1. The Core Mechanism: How AdMaster Works

2.1.7. Traffic Log Settings

Choose how AdMaster generates traffic log files.

Create Traffic Log Automatically: AdMaster periodically creates traffic log files and delivers them to your broadcast computer. You only need to schedule campaigns, and AdMaster ensures your playout software receives up-to-date log files automatically. The algorithm generates schedules approximately 10 days in advance. The traffic log will be re-calculated and re-created each time you add a new, or edit or stop an active campaign.
Create Traffic Log for the Specified Period of Time: Choose this option if you want to create traffic log files manually for a specific time period. A calendar opens where you select the date range. AdMaster will not automatically generate logs; you initiate the log creation process for the duration you specify. This is useful when you need to merge music logs with traffic logs and want to synchronize the dates. The full control comes with the full responsibility: if you forget to create the logs, your playout won't play any ads.

2.1.8. Spots and Breaks Settings

Customize how spots and breaks are labeled in the interface.

Spot Label Prefix: Add a custom spot name prefix (e.g., "L" for Long version, "S" for Short version). Useful for campaigns with many spots.
Spot Numbering: Choose between Letters (A, B, C...) or Numbers (1, 2, 3...) for spot labels.
Spot Label Default Colors: Assign colors to spot labels for visual differentiation in the Traffic Log Editor and campaign views.
Rename Commercial Breaks: Change the default break names (Break 1, Break 2, etc.) to custom names. This affects the entire interface. Useful for stations with many breaks per hour, especially TV stations. For example, you can name breaks "News Sponsor", "Sports Sponsor", "Paid Ads A" to make it easier to select specific breaks when creating campaigns.

2.1.9. Agencies and Salespersons

Configure what information is displayed in campaign overviews.

Show Advertising Agency Information in the Campaign Overview: Display which agency is associated with each campaign.
Show Salesperson Information in the Campaign Overview: Display which salesperson created or manages each campaign.

These options are useful for tracking performance and revenue by agency or salesperson in the Insights section. It's safe to turn them off to keep the interface decluttered.

2.1.10. Business Branch Settings

Define industry categories used to separate competing advertisers. The algorithm uses these categories to prevent competitors from appearing in the same commercial break.

Your account comes pre-loaded with a default list of industries. Customize this list to reflect the competitive landscape of your market.
Add New: Create a new business branch category.
Settings (gear icon): Rename an existing category. For example, change "Banks" to "Banks and Insurance" (you'll want to delete Insurance afterwards)
Delete (X icon): Remove a category.

IMPORTANT: Be extremely cautious when deleting categories. If you delete a category, all campaigns previously linked to it will lose their industry assignment. The algorithm will then treat them as available to be scheduled next to any other spot. After deleting and recreating categories, you must manually reassign the correct business branch to all affected campaigns.

2.1.11. Currency, Taxes and Discounts Settings

Configure financial settings for your account.

Currency: Enter the currency code you use (e.g., USD, EUR, GBP).
Currency Format: Choose how numbers are displayed (e.g., 1,000.00 or 1.000,00).
Taxes: Define the taxes applicable to your invoices. Click "Add a new tax" to create a tax entry. You can add multiple taxes.
When adding a tax, enter the name (e.g., VAT, Sales Tax), percentage, and select the type:
Normal: Standard tax calculated on the base amount.
Compound: Tax calculated on the base amount plus any previously applied taxes. This creates a cascading effect where the compound tax is applied on top of other taxes. This is common in some tax systems.
Default: Check this box to automatically apply this tax to all new invoices. You can add multiple taxes but only one can be set as default.
Show Taxes in Each Invoice Line: Display tax amounts on each line item of the invoice.
Show Taxes in Invoice Summary Section: Display tax amounts only in the summary section at the bottom of the invoice.
Calculate Customer's Default Discount in Each Invoice Line: Apply the customer's discount to each line item individually.
Calculate Customer's Default Discount in Invoice Summary Section: Apply the customer's discount once to the total amount.
Default Terms and Conditions: Enter standard terms and conditions that will be automatically included in your proposals and invoices. If you need specific terms for individual clients, you can customize them while creating each proposal or invoice.

2.1.12. Auto-generated Numbers

Configure automatic numbering for documents and records.

Each section allows you to define a prefix, suffix, starting number, and minimum number of characters. A preview shows how the next number will look.

Invoice Default Number: Set the format for invoice numbers (e.g., INV 03).
Proposal Default Number: Set the format for proposal numbers (e.g., PROP-2026/210).
Payment Default Number: Set the format for payment record numbers (e.g., PAY-199876)
Order/Campaign Default Number: Set the format for campaign numbers.
Contract Default Number: Set the format for contract numbers.
Customer Default Number: Set the format for customer ID numbers.
Spot ID / Cart Number: Enable "Auto-generate spot IDs / Cart Numbers" to let AdMaster automatically assign a cart number to each spot.

Important: If you enable this option, your playout software must be configured to recognize which media file corresponds to which cart number. Some playout systems offer a specific range of cart numbers, and you will need to configure AdMaster to fit within that range. Other playout systems monitor a folder where AdMaster copies spots, and AdMaster (available only for specific playout formats) delivers a file listing new spots with their assigned cart numbers, which the playout system reads and imports into its database.

2.1.13. Printable Document Settings

Configure the appearance of proposals, invoices, and broadcast reports, when created in printable PDF format.

Document Size: Choose between US Letter (8.5 x 11 inches) or A4 (210 x 297 mm).
Margin Units and Size: Set margins in inches or millimeters.
Font: Select the font used in printed documents. A preview shows how text will appear.
Date Format: Choose the date format for documents (e.g., Month.Day.Year).
Currency Format: Choose how currency values are displayed.
Currency Symbol Placement: Place the currency symbol at the beginning ($1,000.00) or at the end (1,000.00$)
Add Space Between Currency Symbol and Currency Value: Insert a space between the symbol and amount (e.g., $ 1,000.00 vs $1,000.00).
Logo: Upload your company logo to appear on documents. Click "Add / Replace logo" to upload, or "Remove logo" to delete.
Document Labels: Customize the labels used on your documents. This allows you to translate or adapt terminology to your local language and accounting requirements. For example, change "Invoice" to "Factura". Each default label can be replaced with your preferred text.
Proposals / Invoices / Broadcast Reports From: Enter your company information (name, address, phone, email) that will appear as the sender on all documents. This is the billing entity information.
Broadcast Report Header Text: Enter the header text that appears on broadcast reports. This is typically a statement confirming that the listed commercials were broadcast in full according to the schedule. In some countries, broadcast reports have the form of a legally binding statement. This field allows you to write the appropriate declaration for your jurisdiction.

2.1.14. Notification Settings

Configure how you want to be notified when important events occur.

AdMaster offers two types of notifications: Standard notifications (appear in AdMaster's page header) and Email notifications (sent to your email address). For each notification type, you can choose whose actions trigger notifications: All users, All non-admin users, Only me, or Everyone but me.

Station Notifications
Standard notifications:
> Each time station's general settings are edited: Get notified when someone changes station settings.
> Each time station's breaks settings are edited: Get notified when someone modifies commercial break configuration.
> Each time station's pricing is edited: Get notified when rate card changes are made.
> Each time the desktop client downloads the Traffic Log files: Get notified when traffic logs are synced to the broadcast computer.
> In case of broadcast log reconciliation errors or issues: Get notified when the system detects discrepancies between scheduled and actual broadcasts.
> In case the desktop client cannot reach the AdMaster server: Get notified when connectivity issues occur between the broadcast computer and AdMaster cloud.
> In case there are unscheduled commercials after the Traffic Log update: Get notified when spots cannot be scheduled and appear in the Unscheduled Spots section.

Email notifications:

> In case of broadcast log reconciliation errors or issues: Receive an email when reconciliation problems are detected.
> In case the desktop client cannot reach the AdMaster server: Receive an email when connectivity issues occur.
> In case there are unscheduled commercials after the Traffic Log update: Receive an email when scheduling conflicts occur.

Campaigns Notifications:
Standard notifications for campaign activity: creation, editing, stopping, and deletion.

Customers Notifications:
Standard notifications for customer record activity: creation, editing, and deletion.

Payments Notifications:
Standard notifications for payment activity: creation, editing, and deletion.

Proposals Notifications:
Standard notifications for proposal activity: creation, editing, and deletion.

Invoices Notifications:
Standard notifications for invoice activity: creation, editing, and deletion.

Traffic Log Editor Notifications:
Standard notifications when someone makes manual changes in the Traffic Log Editor.

3. Stations and Station Setup

Introduction

After configuring Global Settings, you are ready to add your station.
Navigate to Stations in the main menu. For a new account, you will see two options: "Add a new station" and "Add a Demo station". The Demo station comes pre-loaded with sample customers and campaigns for testing purposes. This section covers adding your own station.

Click "Add a new station". Enter your station name.

Station Local Time: Select the timezone where your station broadcasts. This setting is critical. All scheduling, traffic logs, and reports are based on this timezone. Double-check that the displayed local time matches your station's actual time.
Select Output Format: Choose the traffic log format compatible with your playout software. The dropdown includes presets for popular playout systems such as mAirList, MusicMaster, Myriad, Nexgen, and others. If your playout software is not listed, select the generic m3u format or click "Add a new output format" to create a custom configuration. The generic m3u format creates files named by date, hour, and break position (e.g., 2026-04-26-17a.m3u for the first break in the 17:00-18:00 hour on April 26, 2026).

Note: Custom output format configuration is an advanced feature covered in the Appendix. If you need assistance, contact support.

Click Save to create your station.

3.2. Station Settings

Once created, your station appears in the Stations menu. Click the expand arrow next to the station name to access its settings. The settings are organized into sections. Note that in multi-station systems, these settings are per-station, not per network. 

3.2.1. Station General Settings

Edit Station Name: Change the station name at any time.
Add Station Logo: Upload a logo for this station. Note: This logo is separate from the logo in Printable Document Settings. Use this if your billing entity (which appears on invoices) is different from your broadcast brand.
Station Timezone: Verify or change the station's timezone. The current local time is displayed for confirmation.
Playout Integration / Output Format: Displays the current traffic log format. Click Edit to change it.
Use Spot Folder Path Substitution: Enable this if your Desktop Client App is installed on a different computer than your playout system. This allows traffic log files to contain the correct file paths for the playout computer. For example, if your Desktop Client syncs spots to a network path (//playout-pc/d/spots/) but your playout software expects a local path (D:\spots), this setting ensures the traffic log references the local path. IMPORTANT: Use this only if you know exactly what you're doing.
Output File Encoding: Choose between UTF-8 (default) or ASCII, depending on your playout software requirements.
Create a Blank Traffic Log File If There Are No Scheduled Commercials: Enable this if your playout software requires a traffic log file for every hour, even when no commercials are scheduled. Some playout systems report errors when expected files are missing.
Custom Code to Be Added to Traffic Log Files: Enable this to include extra commands at the beginning or end of each commercial break log file. These commands are processed by your playout software. Consult your playout documentation for supported commands.
Broadcast Log Reconciliation: Enable this to compare what was actually broadcast against what was scheduled. When enabled, the Desktop Client App monitors your playout's broadcast log folder and uploads log files to AdMaster for comparison. Reconciliation settings are configured in the Desktop Client App.

3.2.2. Commercial Breaks Settings

This section defines when commercial breaks occur and how they behave. This is one of the most important configuration areas in AdMaster.

In multi-station accounts, commercial break settings are configured per station, not per account. Each station has its own independent break structure. You can save any station's break configuration as a template and quickly apply it to other stations, but changes to one station's breaks never affect another station.

At the top, choose your scheduling complexity:

The commercial breaks settings are identical for the entire week: All hours, all days have the same break structure. Simplest option.
The commercial breaks are identical in each hour, but different per weekday: Each day of the week can have different breaks, but all hours within a day are the same (e.g.: Commercial-free Sunday)
Let me configure each day and hour separately: Full control. Define unique break structures for each hour of each day. Use this for stations with complex schedules (e.g., different breaks during morning drive vs. overnight).

Templates: Save your break configuration as a template to apply to other stations. Click "Save as template" to create one, or load an existing template from the dropdown.
Import from Old AdMaster: If you are migrating from the desktop version of AdMaster, use this option to import your existing break configuration via XML.

Configuring Individual Breaks
Expand a day (and hour, if applicable) to see the breaks. Each break can be configured independently.

Checkbox: Enable or disable the break. Unchecked breaks will not receive any scheduled commercials.
Copy to Another Day/Hour: Quickly duplicate break settings to other days or hours.
Select All / Clear All: Batch enable or disable all breaks for a day or hour.
Add Another Break: Create additional breaks within the hour. You can have up to 20 breaks per hour.

Click "Settings" next to any break to configure its parameters:

Break Priority: Determines the order in which breaks are filled. Priority 1 breaks are filled first. Priority 2 breaks are activated and used only when all Priority 1 breaks are full, and so on. Useful for automatically activating/deactivating the commercial breaks within the hour depending on the quantity of scheduled ads.
The Break Expected Starting Minute/Second: The time within the hour when you expect this break to start (e.g., 15m00s means the break starts at 15 minutes past the hour). Set this as precisely as possible because AdMaster uses it for reconciliation (comparing scheduled vs. actual broadcast) and reporting. During reconciliation, AdMaster checks the broadcast log within a time window around this expected start time, not the entire day.
Some playout systems also use this value to identify breaks within an hour. For example, a playlist might look like: 1115 Spot1.mp3, 1115 Spot2.mp3, 1130 Spot1.mp3, 1130 Spot4.mp3, where 1115 and 1130 indicate which break each spot belongs to.
Important: Whether your playout actually airs this break at 11:15 depends entirely on your playout configuration. AdMaster can only provide the information. It cannot connect to your playout engine and control when breaks are triggered.
Backtiming: When enabled, AdMaster calculates when the break should start so that it ends at a specific time. For example, if a break must end exactly at noon before news, and the break duration changes as you add or remove spots, AdMaster automatically adjusts the start time and writes it to the traffic log.
Important: Backtiming requires your output format to include timing information (not available in plain m3u format), and your playout must be configured to use this information correctly. If you use backtiming, you need solid knowledge of your playout system and its traffic log import settings.
Maximum Duration: Set a hard limit on break length in seconds. The algorithm will not exceed this limit.
Top Up This Commercial Block If Shorter Than: When enabled, AdMaster extends short breaks to reach the target duration. You can choose to top up to the maximum duration (but never exceed it) or to a minimum target duration. Top-up content is configured in the Settings link (requires Active Spots or Custom Files to be enabled).
Maximum Number of Spots: Limit how many spots can appear in this break, regardless of duration. Use this only if you have sold airtime in a break with a guaranteed limited number of spots. Never enable this for cosmetic reasons. Limiting the number of spots puts enormous pressure on the algorithm and can generate numerous scheduling conflicts (see The Golden Rules).

Jingles, Station IDs and Custom Code

Add a Station ID / Jingle at the Beginning of This Break: Insert a jingle or station ID before the first commercial.
Insert Station IDs / Jingles Inside This Break: Insert jingles between commercials within the break.
Insert "Just One More Commercial" Jingle: Insert a jingle before the final commercial in the break, creating a "just one more" effect for listeners. This is an excellent oversell feature (e.g., "The London Weather coming up right here in 30 seconds").
Add a Station ID / Jingle at the End of This Break: Insert a jingle or station ID after the last commercial.
Add Custom Code to the Top/Bottom of This Commercial Break: Include playout-specific commands at the beginning or end of this break's log file. AdMaster itself cannot execute anything. It only creates traffic log files. What happens with these files and the content inside them depends entirely on your playout software.
Example use case: Adding metadata break notes to display custom messages during commercial breaks (e.g., "To advertise, please call this number" replacing the song title while ads are playing). Any command your playout supports in its native scheduling can typically be added as custom code in AdMaster.
Add a New Jingle / Station ID: Upload the audio file now.
Add Jingle / Station ID Placeholder: Reserve the position without uploading a file yet. Use this when your production team has not delivered the file. The algorithm will include the placeholder name in the traffic log, and you must assign the actual file before broadcast.

3.2.3. Pricing - Station Advertising Rate Card

If you use AdMaster only for scheduling campaigns and handle CRM, accounting, and sales in another software, you do not need to configure your rate card. The rate card is only necessary if you want AdMaster to calculate campaign prices based on your pricing structure.

If you have multiple stations, each can have its own rate card.

The rate card is based on pricing models. A single station can have unlimited pricing models. This means one campaign can be billed as a monthly flat rate while another is billed per play. You will select the pricing model when setting up each campaign. Alternatively, you can set a flat-rate price for any campaign without using a pricing model.

Unlimited pricing models allow a very high level of flexibility. For example, you can create a separate pricing model for each of your clients, and all their campaigns will be calculated using their specific rates.

There are several pricing calculation methods: per play, per second, and flat rate (in several variations). All prices can be dayparted (different rates for different times of day).

Creating a Pricing Model
Click "Add new pricing model". Give it a descriptive name (e.g., "Standard Rate Card", "Premium Morning Drive", "Samsung Q4 2025").

Select the price calculation method:
The price is calculated per second: Price is multiplied by the spot duration in seconds. A 30-second spot at 4 EUR per second costs 120 EUR per play.
The price is calculated per spot play: A fixed price for each time the spot airs, regardless of duration.
Flat-Rate Pricing for Each Spot in One Campaign/Order: A flat price is charged for each spot in the campaign. If the campaign has 3 spots, the total is 3 times the flat rate.
Flat-Rate Pricing for All Plays of All Spots in One Campaign/Order: One fixed price covers the entire campaign, regardless of how many spots or plays it contains.
Flat-Rate Pricing for All Plays of All Spots in One Campaign/Order in a Month: A fixed monthly price for the campaign. If the campaign runs for 3 months, the invoice shows 3 times the monthly rate.
The price is a monthly flat-rate for anything you play for a customer in a month: One monthly price covers all of a customer's campaigns and spots. Use this for clients with all-inclusive advertising packages.

Enter the base price for this model.
Click Save to create the pricing model.

Setting a Default Pricing Model

Click "Set as default" next to any pricing model. The default model is automatically applied to all new campaigns for that station. You can always override this when creating individual campaigns.

Adding Dayparts

After saving the pricing model, you can add dayparts to charge different rates for different times.
Click the pricing model name to edit it, then add a daypart:
Daypart name: Give it a descriptive name (e.g., "Morning Drive 6AM-10AM").
Base price: The price for this specific daypart. This overrides the model's base price during the daypart hours.
Daypart range: Use the slider to set start and end times. You can also set specific starting and ending minutes.
Select the weekdays: Choose which days this daypart applies to.
Applies only on specific date range: Enable this for seasonal pricing (e.g., higher rates during holidays or special events).

You can add multiple dayparts to a single pricing model. The model's base price applies to any hours not covered by a daypart.

Important: If dayparts overlap, AdMaster uses the first pricing model it encounters during calculation. For example, if you have "10AM-3PM = $5" and "2PM-8PM = $4", any spot between 2PM and 3PM will be charged at $5 (the first daypart).

3.3. AdMaster Desktop Client App (integration with Playout Computers)

The Desktop Client is a small Windows application that syncs traffic logs and spots between the AdMaster cloud server and your playout computer. It runs in the background and keeps your playout system updated with the latest schedules.

Viewing Connection Status
In the Station Settings, the Broadcast Computers section shows the status of all Desktop Client installations connected to your account. This is useful for stations with multiple transmitter sites, where each location has its own playout computer receiving the same or different feeds.
The list shows each connected computer name and the date/time of its last successful traffic log update.

Downloading and Installing
Click "Download the desktop client installation file" to get the installer. You can also click "Copy link" to share the download URL with a technician at a remote site.

Install the Desktop Client on the computer that needs to receive traffic logs and spots. This is typically your playout computer, but it can also be a separate machine that shares files with the playout via local network or a file-sync service.

Configuring the Desktop Client
After installation, launch the Desktop Client and log in with your AdMaster credentials.
The main window shows all stations in your account. Check the box next to each station this computer should receive traffic logs for. One Desktop Client can serve multiple stations simultaneously.

Click "Settings" next to each station to configure its folders:
Spot Folder: Where the Desktop Client saves media files (spots). Your playout software reads spots from this location.
AdMaster Playlist Folder: Where the Desktop Client saves traffic log files. Your playout software reads traffic logs from this location. Important: Each station must have its own separate traffic log folder. The spots folder can be shared between stations, but we recommend keeping all folders completely separate.
Playout Software Broadcast Log Folder: Where your playout software saves its broadcast logs. The Desktop Client monitors this folder and uploads logs to AdMaster for reconciliation. This setting is only needed if you have enabled Broadcast Log Reconciliation in Station Settings.

If your playout creates multiple log files (such as music logs, general logs, error logs), click the settings icon next to the broadcast log folder and enter a text string that uniquely identifies the correct log file. For example, if your playout creates "2026-01-05-General.log", "2026-01-05-Music.log", and "2026-01-05-Errors.log", enter "General" to tell AdMaster which file to monitor.
Click Save to apply the settings.

Status Indicators
The Desktop Client displays three status indicators:
All systems operational: The Desktop Client is connected to AdMaster servers and functioning normally.
Last traffic log update: Shows when traffic logs were last downloaded.
Traffic playlists available until: Shows how far into the future your traffic logs are prepared.

All indicators should be green. If any indicator turns yellow or red, try restarting the Desktop Client, checking your internet connection, or contacting technical support.

3.4. Multi-Station Break Duration Sync (Networks)

This feature synchronizes commercial break durations across multiple stations in a network. It is designed for station groups where several stations broadcast shared programming but split for local commercials, then must return to the network feed at the same time.

Synchronization Options

Synchronize commercial breaks with the designated leading station in the group: One station (typically the main feed, e.g., London) sets the commercial break duration, and all other stations in the group follow. Use this when your main station is typically sold out, and you want smaller markets to match the main feed's timing. If the main station has 3 minutes of ads, all other stations will have breaks of the same duration (filled with local ads, top-up content, or both).

This option is ideal when: the main station provides the complete program feed for your entire network, is consistently full of local advertising and uses the legal maximum; smaller markets receive fewer campaigns and you want them to rejoin the feed at the same moment the main station plays "...and we're back" jingle after the commercial break.

Synchronize commercial breaks with the longest duration in the station group: AdMaster monitors all stations and finds the one with the longest commercial break at any given time. All other stations are topped up to match that duration. Use this when you want to maximize revenue from every market.

This option is ideal when: there is no legal maximum on advertising (or you are far from reaching it); commercial breaks are not as full as you would like; every bit of revenue matters, including from smaller markets; and you would rather top up the entire network than reject a client because one market's breaks are full.

Configuring the Leading Station Option
Select which stations to include in the synchronization group. Designate one station as the "Leading station" by clicking "Set as leading station".

Choose how follower stations handle shorter breaks:
Follow the leading station and top up shorter commercial breaks: If a follower station's break is shorter than the leading station's, it will be filled with top-up content.
Follow the leading station without topping up: Follower stations will not exceed the leading station's break duration, but shorter breaks remain shorter. Use this when each station has its own playout, and it's fine with you if a song after the break starts a minute earlier in Manchester than in London. This option is a perfect solution if you prefer an extra song over three minutes of unpaid top-up content.

Configuring the Longest Duration Option
Select which stations to include in the synchronization group.
Advanced setting: Enable "Ensure all breaks in the sync group meet at least the minimum duration" and enter a value in seconds. This guarantees a minimum break length across the network, regardless of which station has the longest break.

3.5. Deleting a Station

To delete a station, navigate to Stations, expand the station settings, and scroll to the bottom. Click "Delete Station".
Important: Deleting a station is permanent and cannot be undone. All data associated with the station will be removed, including:

> All campaigns and their scheduling history
> All traffic logs
> Commercial break configurations
> Rate card and pricing models
> Desktop Client connections for this station
> Spots (media files) stored in the shared Media Library are not deleted, as they may be used by other stations.

3.6. Station Groups

If you have four or more stations, the option to create station groups becomes available. Groups save time when managing campaigns across large networks. Instead of selecting 10 individual stations for a regional campaign, you can select a single group.

In the Stations menu, click "Add a new group" to create a group.

Region Name: Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "West Coast", "East Coast", "Northern Region").
Description (optional): Add notes about which markets or areas this group covers.
Select the stations: Check the boxes next to each station that belongs to this group.
Click Save to create the group.
When creating campaigns, station groups appear alongside individual stations, allowing you to quickly select all stations in a region with a single click.

4. Customers

Introduction

The Customers section stores all your advertiser information. Before creating campaigns, you need to add your customers to AdMaster.
Navigate to Customers in the main menu to see the customer list.

4.1. Customer List Overview

The list displays all customers with the following information:

Name: Customer name. Customers marked as agencies display an "Agency" badge.
Active Campaigns: Number of currently running campaigns for this customer.
Earliest campaign expired/expires on: The start date of the customer's first campaign.
Latest campaign expired/expires on: The end date of the customer's most recent campaign.
Balance: Outstanding amount owed by the customer. Green (0.00) means fully paid. Red indicates an outstanding balance.

Use the search box to find customers by name. Check "Show only customers with active campaigns" to filter the list.

4.2. Importing Customers

Click "Import data" to bulk-import customers from an external file. AdMaster accepts .csv, .xls, and .xlsx files. Click "Choose file" to select your spreadsheet.
Important: Customers with existing names will be overwritten with the imported data. This allows you to update customer information in bulk, but be careful not to accidentally overwrite data you want to keep.

4.3. Multi Select and Bulk Actions

Click "Multi select" to enable selection mode. Checkboxes appear next to each customer. Select individual customers by checking their boxes, or use "Select all" to select the entire list. Click "Clear selection" to deselect all.

With customers selected, click the "Actions" button to see available bulk actions:
Export Customers: Download the selected customers as a file. Use this to back up your customer database or share data with other systems.

4.4. Customer Page and Adding a New Customer

Click "Add New customer" to open the customer form.

General Information

Customer business name: The official legal name of the business (e.g., "Bayerische Motoren Werke AG). This appears on invoices and legal documents.
Customer friendly name: A shorter or informal name for display purposes (e.g., "BMW"). This makes it easier to find customers in lists and dropdowns.
Default payment terms: Set the standard payment terms for this customer (e.g., Net 30).
Default Discount (%): A percentage discount automatically applied to this customer's invoices.
Customer number: Auto-generated based on your Global Settings, or enter manually.
The customer operates as an agency: Check this if the customer is an advertising agency that books campaigns on behalf of other advertisers. Agencies appear with an "Agency" badge in the customer list and can be filtered separately in the Insights section. An agency can have its own customers assigned to it. The agency books the advertising space and receives the invoice, while the actual advertiser (e.g., BMW) is set as the customer for the campaign.
Assign Agency: Link this customer to an agency. Use this when a direct client starts working through an agency, or when you need to track which agency brought in which client. Invoices for this customer will be sent to the assigned agency.

Business Branch

Select the industry category for this customer from the dropdown. The algorithm uses business branches to separate competing advertisers in the same commercial break.

If no business branch is assigned, the algorithm will consider this customer's spots safe to air next to any other spot, including direct competitors.
You can also add new business branches or edit existing ones directly from this screen using the "Add new" and "Edit all" links.

Billing Address

Enter the customer's billing address: Address Line 1, Address Line 2, City, State, Postal/ZIP Code, and Country.

Shipping Address

By default, this is set to "Same as Billing Address". Toggle off to enter a different shipping address if needed.

Contact Person
Enter contact details: Salutation, First name, Last name, Primary e-mail, Secondary e-mail, Primary phone, and Other phone.

Business Entity ID Numbers

Tax ID Number: The customer's VAT or tax identification number.
Business entity ID / EIN: Additional business registration numbers as required in your jurisdiction.

Custom Invoice Fields
Four custom fields for any additional information you need to include on invoices. Use these for internal customer numbers from other software, media registry numbers required by local regulations, or any other jurisdiction-specific requirements.

Custom disclaimer or message to be displayed on invoices
Enter any text that should appear on invoices for this specific customer. This overrides the default terms and conditions from Global Settings.

Your private notes about this customer
Internal notes visible only to your team. Use for any information about the customer relationship, special arrangements, or reminders.

The Customer's initial balance
Use this when migrating from another system. If the customer has an existing unpaid balance, enable this option and enter the amount so AdMaster can accurately track their account status.

Customer currency
Enable "Use different currency for this customer" if this customer should be invoiced in a currency different from your default. Enter the currency code.

Deleting a Customer
Open the customer record and scroll to the bottom. Click the red "Delete" button. Note: Deleting a customer removes their record but does not delete associated campaigns or invoices.

5. Orders / Campaigns 

Introduction

Campaigns are the core of AdMaster. This is where you define what airs, when it airs, and how often. Every commercial that appears in your traffic log originates from a campaign.
This section is comprehensive because campaign setup offers extensive flexibility. Take time to understand the concepts here, especially segments, and you will be able to create any schedule you can imagine.

5.1. Campaign List

Navigate to Orders / Campaigns in the main menu to see the campaign list.

5.1.1. Campaign List Overview

The list displays all campaigns with the following information:
Status: Shows whether the campaign is Active (green), Paused, Ended, or Expired
No.: Campaign number, auto-generated or manually assigned
Order / Campaign Name: The name you gave the campaign
Customer: The advertiser associated with this campaign
Stations: Which station(s) this campaign runs on. If running on multiple stations, adopts to the screen showing the first few station names "+ X more".
Starting date: When the campaign begins
Ending date: When the campaign ends
Date added: When the campaign was created
Created by: Which user created the campaign

Use the search box to find campaigns by name, number, or customer.
Check "Do not show expired campaigns" to hide completed campaigns from the list.

5.1.2. Campaign Import

Click "Import campaign (Beta)" to import campaigns from external files. Currently, AdMaster supports import of UK Industry-Standard JET files (JCD format).

5.1.3. Campaign Export

Click "Export data" to download campaign information.

5.1.4. Multi Select and Bulk Actions

Click anywhere in the header area to enable selection mode, or use "Select all" to select all visible campaigns. Click "Clear selection" to deselect.
With campaigns selected, click the "Actions" button to see available bulk actions:

Create Invoices: Generate invoices for all selected campaigns at once.
Resume Campaigns: Reactivate paused campaigns.
Pause Campaigns: Temporarily stop campaigns from airing. Paused campaigns remain in the system but are excluded from scheduling.
End Campaigns: Permanently stop campaigns. Use this when a campaign is cancelled before its scheduled end date.
Delete Permanently: Remove campaigns from the system entirely. This action cannot be undone.

5.2. Creating a New Campaign

Click "Add New Order" to start creating a campaign.

5.2.1. Campaign Basic Information

Order / Campaign Number: Auto-generated based on your Global Settings, or enter manually.
Give this campaign a name: Enter a descriptive name. A good practice is to include the customer name and time period (e.g., "BMW January 2026"), or to start with the time period (e.g., 2026-01 BMW Winter Offer). Use the names that you would easily recognize on the campaign list. 

5.2.2. Selecting a Customer

Choose the advertiser from the dropdown.
Start typing to search. If the customer does not exist yet, click "Add New customer" to leave the campaign creation screen and create a customer.
After selecting a customer, you can assign or change:
Agency: If this campaign was booked through an agency, click "Edit" to assign one. Invoices will be sent to the agency.
Salesperson: Click "Edit" to assign the salesperson responsible for this campaign. Useful for commission tracking and reporting.

5.2.3. Selecting the Stations

Check the box next to each station where this campaign should air. You can select multiple stations for network-wide campaigns, or a Station group created in the Stations section.

5.2.4. Selecting the Spots

This section determines how you will provide the commercial audio/video files. Choose one of three options:

5.2.5. Spot Settings

After uploading, each spot appears in a row showing:

Spot label (A, B, C,... or 1, 2, 3,... based on your Global Settings)
File name
Duration (auto-detected, editable)
Cart Number field (if applicable)
Play button: Preview the spot
Settings icon: Open spot settings
X icon: Remove the spot from the campaign

Click the settings (gear) icon next to any spot to configure:
Name: Edit the spot name.
Label: Change the spot label (A, B, C, etc.).
Color: Assign a color for visual identification in the Traffic Log Editor.
Duration: Adjust the spot duration if the auto-detected value is incorrect.
Performers / Voice artists: Assign the voice talent who recorded this spot. The algorithm uses this information to separate spots with the same performer in different breaks.
Cart numbers / Spot ID numbers on multiple stations: If the campaign runs on multiple stations, you can assign different cart numbers for each station.
Use as topup: Check this to add the spot to the pool of available top-up material. When enabled, this spot may be used to fill shorter commercial breaks beyond its scheduled plays. Note that you cannot control how often it is used for top-up; the algorithm uses it whenever needed.

5.2.6. Spot Groups (Reminder Spots)

In campaigns with multiple spots, you can create spot groups. A spot group bundles a leading spot with one or more reminder spots. The terminology varies across markets (piggybacking, sandwich, and other names are used), but the concept is the same. Agencies often request this type of arrangement for their clients, and AdMaster allows you to create the required schedule quickly and easily.

When a spot group is scheduled, the algorithm places all spots from the group in the same commercial break. The leading spot airs near the beginning of the break, and the reminder spot(s) air toward the end. If there are multiple reminder spots, they are distributed evenly within the break.

This technique is commonly used when the main spot contains the full message (product details, offer, terms), and the reminder spot is a short reinforcement at the end of the break. For example:

Leading spot (30 seconds): "This week at McDonald's, get two Cheeseburger meals for just 5 euros. Each meal includes a double cheeseburger, large fries, and a Coca-Cola or mineral water. Offer valid until January 31st."
Reminder spot (6 seconds): "Two Cheeseburger meals for just 5 euros. McDonalds dot com."

The listener hears the full offer, then hears other commercials, then gets a short reminder before returning to regular programming.

Creating a Spot Group (only available when two or more spots are already added to the campaign)

Click "Create a Spot Group (Reminder spots)" below your spot list.
Select the main (leading) spot: Choose which spot will air at the beginning of the break.
Select the reminder (piggybacking) spot(s): Check one or more spots to follow the leading spot. You can select as many reminder spots as needed.
Spot group label: A short identifier for the group (e.g., G1, G2).
Spot group name: A descriptive name (e.g., "Group A + B", "Cheeseburger Meals").
Click Save. The group now appears in your spot list with its combined duration (e.g., 36 seconds for a 30-second leading spot plus a 6-second reminder). The group's total duration counts toward the break capacity like any other spot.

When scheduling segments, you can select the spot group just like any individual spot. The algorithm will automatically place all spots from the group in the same break, with proper positioning.

IMPORTANT: It is not possible to specify how many spots from other campaigns must air between the leading spot and the reminder spot(s). Allowing this would give reminder campaigns absolute priority over other campaigns, placing them in a privileged position and preventing the algorithm from providing equal quality of service to all advertisers.intermediate spots from other campaigns.

If the break does not have enough other spots to create separation between the leading and reminder spots, they will air closer together or consecutively. The algorithm will never leave a spot group unscheduled due to break composition (Golden Rule: Your Settings Are Non-Negotiable).

5.2.7. Business Separation

This section controls how the algorithm separates the campaign from competitors.
Separate from all campaigns with '[Business Branch]' type of business by default: The algorithm will automatically separate this campaign from all other campaigns in the same business category. This is the recommended setting for most campaigns.
Manually choose a list of competing campaigns: Select this if you need custom separation rules. Use cases include:

Separating from competitors in different business categories (e.g., an Emirates Airlines campaign mentioning a BMW prize giveaway should be separated from both airline and car dealership campaigns)
Excluding certain competitors from separation (e.g., two car dealerships owned by the same company that do not mind appearing together)

When manual selection is enabled, you see a list of campaigns that will be separated. Click "Review the full separation list (all active campaigns)" to add or remove campaigns from the separation list.

5.2.8. Set the Campaign Price

If you use AdMaster for billing, this step enables calculating pricing for the campaign.

Check "Calculate price for [Station Name]" for each station where you want price calculation.

Choose the pricing method:

Use price model: Select from the pricing models you created in the Rate Card (Section 3.2.3). All your pricing models appear in the dropdown.

Manual price: Enter a flat price for the entire campaign, ignoring pricing models.

If you do not use AdMaster for billing, leave these options unchecked.

Click "Continue" to proceed to scheduling.

5.3. Campaign Dates

The campaign starts on: By default, set to today. Click "Select another starting date" to choose a different start date.

The campaign ends on: By default, in 29 days from today. Change the ending date using the settings below.

The campaign runs for: By default, 30 days. Choose a preset duration (30, 60, 90, or 365 days) or enter a custom number of days. You can also click "Select the ending date" to pick a specific end date from a calendar.

Until manually stopped: Select this if the campaign should run indefinitely until you manually stop it. Use this for ongoing campaigns without a fixed end date.

Early Stop Conditions

Stop the campaign earlier if any of these conditions is met: Enable one or both options to automatically stop the campaign before the end date.
Until the total number of plays has been reached: The campaign stops after a specified number of airings (e.g., 500 plays), regardless of the end date. Click "Edit" to set the number.
Until the total campaign duration in seconds has been reached: The campaign stops after a specified total airtime has been broadcast. Click "Edit" to set the duration in seconds. This is useful for clients who purchase airtime in seconds (e.g., "3600 seconds of advertising") rather than number of plays.

AdMaster automatically calculates how many plays are needed based on the spot durations in the campaign, eliminating the need for manual calculations when campaigns contain multiple spots of different lengths. Both conditions can be enabled simultaneously. The campaign will stop when whichever condition is reached first.

5.4. Campaign Scheduling

After setting campaign dates, you define how spots are distributed across the schedule. This is where you tell AdMaster exactly when and how often your spots should air.

5.4.1. Static Schedule

After clicking Continue from the campaign dates screen, you enter the segment editor. For Static Schedule campaigns, you define a fixed daily pattern that repeats throughout the segment duration.

The segment editor is organized into four steps, shown as expandable sections:

> Select the segment starting and ending date
> Select the spot(s) for the segment
> Select the Broadcast Schedule of the segment
> Use the advanced spot positioning (inside a selected hour and/or break)

At the top of the screen, you see a summary of the current segment settings, including dates, spot rotation, selected hours, breaks, positioning, and totals (days, plays, seconds). This summary updates automatically as you make changes.

Segment Templates

Before configuring a segment manually, check if you have a saved template that matches your needs. Click "Load segment from template" to apply a previously saved configuration. Templates can be used across any campaign, not just the current one.

After configuring a segment, click "Save segment as template" to save it for future use.

Select the Segment Starting and Ending Date

Click to expand this section. By default, the segment spans the entire campaign duration.

Click "Change these dates" to adjust the segment's date range. A calendar appears where you can select the starting and ending dates. You can also enter the total duration in days, or check "Until manually stopped" for segments without a fixed end date.

Important: If you set a segment ending date beyond the campaign's ending date, the campaign ending date will automatically extend to match. Similarly, if you check "Until manually stopped" for a segment, the entire campaign becomes "Until manually stopped".

Click Confirm to apply the dates, then Continue to proceed.

Select the Spots for the Segment

Choose which spots from the campaign will air in this segment, and how they rotate.

Rotation Options:

Random spot selection: The algorithm randomly picks a spot for each scheduled play. Over time, distribution may be uneven.
Maintain Equal Distribution: The algorithm ensures each selected spot airs an equal number of times throughout the segment. Use this when all spots should receive equal exposure.
Set the percentage: You control exactly how often each spot airs. Use the slider next to each spot to set its percentage. For example: Spot A at 50%, Spot B at 20%, Spot C at 30%. The algorithm will distribute plays according to these percentages.

Check the box next to each spot (or spot group) you want to include in this segment. Unchecked spots will not air in this segment.
Click Continue to proceed.

Select the Broadcast Schedule of the Segment

This is where you define the daily pattern for Static Schedule.

Weekdays: Check the days when this segment should air. Uncheck days to exclude them (e.g., uncheck Saturday and Sunday for a weekdays-only campaign).

Hourly Schedule: The screen shows all 24 hours. For each hour:

Check the box to enable that hour
Enter the number of plays for that hour

For example, to schedule 7 plays per day at specific times: check 07:00-07:59 (1 play), 09:00-09:59 (1 play), 11:00-11:59 (1 play), 14:00-14:59 (2 plays), and 16:00-16:59 (2 plays).

If you enter more than 1 play per hour, the algorithm will place each play in a different break within that hour whenever possible. Keep in mind Golden Rule #4: You Cannot Trick First-Grade Math. If you have two breaks per hour and set 3 plays per hour, one break must contain two plays. There is no setting that can avoid this. The algorithm always respects your settings exactly as given (Golden Rule #2: Your Settings Are Non-Negotiable), distributing spots across available breaks as evenly as the math allows.

The header shows the total plays per day based on your selections.
Click Continue to proceed.

Use the Advanced Spot Positioning

This optional step gives you finer control over which breaks and positions your spots occupy. Use this very carefully, only per client request, and charge appropriately. When applied, both settings narrow the choices for the scheduling algorithm very rapidly, and your overall schedule quality goes down significantly.

Break Selection:
Select a commercial break (in a selected hour) automatically: The algorithm chooses the best break within each hour. This is the recommended setting. 
Play only in these breaks: The spots will air only in the breaks you select (Break 1, Break 2, etc.). If the selected breaks have no available space, the spots go to Unscheduled Spots rather than being placed in other breaks. 

Position Inside the Break:
Enable "Turn on the special positioning inside the break" to control where the spot appears within the commercial break.

Use the slider to select the position:

> First in break: The spot airs at the very beginning of the break
> The upper third: The spot airs in the first third of the break
> Around the middle: The spot airs near the middle of the break
> The lower third: The spot airs in the last third of the break
> Last in break: The spot airs at the very end of the break

This setting applies to all breaks in the segment. If you need different positioning for different breaks, create separate segments.

Saving the Segment

Click Save to create the segment.

Segment Name

By default, the segment name is auto-generated (Segment 1, Segment 2,...). To set a custom name, click "Edit name" (visible after saving the segment). The custom name appears in the segment list for easier identification.

5.4.2. Variable Schedule

Unlike Static Schedule, where you define a fixed daily pattern that repeats every day, Variable Schedule gives the algorithm freedom to distribute spots differently each day within the boundaries you set. You define the time range, the number of plays, and the days, then the algorithm decides the optimal hours and breaks for each play.

This creates a dynamic schedule where:
> The same spot airs at different times each day
> Break durations remain balanced across the entire schedule
> Competing campaigns are automatically separated
> All advertisers receive equal quality placement
> The schedule adapts automatically when other campaigns change

When to Use Variable Schedule:
Use Variable Schedule for the majority of your campaigns. This is the recommended scheduling method unless the client specifically requires fixed airtimes. Variable Schedule delivers superior results because the algorithm can optimize placement across all active campaigns simultaneously.

Typical scenarios for Variable Schedule:
> Client wants "5 plays per day between 6 AM and 8 PM"
> Client requests "morning drive coverage" without specific hours
> Client needs "weekend rotation throughout the day"
> Campaign requires broad daypart exposure with flexible timing
> Any situation where the client has not purchased specific hours

When NOT to use Variable Schedule:
Only use Static Schedule or Manual Schedule when the client has purchased and paid for specific hours, or when regulatory requirements mandate exact airtimes.

Understanding Algorithm's Freedom:

Consider a commercial break with 10 spots. Without any positioning restrictions, there are 3.6 million different ways to arrange these spots. The algorithm can choose the optimal arrangement from 3.6 million possibilities.
Now fix just 5 spots to specific positions (first, second, fifth, seventh, tenth). The number of possible arrangements drops to only 120.
This is why positioning requirements dramatically reduce schedule quality. You are not just limiting the algorithm slightly—you are eliminating 99.997% of the possible solutions.

The more freedom you give the algorithm, the better results you will receive. When you set a Variable Schedule segment to run "anytime between 6 AM and 8 PM," the algorithm can:

> Balance break durations throughout the entire day
> Separate competing campaigns more effectively
> Distribute spots evenly across all hours
> Adapt to changes in other campaigns without creating conflicts
> Ensure equal quality for all advertisers

If you narrow the time range (e.g., "only between 7 AM and 9 AM"), the algorithm has less room to optimize. If you further restrict by selecting specific breaks, positioning requirements, or competitor separation rules, the algorithm's options become even more limited.

This is why Variable Schedule with wide time ranges and automatic break selection produces the best overall schedule quality. The algorithm is designed to make optimal decisions. Let it do its job.

After clicking Continue from the campaign dates screen, you enter the segment editor. For Variable Schedule campaigns, you define time boundaries and play frequency, then the algorithm distributes spots optimally within those boundaries.

The segment editor is organized into four steps, shown as expandable sections:

> Select the segment starting and ending date
> Select the spot(s) for the segment
> Select the Broadcast Schedule of the segment
> Use the advanced spot positioning (inside a selected hour and/or break)

At the top of the screen, you see a summary of the current segment settings, including dates, spot rotation, selected hours, breaks, positioning, and totals (days, plays, seconds). This summary updates automatically as you make changes.

Segment Templates
Before configuring a segment manually, check if you have a saved template that matches your needs. Click "Load segment from template" to apply a previously saved configuration. Templates can be used across any campaign, not just the current one.

After configuring a segment, you may click "Save segment as template" to save it for future use.

Select the Segment Starting and Ending Date
Click to expand this section. By default, the segment spans the entire campaign duration.

Click "Change these dates" to adjust the segment's date range. A calendar appears where you can select the starting and ending dates. You can also enter the total duration in days, or check "Until manually stopped" for segments without a fixed end date.

Important: If you set a segment ending date beyond the campaign's ending date, the campaign ending date will automatically extend to match. Similarly, if you check "Until manually stopped" for a segment, the entire campaign becomes "Until manually stopped".

Click Confirm to apply the dates, then Continue to proceed.

Select the Spots for the Segment
Choose which spots from the campaign will air in this segment, and how they rotate.

Rotation Options:

Random spot selection: The algorithm randomly picks a spot for each scheduled play. Over time, distribution may be uneven.
Maintain Equal Distribution: The algorithm ensures each selected spot airs an equal number of times throughout the segment. Use this when all spots should receive equal exposure.
Set the percentage: You control exactly how often each spot airs. Use the slider next to each spot to set its percentage. For example: Spot A at 50%, Spot B at 20%, Spot C at 30%. The algorithm will distribute plays according to these percentages.

Check the box next to each spot (or spot group) you want to include in this segment. Unchecked spots will not air in this segment.
Click Continue to proceed.

Select the Broadcast Schedule of the Segment
This is where Variable Schedule differs significantly from Static Schedule. Instead of selecting individual hours with specific play counts, you define a time range and total number of plays, then let the algorithm distribute them optimally.

Set the weekdays in which this segment will be played:
Check the days when this segment should air. Uncheck days to exclude them. For example, uncheck Saturday and Sunday for a weekdays-only campaign. All days are checked by default.

Set the hour range for this segment:
Use the slider to define the time range when spots can air. Drag the left handle to set the starting hour, and the right handle to set the ending hour.

For example:
> 6:00 AM to 7:59 PM for daytime-only coverage
> 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM for morning drive
> 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM for afternoon drive
> 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM for 24-hour rotation

The algorithm will distribute plays evenly across the time range. For larger time ranges, the algorithm divides the hours into equal segments based on the number of plays, creating mini-zones to ensure balanced distribution.

For example: If you set 6:00 AM to 7:59 PM (14 hours) with 3 plays per day, the algorithm divides the day into three zones of approximately 4-5 hours each. One play goes into the first zone (roughly 6-10 AM), one into the second zone (roughly 10 AM-2 PM), and one into the third zone (roughly 2-8 PM).
This zoning prevents scenarios where pressure from other campaigns pushes all plays into night hours. Without this mechanism, a campaign with 3 plays between midnight and midnight could end up scheduled at 12 AM, 2 AM, and 4 AM simply because those were the only available slots.
The exact hours within each zone change daily and adapt to other active campaigns, but the overall distribution remains balanced across the entire time range.

Select inverse:
Check this box to invert the time range. When enabled, spots will air OUTSIDE the selected hours, within the same calendar day.

For example:
> Select 6:00 AM to 7:59 PM, then check "Select inverse"
> Result: Spots will air from 12:00 AM to 5:59 AM AND from 8:00 PM to 11:59 PM

This feature is commonly used for bonus plays. A station sells 8 plays between 6 AM and 10 PM, then adds 4 bonus plays during overnight hours. Instead of creating a separate segment that spans across calendar days (which complicates date calculations), you simply invert the main daypart.

Important: The inverse selection always operates within a single calendar day. It will never extend a segment into the next or previous day. If you need overnight coverage that crosses midnight, use two separate segments or adjust your date range accordingly.

Set the number of plays for this segment:
Enter the number of plays and select the distribution method using the switch.

Per day / Per segment switch:

Per day: The number you enter represents plays per day. If you enter "4 Plays" with "Per day" selected, the spot will air 4 times every active day in the segment. For a 7-day segment with all days active, this results in 28 total plays (4 plays × 7 days). The segment summary at the top automatically calculates and displays the total.

Per segment: The number you enter represents total plays for the entire segment duration. If you enter "28 Plays" with "Per segment" selected, the algorithm distributes 28 plays across all active days in the segment. For a 7-day segment with all days active, this results in 4 plays per day (28 plays ÷ 7 days). If the division is not even, the algorithm distributes plays as evenly as possible, rounding to the nearest whole number.

Example of "Per segment" distribution:
You set a segment to run for 10 days with 27 total plays. The algorithm calculates 27 ÷ 10 = 2.7 plays per day. Since fractional plays are not possible, the algorithm distributes plays as follows:
> 7 days receive 3 plays each (7 × 3 = 21 plays)
> 3 days receive 2 plays each (3 × 2 = 6 plays)
> Total: 27 plays across 10 days

The algorithm ensures the distribution is as balanced as possible while respecting the exact total you specified.

Which option should you use?
Use "Per day" when the client purchases a specific daily frequency (e.g., "4 plays per day for one week"). Use "Per segment" when the client purchases total airtime (e.g., "30 plays in a week") or when you need precise control over the total number of plays regardless of how they distribute daily.

The segment summary at the top of the screen displays the total plays, total days, and total seconds automatically, regardless of which method you choose. This eliminates manual calculation errors and provides instant feedback as you adjust settings.

Click Continue to proceed.

Partial First Day Adjustment

When a segment starts in the middle of the day, the system detects if the starting time falls within the schedule's time range. If the first day has fewer available hours than subsequent days, a warning appears as a pop-up.

For example: Your segment starts January 13th at 11:00 AM, and the schedule runs from 6:00 AM to 7:59 PM. The first day only has 9 hours available (11 AM to 7:59 PM) instead of the full 14 hours (6 AM to 7:59 PM).
The system displays a warning and asks you to specify the play count for the first day. This prevents overcrowding the remaining hours with the full daily frequency, which would create an unbalanced schedule.

f you have a contractual obligation with the client to deliver a specific number of plays per day, enter that exact number regardless of the shortened time range. The algorithm will schedule the required plays within the available hours.
If the campaign is flexible (such as a long-term annual campaign where daily precision is not critical), use a proportionally reduced number proposed based on available hours. This prevents overcrowding the commercial breaks and maintains schedule quality for all advertisers.

For example: If your normal daily frequency is 4 plays across 14 hours, and the first day only has 9 hours available, a proposed reduction would be approximately 2-3 plays (9 hours ÷ 14 hours × 4 plays ≈ 2.6 plays).
The system will resume the normal daily frequency starting from the second day.

Use the Advanced Spot Positioning
This optional step gives you finer control over which breaks and positions your spots occupy. Use this very carefully, only per client request, and charge appropriately. When applied, both settings narrow the choices for the scheduling algorithm significantly, and your overall schedule quality goes down.

Break Selection:

Select a commercial break (in a selected hour) automatically: The algorithm chooses the best break within each hour. This is the recommended setting. The algorithm considers break capacity, competing campaigns, break duration balance, and all other active scheduling constraints to place each spot in the optimal break.

Play only in these breaks: The spots will air only in the breaks you select (Break 1, Break 2, etc.). Check the boxes next to the breaks where you want spots to appear. If the selected breaks have no available space, the spots go to Unscheduled Spots rather than being placed in other breaks.

Important: Restricting break selection significantly reduces the algorithm's flexibility. If you select only Break 1 and Break 2, but both are consistently full due to other campaigns with the same restriction, your spots may frequently appear in Unscheduled Spots. Before applying break restrictions, ensure you have sufficient inventory across the selected breaks to accommodate all campaigns with similar requirements.

Position Inside the Break:
Enable "Turn on the special positioning inside the break" to control where the spot appears within the commercial break.

Use the slider to select the position:

> First in break: The spot airs at the very beginning of the break
> The upper third: The spot airs in the first third of the break
> Around the middle: The spot airs near the middle of the break
> The lower third: The spot airs in the last third of the break
> Last in break: The spot airs at the very end of the break

This setting applies to all breaks in the segment. If you need different positioning for different breaks, create separate segments.

Important: Special positioning reduces the algorithm's ability to optimize the schedule. Use positioning requirements only when specifically requested and paid for by the client. Charge premium rates for first and last positions, as these placements limit the algorithm's flexibility and reduce available inventory for other advertisers.

Remember the Golden Rules: In a station setup with 2 breaks per hour, you only have 48 daily slots for "first in a break" campaigns (2 breaks × 24 hours). Your settings are non-negotiable. A spot set to play as first in a break will never be scheduled as second in a break because another campaign already occupied the first slot. If all first positions are taken, the spot goes to Unscheduled Spots rather than accepting a different position. This is why positioning restrictions should be sold at premium rates and used sparingly—the inventory is mathematically limited.

Saving the Segment
Click Save to create the segment. The segment appears in your campaign's segment list and becomes active immediately. The algorithm recalculates the schedule for approximately the next 10 days, incorporating the new segment into the overall schedule.

Segment Name
By default, the segment name is auto-generated (Segment 1, Segment 2,...). To set a custom name, click "Edit name" (visible after saving the segment). The custom name appears in the segment list for easier identification.

Good segment naming practices:
> Include the time range: "Morning Drive 6-10 AM"
> Include frequency: "4 per day Weekdays"
> Include spot reference: "Spot A - Afternoon"
> Keep names short but descriptive

Clear segment names make campaign management easier, especially when campaigns contain multiple segments with different scheduling patterns.

5.4.3. Manual Schedule

Manual Schedule gives you complete control over every single airtime. You select the exact date, hour, and spot for each play. The algorithm does not distribute anything automatically.

When to Use Manual Schedule:
Use Manual Schedule only when you receive a precise schedule from an advertiser or agency that must be followed exactly as provided, with no room for adjustment. Every play must occur at a specific date and time, and any deviation would violate the contract.

Typical scenarios for Manual Schedule:

> Spots scheduled around specific program segments
> Sponsorship announcements tied to exact shows or news bulletins
> Agency-provided complex schedules with regulatory or contractual requirements for exact airtimes
> Event-based advertising (e.g., "air this spot during the 6 PM news on January 15th")

When NOT to use Manual Schedule:
If the schedule you received allows any flexibility whatsoever, use Variable Schedule instead. For example, if the requirement is "one play between 11 AM and 12 PM," that is Variable Schedule territory, not Manual Schedule. Wherever you have room for choice, Variable Schedule will deliver better results. If the requirement is "one play at 11AM from Monday to Friday", that is Static Schedule.

Important Limitations:

> Manual Schedule does not support multiple segments. Each campaign can have only one Manual Schedule. If you need different scheduling patterns across different time periods, create separate campaigns.
> Manual Schedule does not offer bulk operations, copy/paste functionality, or any other time-saving features. Every play must be added individually. This is intentional. Any pattern that can be copy-pasted is most probably easier to be scheduled in a Static or Variable Schedule. 

The Manual Schedule Interface
After selecting Manual Schedule as your scheduling method, you enter the calendar view. This is where you place each spot manually.
The interface consists of:
Spot Selection Area (top):
Radio buttons for each spot in the campaign (A, B, C, or spot groups like G1). Select the spot you want to place, then click calendar cells to add it to specific hours.
Summary Line:
Displays total plays, total seconds, and number of days containing plays. Updates automatically as you add or remove spots.
Calendar Grid:
Shows days (columns) and hours (rows). Each cell represents one hour on a specific day. Click a cell to add the selected spot to that hour. Click the same cell again to remove the spot.
Show selected hours range only (bottom):
A slider that filters the calendar view to display only a specific range of hours. This provides a focused view when working with campaigns in narrow time frames, making it easier to manage and review the schedule. The slider does not restrict where you can add spots; it only controls what hours are visible on screen.

Adding Spots to the Schedule

Workflow: 

> Select a spot using the radio button (A, B, C, or a spot group)
> Click an empty cell in the calendar grid (specific hour + day)
> The spot appears in that cell immediately
> To remove the spot, click the same cell again
> To add the same spot to another hour, click a different cell
> To add a different spot, select a different radio button, then click cells

Tip for faster data entry: It's faster if you add the same spot across the entire campaign, then switch to another spot and add it. If you received the campaign schedule as a spreadsheet, use the filter view to display each spot separately.

Multiple Plays in the Same Hour:
If you click the same cell multiple times (or right-click and increase the play count), the spot will air multiple times in that hour. The cell displays the spot label with a multiplier (e.g., "A x2" means spot A airs twice in that hour).

Multiple Spots in the Same Hour:
To schedule different spots in the same hour, select each spot individually and click the same cell. The cell displays all spot labels (e.g., "A" and "B" in the same cell means both spots air in that hour).

Set Default Spot Settings
Click "Set default spot settings" (top right) to configure default values that will automatically apply to all future plays you add to the calendar. This significantly speeds up data entry when you need to add many plays with the same settings.

Default settings include:
The number of plays in the hour:
Set how many times the spot airs each time you click a calendar cell. Default is 1. If you set this to 2, clicking a cell once will add "A x2" instead of "A". Useful when most plays in your campaign require multiple airings per hour.
Break Selection:
Select a commercial break (in a selected hour) automatically: The algorithm chooses the best break within each hour. This is the recommended setting.
Play only in these breaks: The spot will air only in the breaks you select. Check the boxes next to the breaks where you want spots to appear.
Position Inside the Break:
Turn on the special positioning inside the break: Enable the toggle, then use the slider to select the position (First in break, The upper third, Around the middle, The lower third, Last in break).

These default settings apply to every play you add after setting them. If you need different settings for specific plays, you can override them using right-click (explained below).

Editing Individual Plays
To change settings for a specific play that is already on the calendar, right-click the spot in the calendar grid. A dialog appears with the same options as "Set default spot settings":
The number of plays in the hour: Change how many times this spot airs in this specific hour.
Break Selection: Choose automatic break selection or select specific breaks.
Position Inside the Break: Enable positioning and select the desired position.

Click SET to apply your changes. These settings affect only the play you right-clicked, not the default settings or other plays.

Removing Spots from the Schedule
To remove a spot from a specific hour, click the cell containing that spot. The spot disappears immediately.
If the cell contains multiple plays of the same spot (e.g., "A x2"), one click removes both plays.
If the cell contains multiple different spots (e.g., "A" and "B"), clicking removes the currently selected spot (based on which radio button is active).

Show Selected Hours Range Only
At the bottom of the screen, a slider labeled "Show selected hours range only" allows you to filter the calendar view to display only a specific range of hours.
Drag the left handle to set the starting hour, and the right handle to set the ending hour. The calendar updates to show only the hours within that range.
This feature is purely visual. It does not restrict where you can add spots. If you collapse the view to show only 6 AM to 10 AM, you can still expand the slider to access other hours and add spots anywhere in the 24-hour day.
Use this feature when working with campaigns that operate within narrow time frames, such as morning-only or afternoon-only schedules. It reduces screen clutter and makes it easier to review your work.

Important Notes About Manual Schedule
> Manual Schedule requires significant time and attention. Adding 30 plays across a week might take a few minutes of focused clicking, compared to 30 seconds with Variable Schedule.
> Manual Schedule offers no protection against scheduling conflicts. If you manually place a spot in an hour that is already full of other campaigns, AdMaster will not warn you or prevent the placement. The Traffic Log Editor will show the conflict later, but Manual Schedule itself does not validate your choices.
> Manual Schedule does not adapt to changes in other campaigns. If another campaign is edited and affects break capacity, your manually scheduled spots remain exactly where you placed them, even if better options become available.
> Manual Schedule does not support advanced features like spot rotation percentages, partial first-day adjustments, or inverse time selection. You place spots one by one, exactly as specified.

This is why Manual Schedule should be your last resort. Use it only when the client has paid for exact airtimes and provided a non-negotiable schedule. For everything else, Variable Schedule delivers better results with a fraction of the effort.

Saving the Manual Schedule
Click SAVE to create the campaign with the Manual Schedule you configured. The campaign becomes active immediately, and the spots will air at the exact times you specified.
There is no "segment name" in Manual Schedule because Manual Schedule does not use segments. The entire schedule is a single, unified configuration.

5.5. Campaign Overview & Management

After creating a campaign, you access the Campaign Overview screen to view all campaign details, monitor progress, and make changes. This is the central hub for managing every aspect of an active or completed campaign.

To access the Campaign Overview for any campaign, click on the campaign name in the campaign list (Orders / Campaigns in the main menu).

Campaign Overview Screen Layout

The Campaign Overview screen is organized into several sections, from top to bottom:

Header Section

At the top of the screen, you see the campaign name and status badge (Active, Paused, Ended, Expired, or In Review).
Next to the status badge, four quick-action icons provide immediate access to common tasks:

Live Report: Generates (in a new tab) the real-time campaign report showing what has aired and what is scheduled.
Pause Campaign: Temporarily stops the campaign from airing. Paused campaigns remain in the system but are excluded from scheduling until resumed.
End Campaign: Permanently stops the campaign before its scheduled end date. Use this when a campaign is cancelled early.
Delete Campaign: Removes the campaign from the system entirely. This action cannot be undone.

On the right side of the header, the "All Campaign Actions" button opens a comprehensive menu of all available campaign actions (explained in detail below).

Information Cards

Four cards display key campaign information:

Customer / Agency / Salesperson Card:
Shows the customer name (linked to the customer profile), the agency (if applicable), and the salesperson responsible for the campaign.
Campaign Dates Card:
Displays the campaign start date, end date, and duration. If early stop conditions are set (total plays or total duration), these are shown here as well. A small percentage indicator shows campaign progress.
Station(s) Card:
Lists all stations where this campaign airs. Click "Add another Station" to expand the campaign to additional stations.
Campaign Details Card:
Shows the campaign number, associated contract (if any), business separation category, priority level, and scenario (if applicable).

Campaign Progress Bar

A visual progress indicator shows how much of the campaign has aired:

First bar: Percentage of plays completed (e.g., "0% (0 / 61 Plays)")
Second bar: Percentage of total duration aired (e.g., "0% (0 / 1120 Seconds)")

Below the progress bars, pricing information appears if you have enabled price calculation for this campaign. If pricing is not set, the message "The price is not set for this station" is displayed.

Quick action links appear next to the station name:
Set Price: Opens the pricing configuration for this station.
Pause: Pauses the campaign on this specific station (useful for multi-station campaigns).
End: Ends the campaign on this specific station.

Spots Section

This section lists all spots (and spot groups) in the campaign. Each spot is displayed with its label (A, B, C, etc.), duration, and name.
Next to each spot, several icons provide quick actions:

Assign a media file (link icon): Available for placeholder spots that do not yet have a media file attached. Click to upload or select the actual spot file.
Replace a spot file (refresh icon): Replace the current media file with a different one. Use this when the client provides an updated version of the spot.
Spot Settings (gear icon): Opens the spot configuration dialog where you can edit the spot name, label, color, duration, performers/voice artists, cart numbers, and top-up settings.
Play Spot (play icon): Preview the spot audio or video.
End Spot (X icon): Deactivates the spot. An ended spot can no longer be added to segments, but it remains in the campaign for archival purposes. Ended spots display an "Inactive" badge.
Delete Spot (X icon): Only available for inactive spots. Permanently removes the spot from the campaign. Use this to declutter campaigns with many expired spots, such as weekly promotional spots for retail chains that arrive at a rate of 3-4 per week.

Important: Active spots cannot be deleted. You must first end the spot, then delete it if needed.

Note on Inactive Spots: Spots become inactive when they are added to the campaign during setup but are not included in any segment. To activate an inactive spot, add it to at least one segment.

Hover Tooltip: If you try to end a spot that is part of a spot group, a tooltip appears: "Cannot be ended as it is used in Spot Group." You must first remove the spot from the group or delete the group before ending the spot.

At the bottom of the Spots section, three links allow you to add more content:
Add new spot: Upload a new spot to the campaign.
Add Spot Placeholder: Create a placeholder for a spot that will be delivered later.
Create a Spot Group: Bundle spots into a group for reminder/piggybacking scheduling.

Segments Section

This section lists all segments in the campaign. Each segment is displayed in a card showing:

> Segment name (or auto-generated number)
> Start and end dates
> Duration in days
> Active days (if some weekdays are excluded, this shows the count of active days)
> Station name
> Spot rotation information (which spots are used and their percentages)
> Schedule details (time range, frequency, breaks, positioning)

For Static Schedule campaigns, the segment card shows the fixed hourly pattern.
For Variable Schedule campaigns, the segment card shows the time range, plays per day or per segment, selected breaks (if any), and positioning (if any).
For Manual Schedule campaigns, there is no segment section. Manual Schedule does not use segments.

Next to each segment, three icons provide quick actions:

Duplicate Segment (copy icon): Creates an exact copy of the segment. Useful when you need to create similar segments with small variations. After duplicating, you can edit the new segment to adjust dates, hours, or other settings.
Edit Segment (gear icon): Opens the segment editor where you can modify all segment settings (dates, spots, schedule, positioning).
Delete Segment (X icon): Removes the segment from the campaign. The spots remain in the campaign, but the scheduling instructions in this segment are deleted.

All Campaign Actions Menu

Click the "All Campaign Actions" button (top right) to open a comprehensive menu of all available campaign management options. This menu provides access to every action you can perform on a campaign.

The menu is organized into logical groups:

Spot Management
Add new spot: Upload a new media file to the campaign.
Add Spot Placeholder: Create a placeholder for a spot that will be delivered later. You can assign the media file when it arrives.
Add a Spot Group: Create a spot group (reminder/piggybacking spots) by selecting a leading spot and one or more reminder spots.

Segment Management

Add new segment: Create a new segment with its own schedule, dates, and spot rotation. Available for Static Schedule and Variable Schedule campaigns. Not available for Manual Schedule campaigns (which can only have one schedule).
Change Ending Date for All Segments: Extend or shorten the campaign by changing the ending date for multiple segments at once. Click this option to open a calendar and segment selection interface. Select the new ending date, then check the boxes next to the segments you want to update. The system displays the current ending date and new ending date for each selected segment. Click SAVE to apply the change. This option is not available for Manual Schedule campaigns.

Campaign Duplication

Duplicate to reactivate campaign: Available only for expired campaigns. Creates a complete copy of the campaign with all spots, segments, and settings. Use this when you need to run the same campaign again but want to preserve the original for archival purposes. The duplicated campaign can have different settings (spots, play counts, dates, etc.) without affecting the archived original.

Reporting

Live Report: Generates (in a new tab) the real-time campaign report showing what has aired and what is scheduled. This is a public-facing report that can be shared with clients, giving them visibility into their campaign performance without requiring an AdMaster login.

Campaign Status Changes

Pause campaign: Temporarily stops the campaign from airing. Paused campaigns remain in the system but are excluded from scheduling. The campaign can be resumed at any time by clicking "Resume" in the same menu or using the quick-action icon in the header.
End campaign: Permanently stops the campaign before its scheduled end date. Use this when a client cancels early or when circumstances require immediate termination. Ended campaigns cannot be resumed, but they can be duplicated if needed.
Set to "In review": Puts the campaign into a draft-like state where it does not air but remains visible in the system. Use this when a campaign needs approval or verification before going live. Campaigns in review can be edited and activated when ready.

Multi-Station Expansion

Add another Station: Adds the campaign to additional stations (available in multi-station AdMaster accounts only) A configuration screen appears where you select the new station(s) and configure station-specific settings (breaks, pricing, schedule adjustments if needed). Useful for expanding regional campaigns or adding markets during an active campaign.

Financial Documents
Create Proposal: Generates a proposal document for this campaign. Proposals can be sent to clients for approval before the campaign goes live.
Create Invoice: Generates an invoice for this campaign based on the pricing model and actual or projected airings. Invoices can be sent to clients for payment.

Permanent Deletion

Delete permanently: Removes the campaign from the system entirely, including all spots, segments, scheduling history, and associated data. This action cannot be undone. A confirmation dialog appears before deletion. 
Important: Campaign data for aired campaigns should always be preserved for archival and reporting purposes. We do not recommend deleting campaigns that have already aired. This option exists to remove test campaigns, incorrectly entered campaigns, or campaigns that were abandoned before going live. Use this only when you are certain you want to remove all traces of the campaign from your database, as if it never existed.

Editing Campaign Information

To edit basic campaign information (campaign name, customer), click on the information cards at the top of the Campaign Overview screen. Each card is clickable and opens an editor for that specific information.

For example:
Click the Customer card to change the customer, agency, or salesperson.
Click the Campaign Details card to change the campaign number, contract, separation category, priority, or scenario.
Changes take effect immediately and the schedule is recalculated automatically if needed.

Campaign Status Indicators

Active (green badge): The campaign is currently running and spots are being scheduled.
Paused: The campaign is temporarily stopped. No spots are being scheduled, but the campaign remains in the system and can be resumed.
Ended: The campaign has been permanently stopped before its scheduled end date. Spots will no longer air.
Expired: The campaign has reached its end date or fulfilled its early stop conditions (total plays or total duration). No further action is needed.
In Review: The campaign is in a draft-like state and is not airing. Use this status for campaigns awaiting approval or verification.

Important Notes

> Campaign Recalculation: Any change to a campaign (adding spots, editing segments, changing dates, pausing/resuming) triggers an automatic recalculation of the schedule for approximately the next 10 days. This ensures the algorithm always works with current data.
> Multi-Station Campaigns: If a campaign runs on multiple stations, you can configure different settings for each station. Use the station-specific links in the Campaign Progress section to set pricing, pause, or end the campaign on individual stations without affecting others.
> Spot File Management: Always test spots after uploading or replacing files. Use the Play button to verify the audio/video before the campaign goes live.
> Archival Practices: When a campaign ends, consider whether you need to preserve it for records. Use "Duplicate to reactivate campaign" if you need to run the same campaign again, keeping the original archived for reference.

5.6. Campaign Pricing (and Custom Segment Prices)

If you use AdMaster for billing, you can configure pricing at two levels: the campaign level and the segment level. This allows you to create flexible pricing structures that reflect different rates for different time periods, such as charging premium rates for prime time and offering bonus spots overnight at no cost.

5.6.1. Enabling Campaign Pricing

To enable pricing for a campaign, you must activate price calculation during campaign setup or later from the Campaign Overview screen.

During Campaign Setup (Section 5.2.8 - Set the Prices):

When you reach the "Set the prices" step during campaign creation, check the box "Calculate price for [Station Name]" for each station where you want to enable pricing.

Choose your pricing method:

Use price model: Select a pricing model from your Rate Card (configured in Section 3.2.3). The dropdown displays all pricing models you have created.
Manual price: Enter a flat rate for the entire campaign. This price applies to all spots regardless of when they air, and ignores all pricing models.

If you select "Use price model," you will be able to configure custom pricing for individual segments later in the campaign setup or from the Campaign Overview screen (explained below).

If you select "Manual price" (flat rate), custom segment pricing is not available. The flat rate applies to the entire campaign, and segmenting the price would create a contradiction (the sum of segment prices would need to match the flat rate, making custom pricing meaningless).

Click "Continue" to proceed to scheduling.


After Campaign Creation (Campaign Overview):

If you did not enable pricing during setup, you can activate it later by clicking the "Set Price" link in the Campaign Progress section of the Campaign Overview screen.

A dialog appears with the same options:
Check "Calculate price for [Station Name]"
Choose "Use price model" or "Manual price"

Click "Save" to enable pricing.

Once pricing is enabled at the campaign level, custom segment pricing becomes available for campaigns using a pricing model (not for flat rate campaigns).

5.6.2. Custom Campaign Segment Pricing

Custom segment pricing allows you to assign a different price to each segment within a campaign. This is particularly useful when your campaign includes multiple time periods with different commercial values.

Typical Use Case:

A campaign has three segments:

> Segment 1 (Prime Time): Airs Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM. Uses the pricing model rate of $30 per play.
> Segment 2 (Overnight Bonus): Airs every day, 10:00 PM - 5:59 AM. Custom price set to $0 per play (bonus airings at no charge).
> Segment 3 (Weekend): Airs Saturday-Sunday, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM. Custom price set to $20 per play (lower weekend rate, different from the pricing model).

In this example, the campaign uses a pricing model for the base rate ($30 per play), but segments 2 and 3 override that rate with custom pricing.

How to Set Custom Segment Pricing:

Navigate to the Campaign Overview screen for the campaign you want to configure.
Find the segment where you want to set a custom price.
Click "Set custom price" within the segment card.

A dialog opens with an input field. Enter the custom price for this segment.

Important: The pricing unit (per play or per second) is determined by the campaign's main pricing model and cannot be changed at the segment level. If the campaign uses a "per play" pricing model, the custom segment price will also be "per play." If the campaign uses a "per second" pricing model, the custom segment price will also be "per second."

Click "Set" to apply the custom price to this segment.

Default Behavior: By default, all segments use the campaign's main pricing model. Custom segment pricing is optional. If you do not set a custom price, the segment will use the rate from the pricing model.

Setting a Custom Price to $0: If you enter $0 as the custom segment price, that segment will be treated as free (bonus airings). This is useful for promotional campaigns where you offer additional exposure at no cost during less valuable dayparts.

5.6.3. Pricing Model Consistency

The pricing method (per play, per second, or flat rate) must remain consistent across the entire campaign.

If the campaign uses a per play pricing model: All custom segment prices must also be per play.
If the campaign uses a per second pricing model: All custom segment prices must also be per second.
If the campaign uses a flat rate (Manual price): Custom segment pricing is not available. The flat rate applies to the entire campaign, and there is no way to segment it without creating a logical contradiction.

You cannot mix pricing methods within a single campaign. The system enforces this rule automatically.

5.6.4. Budget Calculation and the Progress Bar

Once pricing is enabled for a campaign, the Campaign Overview screen displays a third progress bar showing the budget status.

The third progress bar displays:

Percentage of budget spent (e.g., "80%")
Amount spent so far vs. total estimated budget (e.g., "$56,440.00 / $70,940.00 USD")

How the Budget is Calculated:

The total budget is calculated based on the total number of plays (or total seconds, depending on the pricing model) and the price per unit.

> For campaigns using a pricing model with dayparting: The system estimates which dayparts the spots will air in, based on the campaign's schedule, and calculates the budget using the rates from the pricing model.
>For campaigns with custom segment pricing: The system calculates the budget by multiplying the number of plays in each segment by the custom price for that segment.
> For campaigns using Variable Schedule: The budget is an estimate and may not be accurate. The final cost depends on exactly when the spots air, which is determined by the algorithm. If the time ranges in your Variable Schedule do not align perfectly with the time ranges in your pricing model, the actual cost may differ from the estimate.

Important: The budget displayed in the progress bar is an estimate for Variable Schedule campaigns (unless the custom segment prices are set for each segment). The final cost is only known after all spots have aired and the algorithm has determined their exact airtimes. The price breakdown in the Broadcast reports and Invoices will reflect the accurate information.

5.6.5. Warning About Budget Accuracy

When you enable pricing for a Variable Schedule campaign, a warning tooltip message appears:

"The total budget is calculated based on the total number of plays and the average price of the spots. The total budget is an estimate and may not be accurate."

This warning appears:
Always when pricing is enabled for a Variable Schedule campaign
In the Campaign Overview screen (not during setup)

Why the Warning Appears:

Variable Schedule gives the algorithm flexibility to place spots anywhere within a defined time range. If your pricing model has different rates for different time periods (e.g., morning vs. afternoon), and your Variable Schedule spans multiple time periods, the algorithm may place spots in higher-priced or lower-priced slots depending on availability and other campaign constraints.

For example:
Your pricing model charges $30 per play from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM and $20 per play from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Your Variable Schedule segment runs from 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM with 10 plays per day.
The algorithm might place 7 spots in the $30 period and 3 spots in the $20 period on one day, then 4 spots in the $30 period and 6 spots in the $20 period on another day.
The budget estimate assumes an average distribution, but the actual cost will vary.

If you need precise pricing for the entire campaign before the campaign starts, you have two options:

> Use custom segment pricing with tightly defined Variable Schedule segments: Break your campaign into segments that align exactly with your pricing model's time ranges. For example, create one segment for 6:00 AM - 9:00 AM with a $30 custom price, and another segment for 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM with a $20 custom price. This makes the budget calculation precise while still allowing the algorithm flexibility within each segment.
> Use Static Schedule: Manually select the hours where spots will air. This gives you complete control over which dayparts are used, making the budget calculation exact.

5.6.6. Viewing and Adjusting Pricing After Campaign Creation

After a campaign is created, you can view and adjust pricing at any time from the Campaign Overview screen.

To view the current pricing:
Look at the third progress bar in the Campaign Progress section. This shows the budget status and total estimated cost.

To change the main pricing model or switch between pricing methods:
Click "Set Price" (or the pricing model name link, e.g., "Morning Prime Time") in the Campaign Progress section.
Select a different pricing model or change to Manual price.
Click "Save."

To adjust custom segment pricing:
Click "Edit" on the segment card where you want to change the custom price.
Click "Set custom price" and enter the new price.
Click "Set."

Changes to pricing take effect immediately and the budget estimate is recalculated automatically.

5.6.7. Important Notes About Campaign Pricing

Pricing is optional: You can create and run campaigns without enabling pricing. Pricing is only necessary if you use AdMaster for billing and invoicing.

Pricing does not affect scheduling: The algorithm schedules spots based on campaign settings (time ranges, positioning, separation rules, etc.). Pricing information is used only for billing calculations and does not influence where or when spots air.

Flat rate campaigns cannot be segmented: If you choose Manual price (flat rate), the entire campaign has one price. You cannot assign different prices to different segments.

Custom segment pricing is perfect for bonus spots: If you want to offer free bonus airings in less valuable time periods, set the custom segment price to $0 for those segments.

Budget estimates improve over time: As the campaign airs and actual airtimes are recorded, the budget estimate becomes more accurate. After the campaign ends, the final cost is calculated based on actual airtimes and the pricing model or custom segment prices.

Pricing models are reusable: Once you create a pricing model in the Rate Card (Section 3.2.3), you can apply it to as many campaigns as needed. If you update a pricing model, all campaigns using that model will reflect the new rates going forward (but past airings are not recalculated).

5.6.8. Summary: Pricing Configuration Workflow

Enable pricing during campaign setup or from Campaign Overview by clicking "Set Price."

Choose "Use price model" (for flexible, daypart-based pricing) or "Manual price" (for flat rate).

If using a pricing model, optionally set custom prices for individual segments by clicking "Set custom price" in each segment.

Monitor the budget in the Campaign Overview progress bar as the campaign airs.

For Variable Schedule campaigns, be aware that the budget is an estimate. For precise pricing, use tightly segmented Variable Schedules with custom segment pricing, or Static Schedule.

For detailed information about creating pricing models, see Section 3.2.3 - Pricing (Rate Card).

6. Traffic Log Editor

The Traffic Log Editor is the central hub for reviewing, verifying, and fine-tuning your commercial schedule before it airs. This is where you see the final result of the algorithm's work, identify any scheduling conflicts, and make manual adjustments when necessary.

To access the Traffic Log Editor, navigate to Traffic Log Editor in the main menu.

6.1. Traffic Log Editor Interface Overview

The Traffic Log Editor screen is divided into three main sections:

Left Panel: Date and Hour Navigation

This panel displays a list of dates within the configured date range. Each date can be expanded to show all 24 hours.

Station Selector (top): Choose which station's traffic log you want to view. The dropdown lists all stations in your account.
Search Box: Type keywords to search for specific spots. The system highlights any spot containing the keyword, whether it appears in the campaign name, customer name, or spot name.
Display from / Display to: Shows the date range currently loaded in the Traffic Log Editor. By default, the system loads approximately 10 days of schedule data (the range calculated by the algorithm). Don't look for the entire campaign in the Traffic Log Editor - the algorithm only calculates the schedule for the next 10 days.
Show warnings only (toggle): When enabled, filters the date and hour list to display only those containing scheduling warnings or conflicts. Use this to quickly identify and resolve issues without scrolling through clean breaks.
Expand all / Collapse all: Expands or collapses all dates and hours in the left panel. When you expand all, every hour of every day becomes visible. Click a specific date to expand only that date, or click a specific hour to view that hour in the main panel.


Main Panel: Break and Spot Details

This is where you see the actual commercial breaks and their contents. Select a date or hour in the left panel to display the schedule in the main panel.
When you select a day, all hours for that day appear. When you select a specific hour, only that hour is shown.

For each hour, commercial breaks are displayed with the following information:

Break Header:
Break number (Break 1, Break 2, etc.)
Scheduled time (e.g., "Scheduled for 12:15 PM")
Duration limit status and total duration:
"Unlimited | Total duration: 02:39" if no maximum duration is set
"Limited to 04:00 | Total duration: 01:57" if a maximum duration is configured

Break Warning Icon (top right):
A red exclamation mark icon (flashing) appears when the break contains scheduling warnings. Hover over the icon to see a summary of all warnings for this break.

Add Spot Button (top right):
A blue plus icon allows you to manually add spots to the break. Click to open a list of active spots from all campaigns. Select a spot to add it to this break. Note: You can only add active spots from campaigns, not arbitrary audio files.

Spot List:
Each spot in the break is displayed in a row showing:

Position number (01, 02, 03, etc.)
Spot label badge (A, B, C, etc.) with color coding
Spot type badge:
"Spot" (green) for commercial spots from campaigns
"Station ID" (blue) for station IDs/jingles added through Commercial Break Settings in AdMaster
"Topup" for top-up content used to balance break durations
Campaign name | Spot file name (bold)
Duration (mm:ss)
Warning icon (red exclamation mark) if this spot has scheduling warnings
Play button (blue arrow icon) to preview the spot
Remove button (blue X icon) to remove the spot from this break

You can reorder spots within a break by dragging them to a different position. This applies only to spots that have not yet aired. Aired spots cannot be moved.

Warning Icon Behavior:
When a spot has a warning, hover over the red exclamation mark icon to see a tooltip explaining the specific issue. For example:
> "Same commercials appear in the break" (lists the duplicate spots)
> "Same business categories appear in the break" (lists the competing spots)
> "Same performer as [Spot Name] (Performer Name)"

The warning icon flashes to draw attention. The flashing stops once you acknowledge the issue (either by resolving it or accepting it as unavoidable).

Right Panel: Unscheduled Spots

This panel appears when you enable the "Show unscheduled spots" toggle at the top of the screen.

Unscheduled spots are spots that the algorithm could not fit into any commercial break while respecting all campaign settings and constraints. These spots appear here instead of being forced into inappropriate time slots.

Some reasons why spots remain unscheduled:
> The campaign requires specific breaks, and those breaks are full
> The campaign requires specific positioning (first, last, middle), and those positions are occupied
> Insufficient inventory in the requested time range
> Business separation or performer separation rules cannot be satisfied without violating other constraints
> Break duration limits prevent adding the spot without exceeding the maximum
> The Butterfly Effect: A combination of spots from completely different campaigns creates a conflict that prevents this spot from being scheduled

Important: Remember the interconnectedness of all campaigns (Section 1.7 - The Butterfly Effect). An unscheduled spot from one campaign may legitimately be "caused" by a combination of spots from entirely different campaigns. Troubleshooting "it should have fit but didn't" is never simple, as it requires a detailed analysis of the big picture, not just the individual campaign.

The Unscheduled Spots panel displays:
Station name
"Unscheduled spots" heading
List of unscheduled spots with campaign name, spot name, and duration

You can manually add unscheduled spots to breaks by dragging them from this panel into the desired break. However, remember that manual edits will be overwritten when the traffic log is recalculated.

Important: Unscheduled spots indicate a scheduling conflict that requires attention. Review the campaign settings for these spots and adjust as needed (widen the time range, remove positioning requirements, or accept that the spot will air in a less ideal slot).

6.2. Top Toolbar Options

At the top of the Traffic Log Editor screen, several controls provide access to configuration and display options:

Show unscheduled spots (toggle):
Enables or disables the right panel displaying unscheduled spots. When disabled, the panel is hidden and the counter shows "0 spots" if there are no unscheduled spots.

Table display settings (gear icon):
Opens a dialog where you configure which information is displayed in the spot rows. This allows you to customize the Traffic Log Editor view based on your workflow needs.

Configure Data to Display in the Left Column:
> Spot position number: Shows the position number (01, 02, 03...) with adjustable width
> Spot Label: Shows the spot label badge (A, B, C...) with adjustable width
> Spot Type: Shows the type badge (Spot, Static ID, Topup) with adjustable width
> Spot expected playtime: Shows the scheduled airtime for reconciliation purposes

Configure Data to Display in the Central Column (Choose One):
> Customer name: Display only the customer name
> Campaign name: Display only the campaign name
> Campaign number: Display only the campaign number
> Commercial file name: Display only the spot file name
> Cart number (spot ID): Display only the cart number
> Customer name | Commercial file name: Combined display
> Customer name | Cart number (spot ID): Combined display
> Campaign name | Commercial name: Combined display (default)
> Campaign name | Cart number (spot ID): Combined display

Configure Data to Display in the Right Column:
> Scheduling Warnings: Shows warning icons when conflicts are detected
> Special positioning: Shows positioning information (First, Last, Upper third, etc.)
> Segment number: Shows which segment scheduled this spot

These settings affect only the visual display in the Traffic Log Editor. They do not change the exported data or the traffic log files sent to your playout system.

Warnings settings (gear icon):
Opens a dialog where you enable or disable specific warning types. This allows you to focus on the warnings that matter most to your station and ignore warnings that are acceptable or unavoidable.

Available warning options:
> Break exceeds the maximum duration
> Break exceeds the maximum number of commercials
> Break is shorter than the required duration
> Same business categories appear in the break (with "More options..." link)
> Same performers appear in the break (with "More options..." link)
> Same customers appear in the break
> Same campaigns appear in the break
> Same commercials appear in the break
> Required first commercial is not in the first position
> Required last commercial is not in the last position
> Required upper-third commercial is not in the correct position
> Required lower-third commercial is not in the correct position
> Required mid-break commercial is not in the correct position
> Same group commercials are next to each other
> MSame group commercials are in the wrong order

"More options..." links:
For performer and business category warnings, click "More options..." to configure an exception threshold. A dialog opens asking: "Display warning only if there are [number] or less commercials between them."

For example, if you set this to 3 for business categories, the warning only appears when two competing spots have fewer than 3 spots between them. If there are 4 or more spots separating them, no warning is displayed.

Important: Warnings are informational only. They do not block playback or prevent spots from airing. They alert you to situations that may require manual review or adjustment.

Enable Manual Reconciliation (toggle):
Activates the log reconciliation interface, which compares the traffic log with the actual broadcast log from your playout software.

When enabled, two additional columns appear for each spot:
Scheduled airtime: The exact time the spot was scheduled to air (e.g., 12:15:00)
Confirmation controls: A green checkmark button and a red X button

How Log Reconciliation Works:
The AdMaster Desktop Client monitors the broadcast log created by your playout software. It searches for records of aired commercials and compares their actual airtimes with the scheduled times in AdMaster. If a discrepancy is detected, the spot is flagged in the Traffic Log Editor.

A discrepancy occurs when:
> The spot did not air at all (no record in the broadcast log)
> The spot aired at a different time than scheduled

Why discrepancies may occur:
> Network interruption between the Desktop Client and the playout computer prevented AdMaster from accessing the broadcast log
> Broadcast log format was not recognized correctly, so AdMaster could not read the airtime data
> Playout software did not log the commercial in its broadcast log
> Manual playlist changes were made directly in the playout software, bypassing AdMaster
> Inaccurate Expected break starting minute in the hour set in AdMaster (Stations > Commercial Break Settings)

Important: A flagged spot does not necessarily mean the spot did not air. It means AdMaster could not verify that it aired at the scheduled time. The spot may have aired correctly, but AdMaster did not receive timely information from the broadcast log.

Manual reconciliation allows you to confirm that a spot aired correctly even when the automated reconciliation process could not verify it. Click the green checkmark to confirm the spot aired, or click the red X to mark it as not aired.

Confirm All Reconciled (button):
Appears when Manual Reconciliation is enabled. Clicking this button confirms all spots in the current view as aired, overriding any automated reconciliation flags. Use this when you are certain the spots aired correctly but automated reconciliation could not verify them.

6.3. Exporting Traffic Log Data

Click "Export data" at the top of the Traffic Log Editor to export the currently displayed schedule.

Export options:
Copy to clipboard: Copies the traffic log data in plain text format. Paste it into any text editor or spreadsheet application.
Save to CSV: Downloads the traffic log as a CSV file that can be opened in Excel, Google Sheets, or other spreadsheet software.
Print: Opens the browser print dialog to print the traffic log or save it as a PDF.

The exported data includes all visible breaks and spots for the selected date or hour range. 

6.4. Making Manual Edits

Manual edits should be your last resort in exceptionally complex situations or emergency circumstances. Do not manually edit a commercial break simply because it "looks like it could be better" to you. The human brain cannot grasp the "big picture" when managing 20 or 30 simultaneous campaigns. The algorithm sees all campaigns, all constraints, all conflicts, and all available slots at once. You do not.

More importantly, any manual edit you make will be routinely overwritten the moment you add a new campaign or edit an existing one. The algorithm recalculates the schedule automatically, and your manual changes disappear without warning. All your effort will have been wasted.

Manual edits only make sense if you disable automatic traffic log creation and trigger it manually only when you are ready. We do not recommend this approach. The algorithm's main strength lies in its ability to adapt quickly to changes in campaigns. If you disable automatic recalculation, you lose this advantage.

However, there are situations where manual intervention is unavoidable. For example, a station in Spain has 8 real estate agencies advertising simultaneously. It may be impossible to avoid having at least 2 agencies in the same break. In such cases, manual editing allows you to at least separate the agencies whose owners are former spouses who cannot stand each other.

The Traffic Log Editor allows manual adjustments to the schedule when necessary, but use them only as a last resort.

Adding a Spot to a Break
Click the blue plus icon (top right of the break header). A list of active spots from all campaigns appears. Select a spot to add it to the break. The spot is inserted at the end of the break.

Important: Add a spot manually only in situations requiring a quick, one-time response. This option is not for correcting a campaign by increasing the number of plays. Remember that any spot you add manually will be removed from the schedule the very next time the traffic log is created or updated.

Note: You can only add active spots from campaigns. You cannot add arbitrary audio files or inactive spots.

Removing a Spot from a Break

Click the blue X icon next to any spot in the break. A confirmation dialog appears. Click "Confirm" to remove the spot. The spot returns to the unscheduled spots list if it still needs to be played according to its campaign settings.

Important Notes About Manual Edits

> Manual edits are intended for emergency situations and last-minute changes, not for routine scheduling.
> Manual edits override the algorithm. But the algorithm overrides back the very next time it creates or updates the traffic log.
> Manual edits do not persist across schedule recalculations. If you edit a break manually, then later edit any campaign, the algorithm recalculates the entire schedule and your manual changes will be overwritten, no questions asked. If you need permanent manual control over a break, consider using Manual Schedule for that campaign.
> If you find yourself making frequent manual edits, revisit your campaign settings to ensure the algorithm has sufficient flexibility to optimize the schedule.

6.5. Understanding Station IDs and Static Content

In some traffic logs, you will see spots with a blue "Station ID" badge. These are station identification jingles, legal IDs, or other content configured in Commercial Break Settings within AdMaster (Section 3.2.2). AdMaster schedules and manages these items based on your configuration - they can be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of commercial breaks according to your settings.

Whether Station IDs count toward break duration limits depends on your configuration in Commercial Break Settings. They are not managed by the playout system; everything you see in the Traffic Log Editor is fully controlled within AdMaster.

6.6. Understanding Warnings

Warnings in the Traffic Log Editor are designed to alert you to situations that may require review. They are informational, not blocking. Whether and when you act on warnings is your decision based on your station's policies and client relationships.

Important: Some warnings are acceptable or unavoidable.

The number of warnings you see directly correlates with how much you have tried to override first-grade math. For example, if you have two breaks per hour, you have 48 daily slots available for "first in break" campaigns. To fill all 48 slots with 6 campaigns, it is only possible if all 6 are configured as Static Schedule with precisely selected time slots, or as Variable Schedule with a time range of 0-24 hours.

If your campaigns have narrow time windows, specific break requirements, positioning demands, and business separation rules, warnings are inevitable. The algorithm respects your settings exactly as given (Golden Rule: Your Settings Are Non-Negotiable). If the algorithm places spots in ways that trigger warnings, it means the combination of campaign settings and available inventory made that outcome unavoidable.

Examples of acceptable or unavoidable warnings:
> Same business category warning when campaigns have narrow time windows and high play counts
> Same performer warning on small stations where only a few voice artists are used
> Positioning warnings when break capacity does not allow perfect positioning for all spots

If better results are needed, adjust campaign settings to give the algorithm more flexibility.

6.7. Traffic Log Editor Best Practices

> Review the Traffic Log Editor daily: Check for warnings and unscheduled spots each day. Address issues before they become urgent.
> Use "Show warnings only" to save time: Instead of scrolling through every hour, filter to see only the hours with conflicts.
> Customize your display settings: Configure the Table display settings to show the information most relevant to your workflow. If you work primarily with cart numbers, display those. If you need customer names visible, configure that.
> Enable warnings selectively: Not all warnings are equally important. Disable warnings that are not relevant to your station to reduce visual clutter and focus on what matters.
> Avoid excessive manual editing: If you find yourself manually editing the same breaks repeatedly, revisit the campaign settings or the algorithm's scheduling rules. Manual edits are a band-aid, not a long-term solution.

7. Live Reports

A Live Report is a dynamic web page, hosted by AdMaster, that provides a real-time overview of a specific campaign.
Once a client opens their private link, they can see:
> Proof of Performance: A detailed list of every spot that has already aired, including the exact date and time of broadcast.
> Upcoming Schedule: A transparent view of future airings, showing the client exactly when their spots are scheduled to run in the coming days.
> Campaign Progress: Visual indicators or summaries that show how much of the campaign has been completed versus what remains.

The Purpose and Value
> Build Trust Instantly: By providing a "window" into your playout system, you demonstrate professional integrity. Clients no longer have to wonder if their ads are running; they can verify it themselves 24/7.
> Zero Administrative Overhead: There is no need for your traffic department to manually export logs or create PDF reports. The system updates the link automatically as the playout executes the logs.
> A Competitive Edge: While other media outlets may struggle to provide timely proof of airing, your station offers a modern, digital-first experience that mirrors the transparency of online advertising platforms like Google or Facebook.
> Conflict Resolution: Live Reports serve as a "single source of truth." If a client has questions about their campaign's delivery, the real-time data is always available to resolve any doubts immediately.

7.1. Creating the Live Report

The Live Report is created directly from the Campaign Overview screen in AdMaster.
How to create a Live Report:
From the Campaign Overview, click the Live Report icon in the quick-action toolbar at the top of the page, or click the Live Report link in the All Campaign Actions Menu.
If the campaign runs on multiple stations, a dropdown menu appears asking you to select which station's Live Report you want to view.
Click the station name, and the Live Report opens in a new browser tab.

7.2. Sharing the Live Report with Your Client

The Live Report is hosted at a unique public URL (for example, admaster.cloud/live-report/xyz123abc). This link requires no login or account creation. Anyone who has the link can view the report.

To share the Live Report with your client:
Open the Live Report in your browser.
Copy the URL from your address bar.
Send the link to your client through email, messaging, or any communication channel you prefer.
Your client can bookmark the link and revisit it at any time to check their campaign status.

Important: AdMaster does not send emails on your behalf. You are responsible for sharing the link with your client. Once shared, the link remains active for the entire duration of the campaign and beyond.

7.3. Understanding the Report Header and Timestamps

At the top of every Live Report, you will see essential information about when the report was generated and what data it contains:

Report Generated On: The exact date and time the report was created (for example, "1-22-2026 at 9:13 AM").
Broadcast Times Up To: The latest broadcast time included in the report (for example, "up to 9:13 AM"). This means the report shows all spots that have aired up to that moment.
Traffic Log Last Created: The date and time when AdMaster last generated the traffic log file for your station (for example, "1-20-2026 at 2:02 PM"). This tells you how far into the future the schedule extends.

Why These Timestamps Matter: The schedule displayed in the Live Report reflects campaign settings that were active at the moment the report was generated. If you have edited the campaign since then, the next reload of the report will reflect those changes. If you opened this page earlier, please reload it to see accurate information. The planned broadcast times may have changed since your last visit.

7.4. Campaign Progress Overview

The Live Report displays your campaign's progress using visual progress bars. You can customize what information is displayed.

Configurable Display Options:
Choose what metric to display: Plays (number of airings) or Seconds (total airtime in seconds). If pricing is set up for this campaign, a third option shows Budget (campaign cost).
Choose the time horizon: Day (progress for today only), Month (progress for the current month), or Total (progress for the entire campaign).
These settings allow you to focus on the metric and time frame most relevant to your business needs.

7.5. Live Report Section 1: Exact Broadcast Times

This section displays every spot that has already aired. The broadcast times shown here represent the actual airtimes recorded by your playout system (if Broadcast Log Reconciliation is enabled), or the expected start time of the commercial break where the spot was scheduled to air (if reconciliation is not enabled).

Understanding Broadcast Log Reconciliation:

Broadcast Log Reconciliation is a feature configured in your station settings. When enabled, AdMaster compares the traffic log it created with the actual broadcast log generated by your playout software. This allows AdMaster to verify that spots aired at their scheduled times.
If reconciliation is enabled and properly configured, the times displayed in Section 1 are exact broadcast times - the precise moment each spot aired.
If reconciliation is not enabled, the times displayed are expected start times of the commercial breaks. These times assume the spot aired during the break as scheduled, but AdMaster has no way to verify actual airtime.

Reading the Broadcast Times:
Each row shows:
Date: The date when the spot aired (or was scheduled to air).
Spot Label: The spot identifier (A, B, C, etc.).
Broadcast Times: A list of times when this spot aired. Each time appears on the same line, separated by spaces.

Interpreting Visual Indicators:
If the spot aired as scheduled: Times appear in regular black text (for example, 12:15 AM 5:45 AM 7:15 AM).
If the spot did not air: The time is displayed in red text with a strikethrough (for example, 12:15 AM). This indicates that the spot was scheduled to air at that time, but the broadcast log shows it did not play. This only appears when Broadcast Log Reconciliation is enabled.

Important Note About Reconciliation:
Even though the reconciliation has been configured correctly and working good, a spot marked as not aired does not necessarily mean it wasn't played. It may indicate:
> The playout software did not record the spot in its broadcast log.
> The broadcast log format was not recognized correctly by AdMaster.
> The Desktop Client did not have timely access to the broadcast log due to network issues.
> The Expected Break Starting Minute (configured in Commercial Break Settings) does not match when the break actually aired.
If you see unexpectedly high numbers of red strikethrough times, check your Broadcast Log Reconciliation configuration in station settings. Contact support if you need assistance troubleshooting the connection.

Time Cutoff:
This section only displays spots that have aired up to the time the report was generated. Any spot scheduled to air after the report generation time appears in Section 2 instead.

7.6. Live Report Section 2: Expected Broadcast Times

This section displays the planned schedule for spots that have not yet aired. These times reflect the traffic log that was most recently generated for your station.

What These Times Represent:
The times shown in Section 2 are the scheduled start times of the commercial breaks where your spots are expected to air. They are not exact broadcast times, but rather the algorithm's current optimization based on your campaign settings and available inventory. Hovering the expected broadcast time will show the expected spot position in the break. 

Why the Schedule May Change:
The planned schedule is dynamic. AdMaster recalculates the traffic log every time you or another user adds a new campaign, edits an existing campaign, pauses a campaign, or makes any other change that affects scheduling. Each recalculation may produce different airtimes for your spots.
For example, if a competing campaign is added and uses the same time slots as your campaign, the algorithm will redistribute your spots to maintain balance and fairness across all advertisers.

Important Disclaimer About Future Schedule Changes:
The times displayed in Section 2 are subject to change. These reflect the planned schedule as of the date and time shown in the report header. If you opened this page earlier, please reload it to see the current planned schedule. You may communicate these times to your audience as if they are confirmed, but make sure they understand that the live report page should be reloaded to see the accurate times.

Respecting Your Campaign Parameters:
While the algorithm may change which specific hours your spots air, it will always respect the core parameters of your agreement. For example:
If your campaign specifies "7 plays per day between 6:00 AM and 11:59 PM," the algorithm will always deliver exactly 7 plays within that time window, every day.
If your campaign specifies "weekdays only," spots will never be scheduled for Saturday or Sunday.
If your campaign includes business separation rules, competing spots will not appear in the same commercial break.
The specific hours and breaks may shift, but the fundamental promise of your campaign remains constant.

How to Read Section 2:
Each row shows:
Date: The date when the spot is scheduled to air.
Spot Label: The spot identifier (A, B, C, etc.).
Scheduled Times: A list of times when this spot is expected to air. Each time represents the expected start of the commercial break.

Comparing Section 2 to Section 1:
As time passes and spots begin to air, you will notice that times gradually move from Section 2 (expected) to Section 1 (broadcast). This is normal. The transition shows your campaign progressing day by day.

If you reload the Live Report after a new traffic log has been generated, you may see that previously scheduled times have shifted to different hours or breaks. Again, this is normal and reflects the algorithm's ongoing optimization.

7.7. Live Report Section 3: Future Schedule Until End of Campaign.

This section provides a high-level summary of your campaign's scheduling structure for the entire remaining duration. Rather than listing individual airtimes, it describes the pattern and rules that will govern your spots throughout the campaign.

What This Section Contains:

Each segment in your campaign is listed with the following information:
Segment Name or Number: An identifier for this scheduling rule (for example, "Segment 1" or "Morning Drive").
Date Range: The period during which this segment is active (for example, "9-23-2025 to 9-22-2026").
Spots Included: Which spots from your campaign will air during this segment (for example, "Spots: A + B").
Frequency and Time Range: How often your spots will air and during which hours (for example, "7 plays between 6:00 AM - 11:59 PM").
Days Active: Which days of the week this segment runs (for example, "Every day" or "Weekdays only").

Example of Section 3:
Segment 1: 9-23-2025 to 9-22-2026, (Spots: A + B), 7 plays between 6:00 AM - 11:59 PM, Every day
Segment 2: 9-23-2025 to 9-22-2026, (Spots: A + B), 5 plays between 7:00 PM - 6:59 AM, Every day

In this example, your campaign has two overlapping segments. Segment 1 delivers 7 plays during daytime hours, and Segment 2 delivers 5 plays during overnight hours. Combined, your spots air 12 times per day.

Why This Matters:
Section 3 allows you to verify that your campaign is structured exactly as you agreed. If your contract specifies "5 plays per day on weekdays and 8 plays per day on weekends," you should see this reflected here. If something is incorrect, contact your station immediately.

Automatic Break Selection:
Unless your agreement specifies which commercial break within the hour your spots should occupy, the algorithm automatically selects the best break for each day during the daily schedule creation process. You can see detailed information about which specific breaks are assigned to each day in Section 2 of this report.

Changes to the Future Schedule:
If you reload the Live Report after a new traffic log has been generated, the future schedule summary in Section 3 will remain the same unless you or your station have modified the campaign itself. Changes to the planned airtimes in Section 2 do not affect Section 3; only changes to the campaign's core parameters (dates, frequency, time ranges, or active days) would be reflected here.

8. Broadcast Reports - Affidavits - Proof of Performance

A Broadcast Report is a detailed proof of performance document that shows exactly what commercials aired during a specific time period. Unlike the Live Report (which is dynamic and updates in real-time), a Broadcast Report is a snapshot of completed airings captured at a specific moment in time.
Broadcast Reports serve as official documentation for billing, client verification, and archival purposes. They can be viewed on-screen, exported to various formats, shared with clients via a public link, or converted to PDF for printing and record-keeping.

8.1. Live Reports vs. Broadcast Reports: Key Differences

Both Live Reports and Broadcast Reports provide visibility into your campaigns, but they serve different purposes.

Live Reports:

> Updated in real-time as spots air (the web page reload required)
> Show both aired spots (Section 1) and upcoming schedule (Sections 2 and 3)
> Reflect current campaign settings and algorithm optimizations
> Change whenever the schedule is recalculated
> Best for client visibility during campaign
> Accessible via a unique public link; no AdMaster account or login required

Broadcast Reports:

> Created manually for a specific date range
> Show only completed airings from the selected period
> Are static snapshots - they do not change after creation
> Can include precise billing information (price per spot, total cost)
> Best for final proof of performance and invoicing
> Accessible via a public link or exported to PDF
> Used to create invoices directly from the report data

Use Live Reports to keep clients informed during the campaign. Use Broadcast Reports to document what aired and to generate invoices.

8.2. Creating a Broadcast Report

Broadcast Reports are created manually from the Broadcast Reports section in AdMaster. Navigate to Broadcast Reports in the main menu, then click "Add New broadcast report".

The report creation process consists of seven steps.

Step 1: Select a Station
From the dropdown, choose which station's broadcast data you want to report on. If you have multiple stations, select the one relevant to the campaign you are reporting on.
Step 2: Select Data Source
You have two options for how AdMaster will compile the report:
> Scheduled Commercials: AdMaster will use the scheduled broadcast times from the traffic log. This option is useful when Broadcast Log Reconciliation is not enabled, or when you want to report based on what was supposed to air rather than what actually aired according to your playout's broadcast log.
> Reconciliation Logs: AdMaster will use the confirmed (reconciled) broadcast times from your playout's broadcast log. This option is only available if Broadcast Log Reconciliation is enabled in your station settings and actual broadcast data has been recorded. This option provides proof of actual airtime and is the most accurate source for billing and compliance purposes.

Choose the option that matches your needs, then click "CLICK HERE TO PROCEED" to continue.

Step 3: Select a Customer
From the dropdown, choose the customer (advertiser) whose campaign you are reporting on. 

Step 4: Select Date Range
Use the calendar interface to define the period covered by the report. You have two convenient shortcuts at the top:
> Select previous month: Automatically sets the date range to the first and last day of the previous calendar month.
> Select this month: Automatically sets the date range to the first and last day of the current calendar month.

Alternatively, click on the calendar dates to manually select your start and end dates. The system displays the selected date range below the calendars (for example, "Report start date: December 1st 2025, Report end date: December 31st 2025").

Step 5: Select Campaigns to Be Included in the Report
A checklist appears showing all campaigns for the selected customer that ran during the selected date range. Check the box next to each campaign you want to include in the report. You can include multiple campaigns for the same customer, or deselect some if you want to report on only specific campaigns.

Step 6: Choose How to Sort the Data
Two sorting options are available:
> Chronological: Spots are listed in the order they aired, from earliest to latest. This is the most common option and is recommended for most reports.
> By commercial spot: Spots are grouped by spot identifier (A, B, C, etc.), with all airings of Spot A listed together, then all airings of Spot B, and so on. Use this when you want to see all airings of a specific spot in one place.

Additionally, check the box "Separate campaigns in the report" if you want each campaign's data displayed in separate sections. This is useful when the report includes multiple campaigns and you want clear visual separation between them.

Step 7: Campaign Price
Choose whether to display pricing information in the report:
> Show campaign price on report: The report will include a price column showing the cost of each individual spot, and totals at the top (total plays, total seconds, total price). Select the pricing model or rate card that should be used for calculations.
> Hide campaign price on report: No pricing information will be displayed. Use this when generating reports for clients who do not need to see cost details.
After selecting your preferences, click the green "Create report" button. AdMaster generates the report and displays it on your screen.

8.3. The Broadcast Reports List

After creation, your new Broadcast Report appears in the Broadcast Reports list. This is the central hub where you can view, manage, and access all your Broadcast Reports.

List Overview
The Broadcast Reports list displays all reports created in your account, organized in a table with the following columns:
Report ID: A unique identifier for each report (for example, "2026-01-22-101149"). The Report ID is a clickable link that opens the full Broadcast Report Page.

> Customer: The advertiser associated with the report.
> Station: The station on which the commercials aired.
> Orders / Campaigns: The campaign(s) included in the report.
> Report interval: The date range covered by the report (for example, "12-1-2025 - 12-31-2025").
> Gross total: The total cost of the campaign for the reporting period (if pricing was enabled).

Searching Reports
Use the search box at the top of the list to find reports by Report ID, customer name, station name, or campaign name. The search filters the list in real-time as you type.

Multi-Select and Bulk Actions

Click "Multi select" to enable selection mode. Checkboxes appear next to each report. You can select individual reports by checking their boxes, or use "Select all" to select all visible reports.

With one or more reports selected, the "Actions" button becomes available. Currently, the available bulk action is:

Export reports: Downloads all selected reports in a format of your choice. A dialog opens asking you to select the export format:
> json format: Structured data format for integration with other systems.
> xml format: Standard XML format for data interchange.
> csv format: Comma-separated values format for spreadsheet applications.

After selecting a format, click "EXPORT REPORTS" to download all selected reports in that format.

Opening a Report
To view the full details of a Broadcast Report, click on the Report ID link. The Broadcast Report Page opens, displaying all the information you configured during setup.

8.4. The Broadcast Report Page

After clicking a Report ID from the list, the Broadcast Report Page displays with all the detailed broadcast information.

Report Header Section

At the top of the page, essential information identifies the report:
> Report ID: A unique identifier for this report (for example, "2026-01-22-101149").
> Station: The station for which the report was generated.
> Customer: The advertiser whose campaign is being reported on.
> Pricing / Advertising rate card: The rate card or pricing model used for calculations (displayed only if pricing was enabled).
> Period: The date range covered by the report (for example, "December 1st 2025 - December 31st 2025").
> Orders / Campaigns: The campaign(s) included in the report.

Action Buttons

Five buttons appear below the header, providing quick access to common actions:

> Delete report: Removes the report from the system. Deleted reports cannot be recovered. Use this to clean up old reports that are no longer needed.
> Export data: Downloads the report data in a format of your choice. A dialog opens with three options:
> Copy to clipboard: Copies the report data as text, which you can paste into any document or application.
> Save to CSV: Downloads the report as a CSV (comma-separated values) file that opens in spreadsheet applications like Excel or Google Sheets.
> Print: Opens the browser print dialog, allowing you to print the report or save it as a PDF file.
> Create Invoice: Opens the invoice creation interface pre-populated with the report data. This allows you to generate an invoice directly from the proof of performance without manually re-entering spot counts and prices.
> Share Report: Generates a public link (for example, admaster.cloud/share/report/ftyYYfeWJg) that can be shared with clients or other recipients. Anyone with the link can view the report without logging in. The link remains active indefinitely. The sharing dialog displays the link and provides options to copy it or delete it.
> View PDF: Converts the report to PDF format for printing, emailing, or archiving. The PDF includes the Affidavit Declaration (a statement confirming broadcast of the commercials) as a header, configured in your Global Settings under Printable Document Settings.

Summary Statistics

Below the header, three totals provide a quick overview:
> Total plays: The number of individual spot airings included in the report.
> Total seconds: The cumulative airtime in seconds for all spots in the report.
> Total price: The total cost of the campaign based on the pricing model used. (Displayed only if pricing was enabled during report creation.)

Detailed Broadcast Data Table

The main body of the report is a detailed table showing every spot that aired during the selected period. Each row represents one broadcast. Columns include:
> Break starts at: The exact date and time when the commercial break (and the spot within it) began. This is the precise broadcast time.
> Order / Campaign: The campaign name for quick identification.
> Spot: The filename or identifier of the spot that aired.
> Duration: The length of the spot in minutes and seconds (for example, 00:27 for 27 seconds).
> Price: The cost of this individual airing based on the pricing model. Prices may vary by daypart or time of day, so different airings of the same spot may show different prices.

Viewing and Navigating the Report

The table displays all airings for the selected period. If the report is very long (many spots over a long period), the table may be paginated. You can scroll horizontally to see all columns if your screen is narrow.

Report Data Accuracy

The data in the Broadcast Report depends on the Data Source you selected during creation:

If you selected "Scheduled Commercials," the report shows what was scheduled to air based on the traffic log. This is useful for planning verification but does not confirm actual broadcast.
If you selected "Reconciliation Logs," the report shows what actually aired according to your playout's broadcast log. This is the most accurate option and is recommended for billing and compliance purposes.

9. Insights

Insights are custom data analysis reports designed for internal use within your station. Unlike Broadcast Reports, which are created for clients as proof of performance, Insights help you analyze your business data from multiple angles.

An Insight is a flexible query tool. You select a data type (Customers, Campaigns, Broadcast Logs, Invoices, etc.), configure filters to narrow down the data, choose which columns to display, and define how the results should be sorted. AdMaster then generates a table showing exactly what you asked for.

Insights are useful for answering specific business questions: Which customers have overdue invoices? How many proposals did we send last quarter? Which salesperson booked the most revenue? How many spots were unscheduled this month? You can create as many different Insights as you need, save them, and regenerate them at any time to see updated data.

9.1. The Insights List

After navigating to Insights in the main menu, you see a list of all Insights you have created. Each Insight appears as a row in a table with the following columns:

Title: The name of the Insight (for example, "Insight - Customers - 2026-01-26 09:34:18"). The title is a clickable link that opens the Insight data. Titles are auto-generated based on the Insight type and creation date, but can be customized during creation.

Date Created: The date when the Insight was created.

Rows: The number of data rows returned by the Insight (for example, "43 customers" or "59 spots").

Notes: Optional notes you added when creating the Insight (currently empty in most cases).

Favorite: A checkbox for marking frequently-used Insights as favorites. Favorite Insights can be easily identified and prioritized in your workflow.

Searching and Filtering the List
Use the search box at the top to find Insights by name or keyword. The search filters the list in real-time as you type.

Multi-Select and Bulk Actions
Click "Multi select" to enable selection mode. Checkboxes appear next to each Insight. With one or more Insights selected, the "Actions" button becomes available.

Available Bulk Action:
Delete permanently: Removes all selected Insights from the system. Deleted Insights cannot be recovered. Use this to clean up old or unused Insights.

Accessing an Insight
To view an Insight's data, click on its title. The Insight opens and displays the filtered data in a table format.

9.2. Creating a New Insight

To create a new Insight, click "Add a new insight" at the top of the Insights list. A three-step wizard guides you through the creation process.

Step 1: Select Insight Type
The first step displays a grid of available Insight types. Each type is represented by a card showing an icon, name, and brief description of what the Insight can do. Click on the card of the Insight type you want to create. Section 9.3 below describes each available type in detail.

Step 2: Configure Filters and Columns
This step allows you to customize what data the Insight will display.

Filters Section
A series of toggles allows you to enable or disable specific filters. Only enabled filters will be available when viewing the Insight. Available filters vary depending on the Insight type. Common filters include Stations, Customers, Date Ranges, Status, and Campaign/Order parameters. When you generate the Insight, only the filters you enable will be displayed, allowing you to narrow down the data as needed.

Columns Section
Select which columns (data fields) should appear in your Insight. Each available column is represented by a checkbox. Check the columns you want to display. Columns vary by Insight type and may include customer names, campaign details, financial metrics, performance data, and more. Click "Show all columns" to see additional column options beyond those displayed on the screen.

Sorting Section
Define how your data should be sorted. Click the dropdown to select which column to sort by, then choose the sort direction:
Ascending (A-Z): Sort from lowest to highest, or alphabetically from A to Z.
Descending (Z-A): Sort from highest to lowest, or alphabetically from Z to A.
The sorting is applied automatically when the Insight is generated. After configuring your filters, columns, and sorting preferences, click "Next" to proceed to Step 3.

Step 3: Review and Generate
The final step allows you to review your settings before generating the Insight.

Insight Title
An auto-generated title appears (for example, "Insight - Customers - 2026-01-26 09:34:18"). You can edit this title to something more descriptive (for example, "Customers with Overdue Invoices"). The title can be modified in the text field.

Mark as Favorite
Check this box if you want the Insight to be marked as a favorite. Favorite Insights are easier to find when you need them repeatedly.

Summary of Settings
A summary displays your current configuration showing the Insight Type, Active Filters, Active Columns, and Active Sorting. This summary allows you to verify that everything is configured correctly before generation.

Generate the Insight
Click the green "Generate Insight" button. AdMaster processes your request and generates the Insight. The Insight appears in the Insights list and is ready to view.

9.3. Insight Types Reference

Customers
Track customer financial metrics, campaign performance, and invoice status. Filter by stations, business type, payment terms, aging status, and date ranges. View customer name, balance, campaign plays, invoices due, overdue amounts, and aging buckets.

Campaigns
Analyze campaign performance and scheduling details. Filter by stations, customers, status (Active, Finished, Pending, etc.), and campaign dates. View campaign name, plays, seconds, fulfillment percentages, unscheduled counts, and pricing.

Users & Sales Agents
Monitor user activity and sales performance. Filter by stations, campaigns, and date ranges. View campaigns created/assigned, plays, revenue generated, invoice metrics, and customer counts per agent or creator.

Broadcast Logs
Review all aired spots with exact broadcast details. Filter by stations, campaigns, customers, breaks, spot types, and broadcast dates. View broadcast time, spot name, duration, position in break, and reconciliation status.

Spot Breaks
Analyze break capacity and fill rates. Filter by stations, campaigns, customers, breaks, and dates. View break timing, item counts (spots, jingles, topups), total duration, capacity usage, and fullness percentage.

Station Dayparts
Evaluate performance by time of day (morning, afternoon, evening, etc.). Filter by stations, campaigns, customers, spot types, and dates. View plays, seconds, revenue, unique campaigns/customers, and capacity utilization per daypart.

Unscheduled Spots
Identify spots that could not be placed due to conflicts or capacity limits. Filter by stations, campaigns, customers, and scheduled dates. View spot date, station, campaign, spot name, entry type, and bump reasons for placement failure.

Segments
Review campaign segment configurations and scheduling. Filter by stations, campaigns, customers, and campaign dates. View segment name, station, dates, unlimited status, segment type (Static/Variable), spots count, weekdays, hours, and breaks.

Spots
Catalog all spot files and their properties. Filter by stations, campaigns, customers, topup usage, and campaign dates. View spot name, type, duration, file name, file size, color coding, and performer names.

Invoices
Track invoice status, amounts, and payment history. Filter by customers, invoice dates, due dates, status (Unpaid, Paid, etc.), agents, and contracts. View invoice number, total, paid/outstanding amounts, aging buckets, due date, and payment status.

Proposals
Monitor proposal status and financial details. Filter by customers, start dates, due dates, status, agents, and contracts. View proposal number, total amount, paid/outstanding amounts, sent date, accepted date, and customer information.

Payments
Record and analyze all customer payments. Filter by customers, payment dates, creation dates, overpaid status, created by user, and amount range. View payment number, amount, associated invoices, overpaid status, and additional notes/comments.

12. Troubleshooting

In progress.