Show Rundown Creator
Build a broadcast-style run of show — segments, talent, sources, durations and auto-calculated start times — with a live countdown mode and CSV, Excel and PDF export.
What Is the Show Rundown Creator?
The Show Rundown Creator builds a professional run of show like the ones used in TV galleries, live streams and events. Each row is a segment with a type (Segment, Live, VT/Video, Graphic, Interview, Music, Break, Ad), an item title, talent, source (camera or input), a duration and notes or script. From the show start time and the durations, it automatically calculates the clock start time for every item and the total runtime, updating instantly as you edit or reorder. Drag rows to reorder, duplicate or delete them, and colour-coded type stripes make the sheet scannable at a glance. A Live Mode turns it into a show-caller's timer: it highlights the current item, counts it down large, and flags amber in the final seconds and red once you run over, with Next/Prev to advance through the show. Export the finished rundown to CSV, Excel or PDF, or print a copy for the gallery — and everything saves in your browser automatically.
How It Works
Set the show title and start time, then add items and fill in type, title, talent, source, duration (MM:SS or H:MM:SS) and notes. Drag the grip or use the arrows to reorder; each item's on-air clock time recalculates automatically. Hit Live Mode to run the show with a countdown for the current item and Next/Prev to advance. Export to CSV, Excel or PDF, or print.
When to Use It
Use it to plan and run TV shows, live streams, podcasts, webinars, conferences, church services, award shows, weddings and stage events — anywhere you need timed segments, a total runtime, and a document to hand to the crew, host and gallery.
Step-by-Step Workflow
- Start with the schedule, not the stopwatch. Set the show title and start time. Give every segment a clear title, a responsible presenter, a source and a realistic duration. Keep cues such as “roll video” or “stand by camera two” in the notes. The start time of each row is calculated from the durations above it; editing an early item moves everything after it.
- Import an existing plan carefully. Choose Import CSV / Excel and upload CSV, TSV or a modern .xlsx workbook. Select the correct worksheet and header row. Map Item/Title, Type, Color, Talent, Source, Duration and Notes. Review the preview before appending or replacing. Numeric durations can mean seconds, minutes or Excel time fractions; select the interpretation that matches the source. Clock strings use MM:SS or H:MM:SS.
- Build a useful visual language. Select a type and color before adding an item, or customize a row afterward. Use custom names such as Demo, Q&A or Awards when the standard list is not enough. Keep the written type label: color alone is not reliable for every operator or printed copy.
- Rehearse, then run. Start Live Mode and use Next when the actual segment changes. Completed cues turn gray. Select an earlier item number to return to that cue and restart its countdown. This is operator-controlled; reaching zero does not automatically advance the show. Use a script rehearsal to adjust durations before the live event.
Practical Example
A 30-second opening, 90-second welcome and 6-minute interview total 8 minutes. With a 19:00 show start, the interview begins at 19:02. Importing a numeric 0.00416667 as Excel time gives approximately 6 minutes; importing it as seconds does not.
Check Your Result
- Compare total duration against your available slot, including breaks and transitions.
- Export and reimport a small sample before moving a large production spreadsheet. Check custom labels, colors, notes and duration units.
- Keep a printed or downloaded running order if the device, battery or browser fails.
Limitations & Privacy
Imports are limited to 500 items, 5 MB files and a bounded workbook extraction size. Legacy binary .xls needs to be saved as .xlsx or CSV first. BrowserTools HTML .xls exports can be reopened. Excel formulas are not recalculated; imports use stored cell values. Live timing does not control playout equipment.
Rundowns and imported spreadsheets stay on this device. Browser-local storage is not team synchronization; export files to share or back up a plan. See the Privacy Policy for site-wide storage, optional analytics and external-service details.
Explore practical tool workflows for the next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How are start times calculated?
- Each item's clock time is the show start time plus the total duration of every item above it, so reordering rows or changing a duration instantly re-times the whole rundown and updates the total runtime.
- What is Live Mode?
- It turns the rundown into a show-caller's clock: the current item is highlighted and counted down in large digits — green while on time, amber in the last 15 seconds, and red once you run over — with Next and Prev to move through the show as it airs.
- Can I export or share the rundown?
- Yes — export to CSV (for spreadsheets), Excel (.xls), or a formatted PDF, or print a hard copy. The rundown also saves in your browser so it's there when you come back.
- Does it save my work?
- Automatically, in your browser's local storage. Nothing is uploaded — your rundown stays on your device — so export or print if you need a permanent copy or want to share it with the team.
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