# Scheduling Content for Different Times of Day

> Set up time-based content schedules so your digital signage automatically shows the right content at the right time.

Source: https://signagespace.com/guides/scheduling-content/

Category: Scheduling · Difficulty: Intermediate · Estimated time: 12 min

## Steps

### Step 1: Understand channels

Channels allow you to schedule different playlists at different times. Think of a channel like a TV channel — it has a program schedule that determines what plays and when.

> **Note:** Channels are perfect for businesses that need different content throughout the day, like restaurants switching between breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus.

### Step 2: Create a channel

Navigate to "Channel & Scheduling" in the sidebar and click "Add Channel". Name it something descriptive like "Lobby Schedule" or "Restaurant Display".

### Step 3: Add playlists to the schedule

Within your channel, you'll see a schedule editor. Add playlists to specific time slots. For example, add your "Breakfast Menu" playlist from 6 AM to 11 AM, and your "Lunch Menu" playlist from 11 AM to 3 PM.

### Step 4: Set recurring schedules

Configure your schedule to repeat on specific days of the week. Use shortcuts like "Weekdays", "Weekend", or "Every Day" to quickly set up common patterns. Each day can have its own time range.

> **Tip:** Use the "Business Hours" time preset for standard 9-to-5 schedules, or set custom time ranges for each day.

### Step 5: Set a default playlist

Assign a default playlist that plays when no scheduled content is active. This ensures your screen is never blank — it always has something to display.

> **Warning:** Without a default playlist, your screen may show nothing during unscheduled time slots. Always set a fallback.

### Step 6: Assign the channel to a screen

Finally, assign your channel to a screen instead of a single playlist. The screen will now automatically follow the schedule you've defined, switching content throughout the day.