Sometimes you want a sponsor to have the screen to themselves for a few seconds during live play. This article shows you how to build an In Game (Live) playlist that clears the scoreboard, plays an ad template, then brings the scoreboard back at the times you choose.
Before you start
You need an Automated Game Plan for your theme. See Create an Automated Game Plan.
You need an ad template with your sponsor adverts in it, in the order you want them to play.
The overlay must have Ad Type set to Brands and Enable Ads switched on, or no ads will show.
Step 1: Create the playlist
In the Automation tab, open your game plan.
Go to the In Game (Live) tab.
Create a new playlist and give it a clear name, for example Sponsor break.
Step 2: Add the items
The playlist needs three items, each on its own start second.
Hide all at 00:00
Click Add Item to Sequence and choose Action.
Select Hide all and set the start time to 00:00. This clears every graphic, including the scorebug.
The ad template at 00:01
Click Add Item to Sequence and choose Ad Template.
Pick your ad template and set the start time to 00:01.
Leave Loop off and set the Duration to how long you want the sponsor on screen.
Position it on the 1920x1080 canvas. Drag it into place, use Grid Snap, or enter the X and Y centre position.
Show scorebug just after the ad ends
Click Add Item to Sequence and choose Action.
Select Show scorebug and set its start time just after the ad template finishes. This brings the scoreboard back.
Adverts animate in and out, and that time is part of the duration. Leaving a small gap before Show scorebug lets the ad finish its out-animation cleanly. For more on each item, see Add an ad template to a playlist and Add an action to an automation playlist.
Step 3: Add time triggers
Open the playlist's Configure settings and go to Trigger Playlists.
Click Add Live Trigger and choose Time trigger (Time elapsed) from the Trigger event dropdown.
Enter the match time (mm:ss) when you want the sponsor to appear.
Click + Add time trigger for each extra time you want, for example every 5 minutes.
A yellow note explains that this trigger defaults to priority 4 with the guards isLive and isNotPenaltyShootout, but attaching the trigger doesn't change the playlist's own priority or guards. You set those in the next step.
Step 4: Set priority 4 and guards
In Configure, click Show Advanced Options.
Set the priority to 4, the lowest. If a goal or card happens at the same moment, that playlist wins.
Add the guards isLive and isNotPenaltyShootout, so the sponsor only runs during play and never in a shootout.
For more detail, see Configure a playlist: name, priority and guards.
Step 5: Check it in Preview
Open Preview on the playlist and play it through. You should see Hide all clear the scorebug, the ad appear a second later, then the scorebug return once the ad ends. See Preview a playlist.
In-app warnings you may see
An orange info icon on a playlist gives advice. A red warning icon flags a problem to fix.
A live playlist should end by returning to the scorebug. Add a Show scorebug action as the final step. This means the final Show scorebug is missing. Add it after the ad template.
Second Xs is already used by ... Two transitions on one second can wipe each other. Two items share a start second. Give each item its own second.
The app may also offer suggestions as you add items. Read them before you save.
Tips and common mistakes
If you'd rather keep the scorebug on screen, the Live Sponsor Loop in Ad Allocation on the Ads tab plays sponsors inside the scorebug instead. Both approaches work well; choose what suits your broadcast.
Don't put Show scorebug exactly on the ad's end time, or it may cut the out-animation short.
If no ads show, check the overlay's Ad Type and Enable Ads settings first.