An ad template is a ready-made group of adverts that you can drop into a playlist in one go. Adding one to your Automated Game Plan means a run of sponsor adverts plays automatically, in a set order, without you adding each advert separately. This article shows you how to add an ad template as an item in a playlist and set its timing and position.
Before you start
You need the Graphics module, as Automation depends on it.
You need an Automated Game Plan with at least one playlist, open in the Automation tab. This could be a pre or post match playlist, a break playlist or an in-game playlist.
You need at least one ad template already set up, containing the adverts you want to show. You can only choose from existing templates when adding this item.
Add an ad template to a playlist
In the Automation tab, open your game plan and select the playlist you want to add the adverts to.
Click Add Item to Sequence. A list of item types appears: Overlay Graphic, Action, Multimedia, Advertisement and Ad Template.
Click Ad Template. The Add Advert Template window opens.
Choose one of your existing ad templates from the list. Pick the one that matches the sponsors and break you're planning for. For example, you might have one template for pre-match sponsors at LIGR Demo Stadium and another for half time.
Check the adverts included in the template. They play in the order they're set in the template.
Set the start time (mm:ss). This is when the template starts within the playlist.
Enter a Duration for how long the template stays on screen, or turn on the Loop toggle. With Loop on, the Duration field is replaced by Loop enabled - no duration.
Position the template on the 1920x1080 canvas. Drag it into place, use Grid Snap to line it up, or enter the X and Y centre position.
Click Continue to add the ad template to the playlist.
How the adverts play
When the playlist reaches the ad template's start time, its adverts play one after another. The order comes from the template itself, so the first advert in the template plays first, then the second, and so on.
With a Duration set, the template stays on screen for that length of time. With Loop on, it keeps cycling its adverts until the playlist ends or another playlist takes over.
Because the template is a single item in your playlist, it moves as one block. If you want the adverts to play in a different order, change the order in the ad template rather than in the playlist.
After you add the ad template
The ad template appears as an item in your playlist sequence, alongside any other items such as graphics or multimedia.
Use the playlist timeline to check where the adverts sit in relation to everything else. See Understanding the playlist timeline.
Use Preview to see how the playlist runs before you take it live, so you can confirm the adverts appear when and where you expect. See Preview a playlist.
When the match is live and Manual is turned off in the Control Room, the game plan runs the playlist automatically and the adverts play when the playlist reaches them. For example, during Harbour City (HCF) v Ridgeview (RVR), a half-time break playlist could run the full set of sponsor adverts without anyone needing to trigger them.
When to use an ad template
Use an ad template when you want to show the same group of adverts in a fixed order, often across several matches. It saves time compared with adding each advert individually, and it keeps your sponsor run consistent from match to match across a competition such as the LIGR Demo League.
If you only need a single advert, adding an individual advertisement item may be simpler. See Add an advertisement to a playlist.
You can also use an ad template in an In Game (Live) playlist to show sponsors during play. A common setup is Hide all at 00:00, the ad template at 00:01 with Loop off, then Show scorebug just after it ends, fired by a time trigger. See Show sponsor ads during play without the scoreboard.
Playlist ads and Ad Allocation in the Ads tab are both valid ways to run sponsors. To compare them, see Ad Allocation or playlist ads: which to use.
Tips and common mistakes
Set up the template first. If the template you want isn't in the list, create it before adding it to the playlist.
Check the order in the template. The adverts always follow the template's order, so review it before match day to make sure sponsors appear in the right sequence.
Choose the right playlist. A break playlist plays the adverts during breaks, a pre or post match playlist plays them before or after the match, and an In Game (Live) playlist plays them during play.
Give every item its own start second. Two items starting on the same second can wipe each other. Leave about 2 seconds between items so animations finish cleanly.
Don't cut it short. A Hide all placed exactly on the template's end time can cut its out-animation short. See Playlist warnings and timing tips.
Preview before going live. A quick preview helps you catch adverts that are in the wrong place or playlist.