How to Program a 24/7 Linear Channel
A linear channel never stops. Unlike on-demand video, viewers drop in at any moment, so the schedule has to make sense at every hour of the day. Good programming is what turns a library into a channel.
Think in blocks
Divide the day into blocks with a clear identity: morning, afternoon, prime time, overnight. Each block has a theme, a target audience and a rhythm. Blocks are easier to plan, repeat and adjust than a list of individual videos.
Use loops wisely
Loops fill the schedule with repeating playlists. They are useful overnight or while the library grows, but too much repetition drives viewers away. Rotate content within loops and refresh them regularly.
Plan live windows
If the channel carries live programs, reserve their slots in the schedule and decide what plays if the live signal fails. A switch from scheduled content to live and back should be part of the plan, not a manual emergency.
Plan breaks from the start
Ad breaks need consistent positions and durations, marked with SCTE-35 so platforms and ad partners can monetize them. Breaks added as an afterthought often fall in awkward places.
Continuity and branding
- A logo on screen so viewers know which channel they are watching.
- Slates for breaks and for signal loss, so the screen is never black.
- A program guide that matches what actually plays.
Watch the channel
A 24/7 channel needs alerts for signal loss, ingest failures, playlist errors and marker events, so problems are found before viewers find them.
Where Fast Monkey fits
Fast Monkey One supports playlists, blocks, loops and date/time scheduling, switching between VOD and live, logo, slates, EPG, operational alerts and four ways to place SCTE-35 markers. For creators who want a 24/7 schedule from their library between lives, Fast Monkey Creator keeps the channel on air.