Short version
A break uses one spot of exactly its length when it can, otherwise up to four shorter spots. Spots that haven't played for longest go first, never two from the same advertiser. An active campaign's spots fill breaks first. The slate fills any seconds left over.
This is what happens when you press a length button. (A break pod is different: it plays its saved spots in order. See Play a break pod.)
1. Exact length first
If there are spots of exactly the break's length (a 60s spot for a 60s break), one of them is used.
- If it runs a little short, the slate fills the rest.
- If it runs short and no slate is set, the break can't run: it shows as Unavailable. It doesn't fall back to shorter spots.
2. Otherwise, shorter spots
If there are no spots of that length, Commercial Cue builds the break from shorter spots:
- up to 4 spots
- each pick takes the longest length that still fits
- any seconds left over are filled by the slate
For example, a 90s break with no 90s spots might be a 60s spot and a 30s spot. Without a slate, the length is only available if spots fill it exactly.
If no spots fit at all, the length is Unavailable, even with a slate: a break of only the slate isn't offered. Use Play slate for that.
3. Which spot of a length
- Spots that have never played go first, in random order.
- After that, the spot played least recently goes first.
- A spot counts as played only when it really aired. A spot skipped because the break ended early keeps its place in the queue.
So every spot gets its turn before any spot repeats.
4. Within one break
- No repeats: a spot is never in the same break twice.
- One spot per advertiser: two spots from the same advertiser are never in the same break. Spots with no advertiser are exempt. The advertiser comes from the file name: see Prepare your spot files.
There's no spacing rule across breaks, so an advertiser can be in back-to-back breaks.
5. Campaigns first
While a campaign is Active and today is within its dates:
- its spots fill breaks first, and its weights decide how often each spot plays
- if the campaign's spots can't fill a whole break, the whole break comes from the full library instead
- only one campaign is used at a time. If several are active, the one with the latest start date is used, and the Campaigns list marks it In use
Dates are calendar days in your own time zone. A campaign ending October 31 still runs on the evening of October 31.
Which spots can play
| Spot | Can it play? |
|---|---|
| Ready | Yes |
| Warning or Not recommended | Yes |
| Unplayable | No |
| Removed from Drive (at the last rescan) | No |
| The slate | Only as the slate, never as a commercial |
The button labels
- N spots ready: Ready spots of exactly this length. The slate and spots removed from Drive aren't counted.
- Fills with shorter spots: no spots of this length, but the break can still run.
- Unavailable: it can't be filled.
The dock uses the short forms "N ready" and "Shorter spots".