Lifecycle

Controls when event channels are created in and deleted from Dispatcharr.

Create Timing

Mode	Description
Same day	Create channels on the day of the event
Before event + buffer	Create channels a configurable number of hours before the event starts

When Before event + buffer is selected, a Pre-Event Buffer (hours) field appears where you set how many hours before the event to create the channel (e.g., 6 hours before).

Delete Timing

Mode	Description
Same day	Delete channels at midnight on the day of the event
After event + buffer	Delete channels a configurable number of hours after the event ends

The Post-Event Buffer (hours) sets how many hours after the event ends to keep the channel (e.g., 2 hours after for postgame coverage).

Events that cross midnight always use the post-event buffer for deletion, even in “Same day” mode, so a channel isn’t pulled out from under a game in progress.

Create and delete timing work together with EPG generation. Channels are only actually created or deleted when a generation run executes — the timing determines eligibility, not the exact moment.