Iheartmedia Management Services, Inc.

Darren Grant Davis

Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn

David C Jellison, Jr

Jonathan David Earley

Christopher John Voce

A voice track (VT) device obtains a talent-to-master schedule and a station-to-master schedule. A master broadcast log, which includes an empty master VT associated with a user, is identified based on the talent-to-master schedule. The master broadcast log is displayed in a GUI on the VT recording device. User input selecting the empty master VT is received. Subscribing stations that use the identified master broadcast log as a basis for generating station broadcast logs are identified based on the station-to-master schedule, and obtained from the stations. For each station broadcast log that includes a station VT corresponding to the empty master VT, a match status is determined. The match status indicates whether media items scheduled for broadcast in slots adjacent to the station VT differ from media items scheduled for broadcast in slots adjacent to the empty master VT. Match statuses of station VTs corresponding to the empty master VT are displayed on a child window of the GUI.

Multiple station voice track conflict avoidance

A method includes obtaining a master broadcast log and multiple station broadcast logs. The master log includes: a master voice track slot; a master prior slot adjacent to and preceding the master voice track slot; and a master subsequent slot adjacent to and following the master voice track slot. The station broadcast logs include corresponding voice tracks, preceding slots, and subsequent slots. Prior and subsequent slots specify media items. One, but not both, of the media items in the prior and subsequent slots of a first station log match corresponding slots in the master log. A partial-match indicator is generated. Media items in both the prior and subsequent slots of a second station log match corresponding slots in the master log. A full-match indicator is generated. A graphical user interface displays the partial-match indicator and the full-match indicator in different display areas.

Match indications for slots adjacent to voice tracks

A subscription server generates, at a clock generation module, a clock template including a plurality of slots, each slot associated with at least one content type, and wherein the clock template includes information indicating timing relationships of the plurality of slots relative to one another. The subscription server determines that a media log is to be generated from the clock template for one or more subscribers, and obtains, from a subscription verification module implemented by the processor and associated memory, trust parameters associated with the one or more subscribers. A log generation module implemented by the processor and associated memory, generates a media log including at least one slot assigned a restriction level determined based on the trust parameters. The media log, including information indicating the restriction level, is transmitted to at least one of the one or more subscribers.

Subscription server

Local stations can generate their station broadcast logs based on a master broadcast log. In some cases, local stations are allowed to edit some positions, or slots, in their local logs, so that the local logs do not match the master log. This can create complexity when voice tracks for empty voice track slots are provided to the local stations, because voice tracks often reference the media in slots on either side of the empty voice track slots. An improved voice track editor indicates whether media items adjacent to an empty voice track slot in a master log match corresponding items in a station log.

Voice track editor

A media balancer obtains a master schedule to be used as a basis for generating target schedules, user input specifying one or more target stations for which the one or more target schedules are to be generated, and a duration delta indicating a maximum difference between runtimes of the replacement media items and the one or more scheduled media items. The media balancer selects a media scheduler to identify replacement media items to be substituted for one or more scheduled media items identified in the master schedule and transmits information associated with the duration delta to the media scheduler. The media balancer receives a list of identified replacement media items selected by the media scheduler, and generates the target schedules by replacing scheduled media items with particular replacement media items taken from the list of identified replacement media items.

Media balancer employing selectable evaluation source

A media balancer can assist in selecting replacement media items to be used in generating one or more target schedules from a single master schedule. The media balancer can receive option parameters indicating preferences related to generation of the target schedule. Based on these option parameters, the media balancer can select one of multiple different media schedulers to assist in evaluating potential replacement media items. The media balancer can transmit to the media scheduler selected, information associated with the option parameters, and a request to perform an evaluation of potential replacement media items based on those option parameters. The media balancer can receive the results of the evaluation performed by the selected media scheduler, and use those results to generate target schedules by replacing at least one original media item included in the master schedule with a replacement media item.

A media scheduling system includes a national scheduling service and subscribing stations. The scheduling service receives a local broadcast log generated by a local subscribing station. The local broadcast log includes media item identifiers. The local broadcast log is verified and approved by the scheduling service. Verification includes checking the local broadcast log for compliance with digital rights management (DRM) requirements. Approval is based, at least in part, on a trust level associated with the local subscribing station. A national log is generated, based on the local broadcast log, by generating a national clock including clock positions to be filled by items in the local broadcast log, and populating the clock positions in the national log using the media items identifiers included in the local broadcast log. Default editing restrictions for the national log are set, and the national log is transmitted to other local stations for broadcast.

Generation of national broadcast log from local broadcast log

A subscription system includes a national subscription server capable of tracking which local stations subscribe to particular radio station music formats, for example AC middays, Top 40 afternoons, morning programs, or overnight Contemporary AC. A local music scheduler can query the subscription server for a log of nationally scheduled content to fill one or more dayparts of a local broadcast schedule. The subscription system can determine where to obtain the requested log, and provide the log to the local scheduler for insertion into a particular daypart of the local clock, while leaving the remaining dayparts free for local scheduling. Trusted subscribers can also be permitted to alter portions of log of nationally scheduled items. Inserting the log of nationally scheduled items into the local clock provides local awareness of both local and national media items scheduled for broadcast.

Varying media log restrictions on a per-subscriber basis

Schedule subscription system with variable restrictions

One or more target schedules is generated based on a single master schedule. Replacement media items are inserted into a target schedule instead of the corresponding media items from the master schedule. The replacement media items are selected from a list of potential media replacement items scored using a scoring method used by a music scheduling system, as corresponding media items in the master schedule. The length of the media items in the list is checked to see if the length falls within a duration delta of the length of the media item being replaced in the master schedule, and to identify items that meet a minimum score threshold. The highest ranking item from the list that satisfies both the score threshold and the duration delta is selected for insertion in the target schedule. Music scheduling systems, such as GSelector&#xae;, can be leveraged to generate and score the list.

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Dallas, TX, United States of America

Darren Grant Davis