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Difference between a Default Playlist and a Scheduled playlist

Ian Maison avatar
Written by Ian Maison
Updated this week

The main difference is that a Default Playlist is your continuous, fallback content that plays indefinitely without a specific schedule, while a Scheduled Playlist is designed to play only within a defined date and time window.


Understanding the Default Playlist

Think of the Default Playlist as your safety net जाल. It's the content that your screen will show when no other scheduled content is set to play. If all your planned events expire or there are gaps in your schedule, the Default Playlist ensures your screen never goes blank.

  • Scheduling: When you publish a Default Playlist, you don't set any start or end dates. It begins playing as soon as it's published and is technically set to run indefinitely (the system assigns it an end date of December 31, 9999).

  • Best For:

    • Core content that should always be running (e.g., brand videos, welcome messages).

    • Filling gaps between scheduled playlists.

    • Simple setups where you just want one continuous content loop without time restrictions.


Understanding the Scheduled Playlist

A Scheduled Playlist is used for time-sensitive campaigns. You have full control over precisely when the content starts and stops playing, down to the minute.

  • Scheduling: When publishing, you must assign a specific start date/time and an end date/time.1 The content will only play during this defined period.

  • Best For:

    • Promotions that run for a limited time (e.g., a weekend sale).

    • Time-of-day messaging (e.g., a breakfast menu in the morning, a dinner menu in the evening).

    • Event-specific content (e.g., information for a conference next week).


At a Glance: Default vs. Scheduled

Feature

Default Playlist

Scheduled Playlist

Purpose

Safety net & continuous content

Time-sensitive campaigns

Scheduling

Plays indefinitely; no end date set by user

Requires specific start and end dates/times

Use Case

Always-on background content

Promotions, events, menus

Priority

Lowest; plays when nothing else is scheduled

Highest; overrides the Default Playlist during its scheduled time

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