TV production planning software should connect the editorial plan to what happens in the studio, gallery and on air. A generic task manager can track deadlines, while a spreadsheet can list segments, but a live programme also needs scripts, production cues, timing, presenter outputs and rapid changes to the running order.
This buyer’s guide focuses on software for live television, streaming, newsroom output and studio shows. Use it to build a realistic test before choosing a platform.
Start with the production workflow, not the feature list
Map how a story moves through your team:
- An idea or booking becomes a planned story.
- A producer assigns ownership and duration.
- A journalist or scriptwriter creates the on-air text.
- Production staff add camera, video, graphic, sound and input requirements.
- The team reviews timing and changes the running order.
- Presenters and operators receive the view or output they need.
- The show goes on air and timing is monitored live.
The software should reduce handoffs across that chain. A long checklist of isolated features is less valuable if users still copy information between documents at every stage.
Core capabilities to evaluate
Collaborative rundowns
Several users should be able to work on the same production without sending files. Test whether the order, timings and stories stay current across two browsers while people edit different parts of the show.
Structured story editor
The editor should support real presenter copy as well as production context. Confirm that camera, video, graphic, sound and other items can be placed at the correct point without becoming ordinary text.
Read our detailed guide to collaborative script writing for broadcast.
Operational timing
Look for planned start times, manual durations, script or text duration, totals, estimated finish time and over/under information. During the show, the team should see current progress rather than only the schedule created before rehearsal.
Production items and assets
Cues should have consistent types and colours so operators can scan the rundown quickly. If the platform connects to a graphics, video or automation system, test how assets are identified, filtered and updated.
Comments and communication
Story-level comments keep decisions near the work. Project or rundown chat can support broader coordination. Check that new communication updates do not interrupt someone who is actively writing.
Permissions
Not every user should be able to rewrite a script or reorder a live rundown. Evaluate full write, comment and read-only roles, including whether controls that require write access are visibly unavailable.
Presenter and crew outputs
A single source becomes more valuable when it can produce role-specific views. Test cuecards, prompter display, script printouts, rundown PDFs and concise operational layouts.
Integration and export
Broadcast teams may need MOS exchange, graphics metadata, video assets or automation hooks. Define the required systems and test with a real asset or rundown. Do not accept “integrates with broadcast systems” as a substitute for a concrete workflow.
Cloud, on-premises or hybrid?
Browser-based software can reduce deployment work and make remote access easier. On-premises systems may provide closer control over local infrastructure. Hybrid workflows can combine online editorial planning with on-site playout or automation.
Ask where data is hosted, how access is protected, what happens during an interruption and which functions require a live connection. The right answer depends on the production’s risk profile and infrastructure.
Build a realistic proof of concept
Do not evaluate the system with three empty lines. Create a copy of a real programme containing:
- At least 20 stories with mixed durations
- Long and short presenter scripts
- Camera, video, graphics, sound and remote inputs
- Several editors with different permissions
- Late changes to story order and duration
- A rehearsal using cuecards or prompter output
- A print/PDF fallback for one crew role
Then run the programme clock, shorten one live segment, move two stories and update a script while another user watches. This reveals more than a polished feature tour.
Buyer’s scorecard
| Area | Questions | Suggested weight |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial workflow | Are stories, scripts, ownership and comments connected? | 20% |
| Timing | Does planning remain useful on air? | 20% |
| Collaboration | Can several roles work safely and see current information? | 20% |
| Production context | Are cues and assets structured and easy to scan? | 15% |
| Outputs | Do cuecards, prompter, views and print meet crew needs? | 10% |
| Integration | Are required broadcast connections proven? | 10% |
| Deployment and support | Can the team operate and recover the system? | 5% |
Adjust the weights for your format. A newsroom may prioritise collaboration and MOS. A studio talk show may prioritise scripts, timing and presenter tools. A small streamer may value fast browser access and straightforward pricing.
Common buying mistakes
- Choosing by price alone: count the time spent reconciling files and fixing version errors.
- Testing only the producer view: include presenters and operators.
- Ignoring last-minute changes: the hardest workflow often begins after rehearsal.
- Assuming all integrations are equal: verify the exact data and direction of exchange.
- Overbuying: a complex NRCS can be unnecessary when the team needs a focused rundown and script workflow.
Where Falcon Rundown fits
Falcon Rundown is browser-based production planning and rundown software for broadcasters, newsrooms, streamers and live TV teams. Its documented workflow includes projects and rundowns, live collaboration, story writing, production items, timing, comments/chat, multiple layouts, cuecards, prompter tools, print/PDF options, mobile access, MOS-related integration and connection with Falcon Play assets.
Compare the underlying terminology in run-of-show versus broadcast rundown software, use the broadcast rundown template for your test and practise backtiming the show.
Frequently asked questions
Is TV production planning software the same as an NRCS?
Not always. An NRCS can cover broad newsroom planning, ingest, scripting, rundowns and integrations. Focused rundown software may provide the planning, script, timing and production workflow without the same deployment scope or complexity.
Can small teams benefit from rundown software?
Yes. Small teams often combine several roles, so one shared plan can be especially valuable. The software should remain simple enough that the time saved exceeds the administration required.
What should be tested first?
Test concurrent editing, a real story reorder, timing changes, permissions and the outputs used during rehearsal. Those workflows expose whether the platform will remain useful under pressure.
Review Falcon Rundown pricing or book a demo with a real production workflow.