Show Search and Saved Searches in Cablecast

Show Search is Cablecast's tool for finding shows based on metadata like title, producer, project, event date, and more. You can run a one-time search to locate a specific show, or save a search so Cablecast can reference it automatically across features like Internet Channels, OTT apps, Autoschedule, and Workflows.

Searching for Shows

To search for shows, go to Shows > Show Search in the left-hand menu.

The default view includes a Title Contains filter with an empty text field. With no text entered, this returns all shows in your system — a useful starting point if you want to browse everything or build a search that captures your full library. This is also the recommended starting point for REFLECT+ customers, as uploading all show metadata allows your schedule to populate on your Cablecast Internet Channels.

Adding and Removing Filters

To add a filter, click + Add in the upper right of the filters area. Filters can pull from any metadata field in a Show Record, including Custom Fields. You can stack as many filters as needed to narrow results.

To remove a filter, click the X on the right side of that filter row.

Sorting Results

The default sort order is Order By Event Date, descending. This puts the most recently dated shows at the top of the results list. You can change the sort field and direction using the sort controls above the results.

Reading Results

Results appear to the left of the Filters panel. Each row shows key show metadata. Click a show title to open its Show Record.

Saving a Search

Once your filters and sort order are set, click Search to run the search. A Save Search button appears in the results area. Click it and give the search a name that describes what it returns — for example, "City Council — Latest" or "All Shows with VOD."

Saved Searches are available to view and manage under Shows > Saved Searches.

Where Saved Searches Are Used

Saved Searches aren't just for finding shows manually. Several features across Cablecast rely on them to determine which content to display or schedule.

Internet Channels — Saved Searches define which shows appear in galleries and slideshows on your Internet Channel. When you configure a gallery, you assign a Saved Search to it. As new shows match the search criteria, they appear in the gallery automatically. You can also add a Saved Search to your Internet Channel's Site Content settings to control what appears in search results on the channel.

OTT Apps — Saved Searches drive Custom Collections in your Cablecast-powered branded apps, the same way they do for Internet Channels.

Autoschedule — Autoschedule rules use Saved Searches to determine what to place on the schedule. The Top Search Result option schedules the show that appears first in the search — typically the most recent, when sorted by Event Date descending. The Random Search Result option picks a show from the results at random. As the search results change, so does what gets scheduled.

Workflows — Some Workflow types can be scoped to a Saved Search, so the workflow runs against a defined set of shows rather than requiring manual selection each time.

Schedule Panel — Saved Searches are also accessible directly from the schedule, without having to navigate to Show Search. The right-hand panel in the schedule has three tabs: Shows, Saved, and Advanced.

The Saved tab lets you select any existing Saved Search from a dropdown and pull up its results right in the schedule panel, so you can drag shows onto the schedule without leaving the schedule view.

The Advanced tab lets you build a search on the fly using the same filter and sort options available in Show Search. You can save that search directly from this tab as well, making it available everywhere else Saved Searches are used.

Results from each tab display within that tab — the Shows, Saved, and Advanced tabs each maintain their own results independently. The Shows tab always displays the 50 most recently added shows based on event date and allowed air dates. Shows with an allowed air date set outside of the current date will not appear in the Shows tab results.

Note: To find specific shows or filter by metadata, use the Advanced or Saved tabs rather than relying on the Shows tab.

Note: Because Saved Searches power so many features, it's worth naming them clearly and testing that they return the expected results before connecting them to a live Internet Channel, app, or rule.

Editing a Saved Search

To edit an existing Saved Search, go to Shows > Saved Searches and click the search you want to update.

Adjust the filters as needed, then click Search to rerun it. A Save Search button appears — click it to overwrite the previous filter settings.

Tips

Use the Project filter instead of Title Contains for series content. If multiple programs share words in their titles, the Project filter is more precise than Title Contains. It returns only shows with that specific project assigned, regardless of title wording. This is especially important for Internet Channel galleries, where an overly broad title filter can pull in unintended shows — for example, if several programs aimed at seniors all include words like "aging" or "senior" in their titles.

Use the Has VOD filter to keep galleries clean. The Video On Demand > Has VOD filter limits results to shows that have a VOD file attached. This is useful if you create Show Records in advance for upcoming live events and don't want them appearing in a gallery until a recording is available. Keep in mind that this filter alone won't hide the show from Internet Channel search results — to prevent that, you also need to apply the Saved Search in the Site Content settings for the channel.