FAST Entertainment — Library and Rotation
Plan a library channel with rotation rules, time-of-day rights, exact clocks, substitutions, discovery and settlement.
Harbor Drama runs a 24-hour entertainment channel from an eight-episode Harbor Street library.
All scenario organizations, events, contracts, prices, rates, metrics, specifications and operational records are fictional teaching assumptions. This is independent Broadcast Workflow training, with no playable media or official vendor certification.
Library → Rotation → Rights → Clock → Playout → Review
01Choose the channel’s editorial promise
An entertainment FAST channel makes a continuous programming promise from a finite library. Its success depends on usable rights, repeat management, consistent presentation and reliable distribution. This edition focuses on the schedule and library decisions that sit above the basic FAST delivery chain.
Sample record 01: Entertainment channel brief
| Field | Instruction |
|---|---|
| Channel | Harbor Drama |
| ID | HD-001 |
| Training day UTC | 2027-06-07 00:00–24:00 |
| Library | Eight complete episodes |
| Offer | US free scheduled channel; no on-demand rights inferred |
| Editorial aim | Reliable rotation without excessive episode repetition |
Define the library, geography, license dates, repetition separation, block clock and approved continuity.
02Qualify each episode for each placement
Library availability can vary by episode and time of day. A title that is licensed overall may still be prohibited in a particular block. Store restrictions against the stable asset ID, and evaluate them with the actual proposed start and end.
Sample record 02: Episode library
| Episode | Content seconds | Version | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| E01 | 1350 | V2 | Accepted |
| E02 | 1350 | V2 | Accepted |
| E03 | 1350 | V2 | Accepted |
| E04 | 1350 | V2 | Accepted |
| E05 | 1335 | V3 | Replacement cut; 15 seconds shorter |
| E06 | 1350 | V2 | Accepted |
| E07 | 1350 | V2 | Accepted |
| E08 | 1350 | V2 | Night-only restriction |
| HD-ALT-01 | 1350 | V1 | Separately cleared alternative; daytime rotation |
The 03:30 block is within the 20:00–06:00 night permission.
03Validate repetition and day boundaries
A repeat rule compares actual episode identities, not just changing display titles or playlist positions. The previous day’s last use can affect today’s first use. A four-hour cycle of eight half-hour blocks may work overnight but needs adjustment when a restricted episode cannot run in daytime.
Sample record 05: Draft rotation excerpt
| Start UTC | Episode | Issue for review |
|---|---|---|
| 00:00 | E01 | |
| 00:30 | E02 | |
| 01:00 | E03 | |
| 01:30 | E04 | |
| 02:00 | E05 | |
| 02:30 | E06 | |
| 03:00 | E07 | |
| 03:30 | E08 | |
| 10:00 | E08 | Check night-only rule |
| 11:00 | E01 | Previous E01 start 08:00 |
E08 at 10:00 violates its night permission.
04Keep the clock after a cut change
A replacement episode can have a different runtime while retaining the same identity. Recalculate the affected block explicitly. Advertising volume should not be changed merely to hide a media-duration difference unless programming and commercial rules authorize it.
Sample record 07: Standard half-hour clock
| Component | Seconds |
|---|---|
| Program | 1350 |
| Advertising | 180 |
| Continuity and promotion | 270 |
| Total | 1800 |
1335 program seconds plus 180 advertising seconds leave 285 seconds of continuity in the 1800-second block.
05Use approved continuity
Continuity is planned media with IDs, durations, valid messages and approvals. It can solve a timing gap without implying that the gap is sold advertising. A promotional item can be technically valid but editorially wrong for the time of day.
Sample record 09: Approved continuity library
| ID | Seconds | Valid use |
|---|---|---|
| HD-PROMO-30 | 30 | Harbor Drama channel promotion |
| HD-ID-15 | 15 | Channel identity; approved compensating item |
| HD-SLATE-30 | 30 | Neutral fallback |
| OLD-E08-DAY | 30 | Not approved: daytime E08 availability claim |
Use approved HD-ID-15.
06Update guide data for the accepted cut
The guide’s content duration and the channel block duration can differ. A 22:15 episode can still occupy a 30-minute block after advertising and continuity. Keep stable identities while publishing accurate descriptions, versions and schedule times.
Sample record 11: EPG and artwork record
| Item | Draft | Required action |
|---|---|---|
| Channel title | Harbor Drama | Retain HD-001 |
| E05 duration | Old version 22:30 | Use new 22:15 content value; block still 30 minutes |
| E08 daytime banner | Watch at 10:00 | Remove |
| Episode order | Stable E01–E08 IDs | Keep identity distinct from rotation position |
No.
07Review a marathon as a schedule change
A theme or marathon can alter repeat separation, rights use and surrounding programming. Approval needs the full day, not just the attractive new sequence. Coordinate promotion only after the revised schedule has passed the required checks.
Sample record 12: Theme marathon request
| Field | Request |
|---|---|
| Marketing theme | Eight episodes in order starting 18:00 UTC |
| E08 position | 21:30 UTC |
| Block size | 30 minutes |
| Preceding E01 start | 14:30 UTC |
| Approval | Pending editorial, rights and separation review |
No.
08Accept the replacement package
A version change affects timed text, program timing, continuity and partner exports. Keep acceptance evidence linked to the cut actually used in assembly. A video-only pass cannot close a caption or duration dependency.
Sample record 14: Media and caption readiness
| Asset | State | Required action |
|---|---|---|
| E05 V3 | Video accepted | Verify caption conform |
| E05 captions V2 | Old 1350-second timing | Replace with accepted V3 captions |
| E08 | Accepted V2 | Retain night restriction |
| Continuity HD-ID-15 | Accepted | Include in E05 output test |
Accepted V3 captions, the 15-second continuity adjustment, a correct partner export and output verification.
09Recover from a partner export mismatch
A local schedule may be correct while a partner still holds an old or incomplete export. Compare the accepted source, exported events, partner acknowledgment and actual output. Preserve the next fixed start while applying approved recovery media.
Sample record 16: Observed short-cut incident
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Time UTC | June 7 02:00 block |
| Symptom | E05 is 15 seconds shorter than old cut |
| Manifest | Correct V3 |
| Schedule | Missing HD-ID-15 in one partner export |
| Recovery | Insert approved 15-second continuity before next fixed start |
| Correction | Regenerate and acknowledge partner export; preserve evidence |
No.
10Read dayparts and library uses
Viewer hours, measured ad starts and scheduled episode uses have different units. A heavily repeated episode can have low audience use, and one schedule slot can generate many viewer-session ad impressions. Keep those distinctions in editorial reporting.
Sample record 17: Daypart viewing summary
| UTC span | Viewer hours | Ad-qualified starts |
|---|---|---|
| 00:00–06:00 | 1200 | 12000 |
| 06:00–20:00 | 3800 | 30000 |
| 20:00–24:00 | 2000 | 18000 |
| Total | 7000 | 60000 |
06:00–20:00 has 3800 viewer hours.
11Reconcile the day’s economics
A schedule-slot count is a supply description. The scenario earns revenue from qualified viewer-session ad starts. Apply the platform deduction and fixed library cost to that accepted delivery without treating every scheduled avail as an impression.
Sample record 19: Ad inventory and measurement
| Metric | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Day blocks | 48 | Scheduled blocks |
| 30-second ad slots per block | 6 | Schedule slots |
| Total schedule slots | 288 | Single channel day |
| Qualified ad starts | 60000 | Viewer-session measurement; not schedule count |
| Qualified CPM USD | 8 | Per thousand measured starts |
48 × 6 = 288 schedule slots.
12Control editorial and operational changes
The same schedule change can affect several owners. Name the decision, accepted evidence and next consumer for each handoff. Avoid assuming that changing a file, spreadsheet or title description updates every partner automatically.
Sample record 22: Editorial change-control register
| Change | Owner | Required validation |
|---|---|---|
| Marathon | Programming | Rights, separation, full-day clock, promotion |
| New cut | Media operations | Manifest, captions, continuity, partner acknowledgment |
| Night rule | Rights operations | Actual placement and adjoining day boundaries |
| Settlement adjustment | Finance | Contract support; no payment per missing second assumed |
Media operations owns cut and caption acceptance; channel operations verifies timing and partner output.
13Refresh or retire the library
A channel needs new material and renewed rights over time. Compare usage, repetition and cost before making editorial choices. If rights end, stop the affected assets at the exclusive end and ensure replacements are separately authorized.
Sample record 23: Renewal and library refresh
| Task | Due / evidence |
|---|---|
| Library review | June 20: usage and editorial fit |
| Rights extension | Before July 1 00:00 UTC |
| Rotation refresh | Validate against old and new episode identities |
| Non-renewal | Stop affected content at exclusive end |
| Retain | Accepted schedules, partner exports, QC and settlement |
Remove the June-granted episodes at July 1 00:00 UTC, update guide and promotion, and validate any substitute library and its new rotation.
Work through the decisions yourself
The individual download includes a 13-chapter interactive workbook, 23 separate JSON operational records, a worked-answer guide, and a cover image. Notes and completion checkmarks save in the browser, with progress backup and restore.
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Real-world reference reading
These references explain relevant concepts; the scenario’s business terms and records are fictional.
Reviewed October 23, 2026. Consult the current specification and agreement for actual use.