Choose a schedule for your channel

Start with the viewing experience

A schedule turns a permitted content selection into an order and a set of times. Decide whether you want a continuous channel, a predictable mix, a run of episodes or different programming at different times of the week.

You need a saved Channel Studio recipe with eligible content. The schedule cannot create missing episodes, obtain a film from an inaccessible source or override a profile restriction. Its preview is where you check that the rules produce something useful.

Open the native schedule editor

1. Open a saved channel in Channel Studio, or choose Edit Channel for a locally editable channel.
2. Under Scheduling, open Edit Schedule.
3. In Channel Schedule, choose the schedule type under Build Your Schedule.
4. Adjust the controls for that type.
5. Choose Apply to Draft to bring the schedule back to the channel draft.
6. Save the main channel editor with Done, then review and publish the prepared schedule.

The schedule editor includes explanatory copy that mentions “Save Draft”, but the verified main native channel button is Done. Applying to the draft alone is not publication. Cancel leaves the schedule editor without applying its pending change.

Continuous and alternating programmes

Continuous uses an order such as Continuous loop, Sequential, Shuffle each cycle, Shuffle once, then loop, or Shuffle shows, keep episode order. Use the last option when you want variety between shows without deliberately randomising each show’s story order.

Alternating groups gives you explicit counts. Add a movie or episode group, choose its permitted content and set the number of programmes. Use Earlier and Later to position groups, or Remove Group to remove one from the draft. The native editor allows 1–10,000 programmes per group.

For example, two episodes followed by one film is an exact pattern of programme counts. It is not a guarantee that the film starts at the same clock time every day: episode and film lengths vary.

Weighted random

Weighted random uses relative weights to influence which eligible group is selected. Weights are probabilities, not fixed intervals. If you need a film after exactly two episodes, choose Alternating groups instead.

Where groups overlap, different priorities determine which group owns a title. A title belongs to one group. Repeat controls can avoid a number of recently used programmes, with an empty-pool choice such as Allow a repeat or Show a channel slate. A small library and strict repeat rules can leave little to select, so inspect the preview rather than assuming a larger weight creates more content.

Series marathons

Series marathons keeps each series in episode order. Choose an episode-count or duration limit. The native editor supports up to 10,000 episodes or seven days.

For a duration limit, decide between Finish the current episode and Only start episodes that fit. Finishing the current episode can extend the budget. Fitting episodes protects the limit but may leave unused time. Neither choice should be described as cutting an episode halfway through.

Weekly time windows

1. Choose Weekly time windows and confirm the Channel timezone.
2. Choose Add Time Window, then open that window.
3. Select its permitted content and choose Only selected content or Prefer selected content, according to whether fallback content is acceptable.
4. Choose the days, using Every Day, Weekdays or Weekends where useful.
5. Set the local start and end. Check any “Ends the following day” message for an overnight window.
6. Choose the boundary behaviour: Finish the current programme or Only start programmes that fit.
7. Resolve overlapping windows before applying and publishing the draft.

Higher priority wins when windows overlap. Equal-priority overlaps must be resolved before publication. Outside windows the channel uses its base content. Daylight-saving gaps move to the first valid time, and repeated clock times occur once.

A realistic evening plan

Imagine a mixed channel with episodes during weekday afternoons and films in the evening. Set the channel timezone to the place whose clock should govern the schedule, choose the relevant weekdays, and create the film window. Use a fit boundary if you want to avoid starting a film that runs beyond the window.

Then inspect the proposed schedule. A long film may not fit the available period; a restrictive selection may leave insufficient content. Widening the window or changing the permitted selection can make more sense than repeatedly refreshing the same impossible plan.

If your aim is a seasonal collection on Home rather than a programmed channel window, use the weekly-themes guide. Home’s discovery calendar and a Channel Studio schedule are separate features.

Online editor differences

The website uses labels such as Play in order, Shuffle the lineup, Mix movies and episodes, Ordered programme blocks, Daily & weekly windows, Series marathons and, when enabled, Weighted programming. The service reports which advanced capabilities are available.

Do not assume the native and web editors expose the same controls or limits. Shared channels can route to the web editor, where Save settings and the review or timeline action are separate steps. Some linked devices may need a compatible app build to play advanced schedules.

Check the result and revise it

Review programme titles, order, start times and exclusions before publishing. The published channel continues using its existing schedule until the new publication activates. Later history changes do not retroactively rewrite a prepared schedule; prepare again when you want a new history-based selection.

Why is the timing different from my estimate? The actual durations and boundary policy determine the result. Why does a group repeat? Check pool size and repeat rules. Can I undo a published plan with Cancel? Cancel affects an editing step, not an already confirmed publication. Make a new reviewed change instead.