Amagi – How AI and automation is transforming channel programming
Vijay P Sankar, Sr. Manager – Product Marketing at Amagi
Traditionally, TV programming has relied on manual scheduling, which can be time-consuming and repetitive. As the media landscape becomes increasingly fragmented with the rise of numerous streaming platforms and broadcast channels, traditional scheduling methods are proving inefficient. The challenge for broadcasters and channel programmers today is to deliver engaging content while optimizing operational efficiency. AI-powered automation has emerged as a solution, transforming linear TV scheduling into a seamless process, enabling programmers to focus on creative storytelling and audience engagement.
The challenge: juggling efficiency and creativity
Scheduling TV shows takes a lot of work. Programming teams spend hours making sure content is placed at the right times, ad breaks fit in well, and licensing agreements are followed. Adjusting schedules to real-world events and ensuring the right mix of content can feel overwhelming. All these repetitive tasks take away from time that could be spent on bigger creative decisions.
How AI and automation help with programming
Automation and AI have emerged as dependable technologies, enabling broadcasters and channel programmers to streamline operations, enhance creativity, shorten time to schedule, and reduce manual efforts. Major scheduling software vendors have incorporated various automation capabilities, including:
Streamlining operations: Automation handles repetitive and time-consuming tasks of content scheduling, allowing programming teams to focus on strategic decision-making. This includes auto-scheduling of reruns, new episodes, and special events based on predefined rules and viewer preferences. Pattern-based scheduling capability is now a mandatory requirement for channel scheduling.
Reducing errors: As content libraries expand and the demand for multi-channel programming increases, the complexity of scheduling grows exponentially. Schedulers must consider viewer preferences, licensing, content guidelines, social trends, and seasonal events, which becomes increasingly difficult with high content volume and numerous channels. This often results in time-intensive programming and the potential for manual errors. Automation can minimize human errors such as schedule conflicts, content repetition, and timing mismatches. This ensures a seamless viewer experience and maintains the integrity of the broadcast schedule.
Automated Scheduling: AI facilitates the development of machine learning models capable of analyzing various signals, including historical viewership, social trends, and content data to generate optimized schedules. These models can generate scheduling recommendations, which empower teams to make informed decisions efficiently while incorporating both creativity and data-driven insights into programming strategies.
Looking ahead: AI as a partner in programming
Some worry that automation might take the creativity out of programming. But in reality, AI frees up time for teams to focus on:
- Choosing the right mix of Content: Programming teams can use AI to identify content gaps and find new opportunities. This will allow them to develop fresh content ideas and innovative formats, promoting creativity and maintaining a competitive edge.
- Using real-world trends: AI can suggest programming based on trends, like scheduling a documentary on space exploration when there’s a big space-related event happening. Such creative inclusion of content and trends helps attract more viewers.
AI and automation won’t replace programmers, but they will continue to be useful tools. Advances in conversational AI indicate a promising future where programmers may even be able to use simple voice commands to adjust schedules or get content suggestions.
By working with automation instead of against it, media companies can make their operations smoother while allowing programming teams to focus on what they do best—creating and planning content that keeps audiences watching.