Before I discovered Falcon Rundown, most mornings in our regional TV newsroom started with frantic phone calls. We used Excel spreadsheets to map out the show, but those spreadsheets were rigid, error-prone, and disconnected from the real production. We had to send updated versions via email, then someone might overwrite them. Sometimes the presenter got an old cue page. The director was always manually counting times and sending corrections to camera ops via Slack or SMS.
We desperately needed a system that combined real-time editing, cuecards, timing, and collaboration all in one place. Then I came across Falcon Rundown at wearefalcon.tv/falcon-rundown/, and everything changed.
Our spreadsheets had no concept of tags. So camera cues, graphics, sound, and props were all lumped together. We’d misfire a graphic command because someone forgot to note “GRAPHIC” in a cell.
We had zero teleprompter integration. Scripts were exchanged via Word docs; presenters sometimes got the wrong version.
Timing was manual: the director or producer constantly recalculated elapsed and remaining time.
Collaboration was chaotic. If I emailed an updated rundown at 08:30, someone might already have altered the old version locally.
When we migrated and opened the Falcon Rundown Software dashboard (Falcon Rundown) for the first time, I realized we could finally stop juggling tools. We set up a “Morning News” project, assigned roles, and started building.
Here’s how the features radically improved our workflow:
Tagging system: We now use color-coded tags (CAM, GRAPHIC, SOUND, LIVE, PROPS). It's easy at a glance to see what devices or team members are responsible for each line.
Real-time collaboration: Our producers, directors, and scriptwriters all work in the same document at once. No emailing updated versions.
Teleprompter & cuecards integration: Presenters can view scripts attached to items directly; cuecards are sent to their tablets, eliminating paper handouts.
Live timing mode: The director always sees elapsed/remaining time and pacing. No more frantic calculations in a corner.
Export & PDF: Crew members get a print-ready rundown, formatted just for their needs.
On a typical day, the scriptwriter starts writing while the producer builds the rundown. The director monitors pacing with live timing. Camera ops see their tags. Presenters check their cuecards on iPads. If a story is delayed, the producer edits the rundown live, and changes are instantly reflected everywhere.
Because of Falcon, we eliminated version drift, miscommunications, and time-lagged revisions. It’s made our show flow smoother and given everyone clarity.
We had always wanted something that combined all the key features: tag system, teleprompter, cuecards, live timing, collaboration. But everything we tried was either too expensive, too bloated, or missing one piece. Falcon Rundown delivered all these pieces in one elegant tool.
If your newsroom is tired of patching together workflows, check out what Falcon Rundown offers at Falcon Rundown — it might be exactly the missing tool your team needs.