# Franchise Prototype TV Layout: Setting Screen Counts by Zone for New Units

> Set TV counts in a franchise prototype by zone and job, not by square footage. Give each zone a written rule, split screens into core, flex and optional tiers, and pre-wire every approved position so new units open consistent while each site can still adjust.

Source: https://www.sportsdirectllc.com/guides/franchise-prototype-tv-layout · Guide · Last reviewed 2026-11-01 · Sports Direct | DLM Media

## Who this is for and what you will be able to decide

This is for franchise development, design and construction teams, and for the operations leads who live with whatever the prototype says. A franchise prototype TV layout has to answer one question for every zone in the unit: how many screens does this space need to do its job, and how far can a site vary before it stops feeling like the brand?

Get that right in the prototype and new units open with the same viewing experience, the same sightlines and the same opening routine. Leave it vague and every site ends up with its own count, its own mounting heights and its own service calls.

By the end you should be able to:

- Write a screen count rule for each zone instead of a single number for the whole unit
- Decide which screens are mandatory, which flex by footprint, and which are optional add-ons
- Specify the wiring allowance that makes later changes easy instead of disruptive
- Know what to ask a commercial TV provider before the prototype is locked

This page is about how many screens and where. For sizes, mounts, receivers and numbering conventions, pair it with your [franchise TV equipment standard](/guides/franchise-tv-equipment-standard).

## Count screens by zone and job, not by square footage

Square footage is the most common way teams set a standard TV count per location, and it is the least reliable. A long, narrow inline unit and a wide end-cap unit can share a footprint and need very different layouts. What actually drives the count is what each zone is for and where people sit when they use it.

Start by naming the zones in your prototype and giving each one a job. Then write the count as a rule tied to seating and sightlines, so a site designer can apply it to any floor plan.

| Zone | What the screens are for | How to set the count | Where sites usually flex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar | Primary sports and event viewing | Every bar seat gets a clear, near head-on view of at least one screen; add screens as the bar run grows or turns a corner | Longer bars, L-shaped or U-shaped bars |
| Main dining | Ambient, captioned viewing | Each table section can see one screen without diners turning their chairs; favor fewer, larger screens | Family-focused markets often stay at the minimum |
| Lounge or high-tops | Overflow viewing on busy nights | Treat it like the bar if it fills on game nights, like dining if it does not | The most common swing zone between units |
| Patio | Seasonal viewing | Only positions where shade and glare allow; outdoor-rated equipment | Climate, orientation, local approvals |
| Entry or waiting area | Brand content, wait-time messaging or muted news | Usually one screen, or none in small footprints | Drive-through-heavy or takeout-heavy units |
| Private or party room | Private events, presentations, the occasional game | One per room with a laptop input | Only in prototypes that include the room |
| Back of house | Break room and manager's office | See the [back of house TV setup](/guides/restaurant-back-of-house-tv-setup) for what belongs where | Kitchen screens are the exception, not the rule |

> **Tip:** Define a "bar section" in the prototype as the run of seats one screen can serve head-on from the bar's sightline. Then the bar rule becomes "one screen per bar section," which any designer can apply to any bar length.

If your concept leans heavily into sports, the bar and lounge rules will carry most of the weight. If it is ambiance-first, dining rules dominate. The [sports bar vs. casual restaurant comparison](/guides/sports-bar-vs-restaurant-tv-setup) covers how that positioning changes the whole room.

## Set core, flex and optional tiers for every zone

A single fixed count fails the first time a site comes in with an odd column grid or a deeper patio. Tiers solve that. Each screen position in the prototype belongs to one of three groups.

### Core screens

Core screens appear in every unit, in the same position relative to a fixed element such as the back bar, the brand wall or the host stand. Same size, same mounting height, same number in your labeling scheme. These are the screens a regular customer should be able to find in any location. Keep the core small; it is the part no site can change.

### Flex screens

Flex screens have a count that varies by footprint, between a minimum and a maximum written into the prototype for each zone. The rule from the table above decides the number; the site walk decides the exact position. An end-cap unit with a long bar and a patio lands near the maximum. A compact inline unit lands near the minimum. Both still feel like the same brand.

### Optional screens

Optional screens are approved positions a franchisee may add, often in the lounge, patio or private room. The prototype shows where they go and what they connect to, so adding one later is an equipment order, not a construction project.

The rule that makes the tiers work: **pre-wire every core, flex and optional position**, including the ones a site may never use. Power, low-voltage pathway and a cable run to the equipment location cost far less to install with the walls open than after the unit is trading. The [wiring-before-drywall checklist](/guides/restaurant-tv-wiring-before-drywall) covers what each position should get.

## A franchise prototype TV checklist for development teams

Work through this before the prototype drawings are final:

1. **Name every zone** and write one sentence on what its screens are for.
2. **Write the count rule** for each zone, tied to seating or bar sections, plus a minimum and maximum.
3. **Mark each position as core, flex or optional** on the prototype plan.
4. **Check sightlines from seats, not from the doorway.** Sit in the worst seat of each section on the drawing and confirm a screen is visible.
5. **Fix mounting heights and sizes per tier** so core screens look identical in every unit.
6. **Decide which screens can show different content at the same time.** Screens that need independent channels typically need their own receiver; screens that always mirror each other can usually share a source.
7. **Assign one sound source per zone** and plan captions everywhere else. The [closed captions approach](/blog/closed-captions-tv-restaurant-bar) keeps dining rooms comfortable while the bar has audio.
8. **Locate the equipment rack or closet** and confirm every position has a pathway back to it.
9. **Plan the dish or service entry** and flag it for landlord and site approval early.
10. **Set a numbering scheme** that matches screens, receivers, remotes and cables, so every unit uses the same numbers for the same positions.
11. **Schedule TV work in the opening timeline**, from wiring during framing to activation before soft opening. See [when to schedule restaurant TV installation](/blog/when-to-schedule-restaurant-tv-installation).
12. **Create the site record template** each new unit fills in at handoff, using the [one-page multi-location TV documentation](/guides/multi-location-tv-documentation) format.

## Trade-offs to settle before the prototype is locked

No layout wins on every axis. These are the decisions worth arguing about in the design review, not after the third unit opens.

**More screens or a calmer room.** Extra screens help on a crowded Friday night and can make a dining room feel like a sports bar on a quiet Tuesday lunch. If the brand promise is a relaxed meal, keep dining screens at the minimum and let the bar carry game-day energy.

**Fewer large screens or more small ones.** Larger screens read better from across a room and reduce visual clutter. Smaller screens fit tight bar soffits and can cover more angles. Many prototypes use large screens in dining and a row of matched mid-size screens over the bar.

**Brand consistency or franchisee choice.** A tight core protects the guest experience across locations. Too tight, and franchisees with unusual sites work around it informally. A clear flex range with documented approval is usually better than either extreme.

**Independent content or simpler operation.** Every screen that can show its own channel adds flexibility on busy sports days, and adds equipment, remotes and staff decisions. Decide which zones truly need independent content and let the rest mirror.

**Patio ambition or patio reality.** Outdoor screens are a draw where climate and orientation cooperate. Where they do not, an optional patio tier with pre-wiring lets a site add screens once it knows how the space is used.

## Common mistakes in prototype TV layouts

- **Designing around the flagship.** The first unit is often the largest and best-located. A layout that works there may not fit the smaller units that make up most of the system.
- **Counting screens on renderings.** Renderings show the room from a flattering angle. Sightlines need to be checked from actual seat positions, especially booths against walls.
- **Skipping pre-wire for optional positions.** This is the most expensive mistake to fix later, because it means opening finished walls in a trading restaurant.
- **Mixing sizes in the core.** If the core screen is one size in one unit and another size elsewhere, brand content and menu-style graphics will not look the same.
- **Letting screens compete with the back bar.** Screens mounted over liquor displays or signage fight for attention. Settle the back-bar elevation and the screen positions together.
- **Forgetting the dish or service entry.** Roof rights and exterior equipment approvals vary by lease and site. Flag them in the site checklist so they do not hold up activation.
- **Applying the prototype to conversions without an audit.** Acquired or converted buildings come with existing screens and wiring. Sort what fits the standard before you inherit it; the [acquired location TV setup](/guides/acquired-location-tv-setup) walks through that process.
- **No numbering plan.** Without matching numbers on screens, receivers and remotes, staff end up guessing on game day. [Labeling receivers and remotes](/blog/label-tv-receivers-and-remotes) is a small step that pays off in every unit.

## What to ask a commercial TV provider

Bring your provider in while the prototype is still a drawing. Useful questions:

- Can you review the prototype plan and flag sightline or equipment issues before it is final?
- How do you handle core, flex and optional positions across many sites, and how is that reflected in each site's account and equipment?
- What does each new unit need for the commercial account, and does the setup depend on how each zone is used, such as public viewing in the bar versus a private event room?
- Which screens in our layout would need their own receiver, and which can share a source?
- Who coordinates the site walk, installation and activation for each new unit, and is there one point of contact across all of them?
- Do you have technicians available where we plan to open, including smaller markets?
- What documentation do we receive at handoff, and does it match our numbering scheme?
- How do support requests work once a unit is open, and who do managers call?

Sports Direct | DLM Media has worked with commercial business TV for 30+ years as an authorized commercial dealer, with technicians and engineers in all 50 states coordinated from Phoenix. We can review a prototype plan, help set zone rules and plan each new unit's [commercial TV installation](/services/commercial-tv-installation-restaurants). When you are ready, [start a conversation with a programming specialist](/contact).

## Frequently asked questions

### Should every new franchise unit have exactly the same number of TVs?

Usually not. Identical counts work only when every unit shares the same footprint, and few systems do. A better approach is a small set of core screens that appear everywhere in the same positions, plus flex screens whose count varies within a range set by zone rules. Guests get the same experience at the screens that matter most, and each site's count still fits its actual bar length, dining layout and patio.

### Who should approve the flex screen count at a new site?

Most systems give the decision to the development or design team during the site layout review, using the zone rules and minimum and maximum written into the prototype. The franchisee can request positions at the top of the range or optional screens, with approval documented in the site record. That keeps decisions consistent across units while still giving operators a voice in how their room is used.

### When in the development process should TV positions be finalized?

Lock the zone rules and tiers when the prototype is drawn, then confirm exact positions for each site during its layout review, before construction drawings are issued. Wiring and pathways need to go in during framing, before walls close. Waiting until fixtures and finishes are installed usually means compromises on placement or opening finished walls to run cable.

### Does each franchise location need its own commercial TV account?

A business needs commercial service rather than a consumer subscription, because consumer service is meant for private home viewing and is not licensed for business use. How accounts are structured across a franchise system, and what each location's setup looks like, depends on factors such as how screens are used in each zone. A programming specialist can confirm the right arrangement for your units.

### How should the prototype handle units that open in converted buildings?

Treat the prototype as the target and the existing building as an inventory to sort. Audit current screens, wiring and equipment, keep what meets the standard, and plan the rest to match core positions as closely as the structure allows. Conversions often need flex positions moved to suit existing walls or columns, so document any approved deviations in the site record for future reference.

Talk to a specialist: 888-688-1699 (New Sales) or https://www.sportsdirectllc.com/contact