule

Between two campaigns, or between two schedule slots, the level decides: Very high, then High, Normal, Low. At equal level, the latest started wins.

Programs created with the assistantCopy Anchor Link

The Schedule content assistant sets the level for you, based on the time chosen and the Takes precedence over other programs during these slots checkbox. From strongest to weakest:

1. Over a period, priority
2. Over a period
3. Certain days and times, priority
4. All the time, priority
5. Certain days and times
6. All the time

Each program goes before the ones that follow it in this list. A non-priority “All the time” program therefore only plays when nothing else is scheduled.

An instant broadcast goes before all these programs, and an emergency broadcast before everything.

When nothing is plannedCopy Anchor Link

• If the planned content is not playable (for example a playlist with no active or valid item at that time), the screen moves on to the lower-level program.
• If no program applies, the screen shows its fallback content.
• Without fallback content, the screen shows a standby screen.

Choose a screen’s fallback contentCopy Anchor Link

On a screen’s page, Playback tab, the Fallback card shows the current fallback content.

1. Click Choose fallback content.
2. Choose an image, a video, a composition or a published playlist.

To go back to the standby screen, click Back to the standby screen. Fallback is reserved for the Owner, Administrator and Technician roles.

Fallback content is played outside scheduled times and after the end of the prepared schedule. Only items without an end date are kept: a campaign is never extended.

See what your screens play todayCopy Anchor Link

The Scheduling › Today page shows the day’s timeline: one row per active screen, one colored band per program and a “now” line. It follows the site chosen in the app’s header.

• Hover over a band to see the program, its times and its content; click it to open the program.
• Under a screen’s name, a note may appear: No Player, Fallback content (the screen plays its fallback all day) or Nothing scheduled.

A screen’s explained programCopy Anchor Link

On a screen’s page, Playback tab, the Program card details what the screen will play, period by period. Choose the View (Day, Week or Month) and a Simulated date, including in the future. Times are shown in the screen’s time zone, and the simulation uses the same rules as the screens.

For each period, the table shows:

• Content: what is shown, or the fallback;
• Why: the winning program, its level and, where relevant, the “dated exception” note;
• Hidden rules: the other programs planned at the same time, with the reason they do not play (“comes after”, “same level, started earlier”, “same level and same start”, “content unavailable for this period”).

Broadcast nowCopy Anchor Link

The Broadcast now card, on a screen’s page (Playback tab), interrupts that screen’s schedule for a short time.

1. Click Choose and select the content to broadcast.
2. Choose the Duration: from 15 min to 24 h.
3. Click Broadcast.

The card shows the interrupted content and the time the schedule resumes. Broadcasts in progress are listed under Instant broadcasts in progress; click Stop to end one.

The Emergency: overrides everything, including another instant broadcast checkbox is reserved for the Owner and Administrator roles. Broadcasting now is available to the Owner, Administrator, Content manager and Operator roles.

How the schedule reaches the screenCopy Anchor Link

Every published change sends a new schedule to the screens concerned. The player downloads the content in advance, then applies the schedule.

• An offline player keeps going with the last schedule it received. It gets the new one when it reconnects.
• Program starts and ends are applied by the player itself: a campaign ends on time even if the screen is offline.

On a screen’s page, the Screen update card follows this delivery:

• Sent, Downloaded and On screen give the date of the schedule at each step. It is only “on screen” once the player confirms it.
• The message “Up to date: the screen shows the latest schedule.” confirms everything has arrived. “Update in progress” means the screen still shows the previous schedule.
• The “Schedule prepared until …” line shows how far ahead the screen has its schedule. Pixlova renews it automatically.
• Delivery history lists the latest preparations and any errors.

To learn more about a screen’s page, see the Screens section.