Limiting candidate playlists in multi-shot scheduling system

Abstract

Multiple shots representing potential playlists of content items are generated. Each shot includes multiple shot positions into which potential content items are placed. The shot positions are individually assigned position index values. The position index values assigned to positions in a particular shot form a unique sequences of index values. Eligible content items are identified for insertion into a first shot position. The eligible content items are scored relative to each other, and associated with content index values. Selected eligible content items are placed into particular shot positions based on a comparison of content index values associated with the selected eligible content items to a position index value assigned to the particular shot positions. Shot scores are determined based on aggregate scores of eligible content items placed in shot positions associated with each individual shot, and the shot scores are compared. A broadcast schedule is generated based on the shot-score comparison.