Add Professional Rolling Tickers to Any Display — Start Free with 2 Screens for Life

Want your offers, alerts, or live updates to roll across any screen — without tech headaches or extra software?

With PiSignage, you can turn any display into a professional, real-time ticker in minutes.

Your first 2 screens are free for life, and every additional screen costs just $1.67/month.

TL;DR

• Rolling tickers display scrolling messages across your screens — perfect for promotions, updates, and announcements.
• Setup takes few minutes from signup to your first live ticker.
• With 2 free screens forever, $1.67/month for extras, and no technical setup, PiSignage lets you update messages remotely, work offline, and even integrate live data feeds — all from one dashboard.

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What Are Rolling Text Tickers in Digital Signage?

Rolling text tickers are horizontal scrolling text displays that move continuously across your screen - similar to the news crawlers you see on TV news channels. In digital signage, tickers serve as dynamic information bands that can display:

• Real-time announcements (flash sales, schedule changes, alerts)
• Live data feeds (weather updates, news, stock prices, social media)
• Marketing messages (promotions, events, special offers)
• Operational updates (wait times, availability, instructions)

Unlike static text, rolling tickers grab attention through movement while efficiently using screen space. They can run continuously in the background while other content displays, or take center stage during important announcements. The key advantage: instant updates without physical sign replacement or technical intervention.

Why Your Static Signs Are Costing You Money

Businesses face four critical challenges with traditional signage:

1. Outdated content kills conversions. When customers see last week’s offer or a “Happy New Year” poster in March, it signals neglect.Fresh content isn’t just nice to have — it’s what keeps people paying attention.
2. Manual updates drain resources. How much time does your team spend printing, laminating, and physically replacing signs? Calculate those labor hours—the numbers add up fast.

3. Missed opportunities cost real revenue. Flash sales, class cancellations, urgent alerts — they all need instant visibility.
   Static signs can’t react in real time, and every delay means lost clicks, calls, or customers.

4. Professional digital signage seems expensive. Many businesses assume digital signage requires massive budgets or technical expertise, but that's no longer true.

Rolling tickers solve all these problems by delivering real-time, updatable content that keeps your audience engaged and informed.

Real-World Applications: Where Rolling Tickers Drive Results

Restaurants and Cafes

Display "Today's Lunch Special: Thai Green Curry - Available Until 3 PM" with automatic updates. When items sell out, instantly switch to "Happy Hour Starts in 30 Minutes - $5 Appetizers."

Gyms and Fitness Studios

Alert members to class changes, trainer tips, or flash promotions. "Spin Class Moved to Studio B" or "Weekend Bootcamp - 20% Off - Register Today" keeps everyone informed without staff intervention.

Educational Institutions

Schedule exam reminders, parent meeting dates, or emergency alerts. Critical information reaches students and parents instantly, reducing confusion and missed communications.

Retail Stores

Run time-sensitive promotions like "Flash Sale! 2pm-4pm: 50% OFF Selected Items" and update inventory availability in real-time. No more disappointed customers finding out about expired offers.

Corporate Offices

Welcome visitors, broadcast HR announcements, or stream live sales goals. Professional rolling tickers create dynamic environments that keep teams informed and motivated.

From Signup to Live Ticker in 5 Minutes

Step 1: Create Your PiSignage Account
Visit PiSignage and sign up for your free account. Your first 2 screens remain free for life with full feature access - no credit card required, no trial limitations.

Step 2: Register Your Player and Connect Display
Register any compatible player (Raspberry Pi works perfectly for digital signage) and connect it to any display device - TVs, monitors, tablets, kiosks, or LED panels via HDMI, USB-C, or VGA connection.

Step 3: Access Ticker Setup
PiSignage offers two levels of ticker configuration:

• Playlist Level: Unique ticker for each individual playlist
• Group Level: Common ticker across multiple screens in a group

For Playlist-Level Tickers:

1. Navigate to "Playlists" in the left panel of your dashboard
2. Select your desired playlist
3. Click "Set Ticker" at the top right of the screen
4. Check the "Enable Ticker" box in the popup window

Step 4: Configure Ticker Content Choose your ticker type:

Option A: Custom Text Messages

• Select "Text" type for custom promotional messages
• Enter your messages in the text box (one message per line for multiple messages)
• Perfect for daily specials, announcements, or promotional content

Option B: Live RSS Feeds

• Select "RSS Feed" type for dynamic news or data feeds
• Paste the RSS feed URL in the RSS Link box
• Choose between displaying feed "Titles" (recommended) or "Descriptions"
• RSS feeds automatically update with fresh content when internet is available

Step 5: Customize Display Settings

Scroll Direction Options:

• Right to Left: Standard scrolling (most common)
• Left to Right: For right-to-left languages (Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Urdu)
• Slides: Messages appear one after another instead of scrolling

Visual Customization:

• Ticker Speed: Adjust scrolling speed to match reading preferences
• Ticker Height: Set the vertical space allocated to ticker display
• Optional CSS: Advanced styling control (font-size, color, positioning)
  • Example: font-size: 24px; color: #FF0000; for larger red text
  • Default text color is white

Advanced Options:

• Show Asset Associated Text: Display unique text for each playlist item
• Binary Encoding: Check this box if experiencing text display issues
• Item Duration: Set display time per message (applies to slide mode only)

Step 6: Deploy and Go Live Click "Save Settings" to activate your ticker. When this playlist deploys to screens, your ticker will immediately start displaying. Update messages instantly from any device with internet access.

Pro Tips for Success:

Live Data Integration: Connect Google Sheets, weather APIs, social media feeds, or custom data sources using our widget system.
You can display videos or live streams from YouTube, Facebook or any other platforms.

Scheduling Multiple Tickers: Use our advanced scheduling system to display different ticker messages at different times - business hours vs after hours, weekdays vs weekends.

Group-Level Tickers: For multi-location businesses, set up group tickers that display across all screens simultaneously. Playlist-level tickers always take precedence over group tickers.

Offline Reliability: Custom text messages continue displaying even during internet outages. RSS feeds show the last loaded content until connectivity returns.

Emergency Override: Need urgent updates? Use our emergency playlist feature to instantly override all scheduled content with critical ticker messages.

Video Tutorial: Advanced Ticker Customization with CSS and Background Images

For businesses requiring advanced design control, PiSignage supports custom layout templates with full CSS properties and background image integration. Create fully branded ticker displays that perfectly match your business identity and design requirements.

Our comprehensive video tutorial demonstrates:

• Setting up custom background images for ticker displays
• Using CSS properties for precise design control
• Advanced ticker positioning within custom templates
• Creating professional, branded layouts without coding knowledge

If you want to keep your screens updated with the latest news, announcements, or internal updates - RSS feeds are a simple and automated way to do it in PiSignage.

To make it easier, here’s a step-by-step video guide by Rajath Bail from the PiSignage team. He walks you through how to add and customize RSS feeds in your PiSignage setup, ensuring your digital signage content stays dynamic and relevant.

👉 Watch the official tutorial below:

How PiSignage Compares to Competitors

PiSignage's pricing model makes professional digital signage accessible to businesses of any size, while maintaining enterprise-grade reliability.

Advanced Ticker Features That Set PiSignage Apart

Emergency Override Capability Need to interrupt scheduled content for urgent announcements? Our emergency playlist feature instantly overrides all screens with critical ticker messages - perfect for weather alerts, security notifications, or flash sales.

Network Synchronization Deploy identical ticker campaigns across multiple locations simultaneously using domination playlist functionality. Maintain consistent messaging across your entire business network.

Intelligent Scheduling Different messages for different audiences? Schedule business-focused tickers during weekdays and customer promotions during weekends. Our multiple playlist system handles complex scheduling automatically.

Energy Management Combine tickers with automated screen control using our TV_OFF feature to reduce energy costs while maintaining professional presentation standards.

2 Free Screen Licenses: Understanding the True ROI

PiSignage provides 2 screen licenses free for life - not a trial, not a limited-time offer. This represents immediate savings compared to competitors charging $7-20 monthly per screen.

Cost Comparison for Small Business (2 Screens, 12 Months):

• PiSignage: $0 for life
• Other solutions: $168-480/year minimum

Beyond Direct Savings:

• Zero setup fees or installation costs
• No contract commitments or cancellation penalties
• Immediate deployment without waiting for approval processes
• Full feature access including emergency overrides and advanced scheduling

The 2 free screens eliminate financial risk while proving value. Scale up with additional screens at $1.67/month only when growth demands it.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I add a scrolling text ticker or news feed to my digital signage?
   Log into your PiSignage dashboard, select "Ticker" from the content library, enter your text or paste RSS feed URLs, customize the appearance, then deploy to your screens. Complete setup takes under 2 minutes.
   
2. Can I display custom messages or real-time updates with rolling tickers?
   Yes. Display custom promotional messages, real-time inventory updates, live social media feeds, weather information, or any dynamic content. Integration with Google Sheets and RSS feeds enables automatic updates.
   
3. Is it easy to change/update ticker text remotely? Absolutely. Log into your dashboard from any device and type new messages. Changes appear on screens within seconds, no technical knowledge required. Update from your phone, laptop, or tablet anywhere with internet access.
   
4. Can tickers be scheduled for different times or days? Yes. Set unique messages for weekdays vs weekends, business hours vs after hours, or special events. Our advanced scheduling system handles everything automatically with precise time-based controls.
   
5. What hardware and software do I need for tickers? Does it work on existing displays? Any display device works with PiSignage players - TVs, computer monitors, tablets, digital kiosks, LED panels, or projection screens. Use Raspberry Pi devices, Intel NUCs, or compatible hardware. Connect via HDMI, USB-C, or VGA to existing displays - no special screens required.
   
6. How can tickers help ROI for my small business? Restaurants see 15-25% average check increases promoting daily specials. Gyms reduce no-shows by 30% with class change alerts. Retail stores boost impulse purchases 20% with flash sale announcements. Real-time communication drives measurable revenue increases.
   
7. Are there industry-specific templates or layouts for my sector? Yes. PiSignage provides business-focused templates for restaurants, gyms, schools, retail stores, and corporate offices. Templates include optimal ticker placement, colors, and messaging styles for each industry.
   
8. How to troubleshoot formatting issues with tickers? Access formatting controls in your dashboard: adjust font size, scrolling speed, colors, and positioning instantly. For advanced customization, use CSS properties and background images. Our help center provides detailed formatting guides.
   
9. Can tickers integrate with social media, Excel, or Google Sheets? Yes. Connect live data from Google Sheets, RSS feeds, social media platforms, weather services, or custom APIs. Real-time integration means your tickers update automatically without manual intervention.
   
10. What's the cost for ticker features—is it included or extra? Ticker functionality is included in all PiSignage accounts at no extra cost. Your first 2 screens remain free for life, additional screens cost $3/month. No feature restrictions or premium upgrades required.
    
11. How many screens can show tickers at once?
    Unlimited. Deploy identical ticker campaigns across your entire network using domination playlist functionality. Perfect for multi-location businesses maintaining consistent messaging.

Start Your Professional Ticker Campaign Today

Stop missing sales and scrambling for sign updates. PiSignage's rolling ticker solution delivers professional results without technical complexity or budget strain.

Need setup assistance? Contact our team for personalized onboarding support. We'll help you optimize ticker placement, messaging strategy, and integration options for maximum business impact.

Professional digital signage isn't just for enterprise customers anymore. Join thousands of small and medium businesses already using PiSignage to stay competitive, increase sales, and improve customer communications across all types of display devices.

Start your free PiSignage account and transform any display into a professional communication tool in under 5 minutes.