Patent ID: 7787058

Claim:
A method for providing information during a live broadcast, comprising: as a playlist is executing on a live, broadcast automation system, monitoring a count associated with the playlist using a scheduling system external to the broadcast automation system, wherein the playlist includes a plurality of segments that comprise the live broadcast and a first marker is associated with a first segment and wherein the count represents a time until the start of the first segment; determining by the live, broadcast automation system whether the count matches a predetermined value during the live broadcast and generating a trigger to a General Purpose Interface (GPI); if the count matches the predetermined value, then based on the playlist and the predetermined value, determining, at a display controller, content of the information received from the GPI, and identifying at least one display unit from a plurality of display units, wherein, during a segment that precedes the first segment, the content graphically conveys a number of seconds until the first segment based on the count; and providing the content to the at least one display unit for display to a person on-camera during the live broadcast.