Protected items in PlayIt Live have a significant impact on automatic scheduling algorithms by providing deletion protection against certain automated features. When an item is marked as protected (indicated by a shield icon in the playout log), it becomes immune to modification or removal by both Fixed Time Markers and the Auto Adjust feature.

Fixed Time Marker Protection: Protected items cannot be dropped by Fixed Time Markers, regardless of the marker type (Hard or Soft). This is particularly important for essential content like advert blocks that must play at specific times. Normally, Fixed Time Markers can remove items that would prevent precise timing, but protected items will remain scheduled even if they interfere with the time marker's target time.

Auto Adjust Feature Protection: The Auto Adjust feature, which automatically modifies already-scheduled content to fit precise timing requirements, cannot affect protected items. While Auto Adjust can normally soft-delete items that fall after target times, adjust tempos, modify segues, or add tracks to reach timing goals, it will skip over any protected items during these operations. This ensures critical content remains untouched during automatic timing adjustments.

When to Use Protected Items: Protected status should be applied to items that must be played during an hour regardless of timing constraints. Common examples include advert blocks, sponsor mentions, news bulletins, or any content with contractual or regulatory requirements. You can set items as protected either when creating clock items or when editing individual playout log items.

Manual Override Required: To delete a protected item, users must access the context menu via the ellipsis button (…) rather than using standard delete controls. This prevents accidental removal whilst still allowing manual intervention when necessary.

Performance Considerations: Whilst protected items are essential for critical content, overusing them can create performance issues. When multiple items are protected, the scheduling algorithms must work significantly harder to find suitable items to remove when reaching fixed time markers. This increased computational load can slow down the system as it searches further back through the playout log to locate unprotected items for removal. For optimal performance, reserve protection status exclusively for content that absolutely must play regardless of timing constraints.