> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.podigee.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.podigee.com/documentation/grow-and-monetize/monetization/fix-missing-or-stale-inventory-and-ad-breaks.md).

# Fix missing or stale inventory and ad breaks

Repair missing or stale sellable supply and episode ad breaks without changing editorial history.

Use this guide when an episode is not available for sale, an Inventory package is stale, or an ad break is missing or no longer matches the episode. The cause can be rights, source media, delivery, policy, or a changed timeline.

Do not publish a new package or create duplicate breaks to hide a stale result. First find the current source and the reason that the old result is no longer valid.

## Check the episode and source media

1. Open **Monetization > Inventory**.
2. Select **Review episode breaks** or open the affected Inventory package.
3. Confirm the show, episode, publication state, and current audio and video media.
4. Check whether a source is still processing, revoked, replaced, or missing.
5. Compare the current duration with the duration used by the existing break binding.

![A published episode has playable audio and video, three ad breaks, and all three breaks ready for delivery.](https://2032417310-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbqUKO6lljHGzkEAzliPI%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-73e07e377712534a25d3af0729cb78d976c86d73%2Fdoc-monetization-028-current-episode-readiness.jpg?alt=media)

*Confirm the media and ad-break state before you rely on an episode as sellable supply.*

If the source media changed, treat every affected break as stale until the current source is reviewed. A break timecode from an older recording is not valid for a new recording.

## Check rights and publisher policy

Confirm the current authority before you repair supply:

* The workspace can represent the show for advertising.
* The publisher permits advertising for this show and episode.
* Audio, video, or both are allowed by the authority.
* The selected markets and sales window are allowed.
* The show is not private when the commercial offer requires public delivery.
* An ad-free rule does not exclude the episode.
* No category, demand source, or format restriction blocks the offer.

Private access is not the same as permission to sell advertising. An ad-free policy is a real business rule. Do not override it from the Inventory or Break Canvas page.

Use [Assess first-party podcast supply](/documentation/grow-and-monetize/monetization/assess-first-party-podcast-supply.md) to repair authority, rights, format, capacity, or cost inputs before you prepare a package again.

## Check delivery and measurement

An Inventory package needs a supported delivery method and a measurement unit for every selected format. Check:

* Audio delivery is available for the selected audio source.
* Video delivery is available for the selected video source.
* Apple or Spotify delivery is included only when its connection and capability are current.
* The measurement rule exists for the promised unit.
* The selected markets and dates match the delivery method.

Remove a format that is not currently supported. Do not promise audio and video because both files exist when the required delivery or measurement path is not ready.

## Reassess a stale Inventory package

If the package says **Stale**, **Incomplete**, **Unsupported**, or **Revoked**:

1. Open the package details and read the named reason.
2. Correct the source, authority, policy, delivery, market, capacity, or cost input.
3. Create a successor draft from the current package when the package identity stays the same.
4. Review the new draft against the current source versions.
5. Run **Check sellability** again.
6. Complete the required review and publish only after the check passes.

Use [Update an Inventory package safely](/documentation/grow-and-monetize/monetization/update-an-inventory-package-safely.md) for a successor version. The old published package remains unchanged while the new draft is prepared.

## Rebuild a stale ad break

If the break is missing, stale, outside the current duration, or tied to an old media revision:

1. Open **Inventory > Review episode breaks**.
2. Select the current episode and media revisions.
3. Open **Break Canvas**.
4. Remove or leave the stale draft out of the new plan. Do not edit a published historical binding.
5. Suggest a new before-episode, during-episode, or after-episode break, or add an exact custom position.
6. Select the media formats that are ready.
7. Set the slot count, maximum duration, and partial-fill and no-fill behavior.
8. Review the position against the current waveform or video timeline.
9. Submit the current binding for the required review.

![A suggested mid-roll with its exact position, two-slot capacity, one-minute limit, and clean-content fallback rules.](https://2032417310-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbqUKO6lljHGzkEAzliPI%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-d28c7d85200bc68dbb3253b2b1faacf10fb67866%2Fdoc-monetization-025-break-capacity-and-fallback.jpg?alt=media)

*The prepared break keeps editorial position, commercial capacity, media, and fallback behavior in one place.*

Use [Prepare episode ad breaks](/documentation/grow-and-monetize/monetization/prepare-episode-ad-breaks.md) for the complete preparation flow and [Review and approve exact ad breaks](/documentation/grow-and-monetize/monetization/review-and-approve-exact-ad-breaks.md) before the break becomes available to a Campaign.

## Handle a changed episode duration

When the current episode is shorter or longer than the reviewed source:

* Check whether the old break is before the new end of the program.
* Recheck the spoken content around every during-episode position.
* Move a break away from a chapter boundary, sponsor mention, or important editorial transition.
* Recreate a position when the source was replaced, not only when the timecode moved.
* Review audio and video positions separately when their timelines do not match.

Do not copy one episode's break times to another episode. Each episode has its own content timeline.

## Verify the repair

After the new package or break is approved:

1. Confirm the package and binding use the current source revisions.
2. Confirm the package is published and the break is eligible for the intended media.
3. Run the exact Campaign or Launch readiness checks again.
4. Request one representative audio or video delivery.
5. Confirm the decision, media, fallback, analytics, and commercial evidence use the new versions.

Use [Verify one real audio or video delivery](/documentation/grow-and-monetize/monetization/verify-one-real-audio-or-video-delivery.md) for the last check. A green preparation state alone does not prove that a listener or viewer can receive the expected result.

## If the repair is blocked

* **The source is private or ad-free:** keep it out of sale until an authorized policy change is complete.
* **The source is missing or processing:** finish source preparation and check the current version again.
* **The format is unsupported:** remove it or complete the required delivery connection.
* **The break is outside the duration:** create a new position on the current timeline.
* **The break needs editorial review:** submit the new binding and wait for the required decision.
* **The package has active reservations:** prepare a successor and review the effect on Campaigns before you replace the published package.
* **The cause is unclear:** open [Manage an operational issue](/documentation/grow-and-monetize/monetization/manage-an-operational-issue.md) and preserve the exact package, episode, source, and binding references.

## Expected result

The selected Inventory package and episode breaks describe current authorized media, supported delivery, valid capacity, and reviewed positions. Historical versions stay unchanged, and new Campaign decisions use only the repaired current supply.


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