A media play out system, comprising: a processor; at least one network interface; a storage device storing one or more items of content received via the at least one network interface; at least one content decoder connected to the storage device; at least one media input interface; at least one media output interface; and a mixer connected to the at least one content decoder, the at least one media input interface, and the at least one media output interface; wherein the processor is configured to play out media for a first broadcast region of a plurality of broadcast regions by: retrieving a media automation schedule comprising a hierarchical media automation schedule for the plurality of broadcast regions, from a second device via the network interface, identifying a node within the hierarchy corresponding to the first broadcast region, aggregating media automation instructions of the identified node and each parent node of the identified node from the hierarchical media automation schedule, determining whether a first item of content identified in the aggregated media automation instructions for playback at a first time is available, identifying a node of the hierarchical media automation schedule including the instruction designating playback of the first item of content at the first time, responsive to determining that the first item of content is not available, iteratively searching for a parent node of the child node including an instruction designating playback of a second item of content at the first time, and controlling the mixer to play the second item of content in the storage device via the media output interface. a processor; at least one network interface; a storage device storing one or more items of content received via the at least one network interface; at least one content decoder connected to the storage device; at least one media input interface; at least one media output interface; and a mixer connected to the at least one content decoder, the at least one media input interface, and the at least one media output interface; wherein the processor is configured to play out media for a first broadcast region of a plurality of broadcast regions by: retrieving a media automation schedule comprising a hierarchical media automation schedule for the plurality of broadcast regions, from a second device via the network interface, identifying a node within the hierarchy corresponding to the first broadcast region, aggregating media automation instructions of the identified node and each parent node of the identified node from the hierarchical media automation schedule, determining whether a first item of content identified in the aggregated media automation instructions for playback at a first time is available, identifying a node of the hierarchical media automation schedule including the instruction designating playback of the first item of content at the first time, responsive to determining that the first item of content is not available, iteratively searching for a parent node of the child node including an instruction designating playback of a second item of content at the first time, and controlling the mixer to play the second item of content in the storage device via the media output interface. retrieving a media automation schedule comprising a hierarchical media automation schedule for the plurality of broadcast regions, from a second device via the network interface, identifying a node within the hierarchy corresponding to the first broadcast region, aggregating media automation instructions of the identified node and each parent node of the identified node from the hierarchical media automation schedule, determining whether a first item of content identified in the aggregated media automation instructions for playback at a first time is available, identifying a node of the hierarchical media automation schedule including the instruction designating playback of the first item of content at the first time, responsive to determining that the first item of content is not available, iteratively searching for a parent node of the child node including an instruction designating playback of a second item of content at the first time, and controlling the mixer to play the second item of content in the storage device via the media output interface.