diff --git a/src/program/managers/item_scheduler.py b/src/program/managers/item_scheduler.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..76e705cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/program/managers/item_scheduler.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta
+from sqlalchemy import select
+
+from program.db import db
+from program.media.item import MediaItem
+from program.media.state import States
+from program.types import Event
+from program.utils.logging import logger
+
+
+class ItemScheduler:
+    """Service to schedule items based on their air dates"""
+    
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.initialized = True
+        self.processing_delay = timedelta(hours=4)  # Delay after air date
+
+    def schedule_item(self, item_id: str, aired_at: datetime, event_manager) -> None:
+        """Schedule an individual item if it's upcoming"""
+        if not aired_at or aired_at <= datetime.now():
+            return
+
+        processing_time = aired_at + self.processing_delay
+        event = Event(emitted_by=ItemScheduler, item_id=item_id)
+        event_manager.schedule_event(event, run_at=processing_time)
+        logger.debug(f"Scheduled item {item_id} for processing at {processing_time}")
+
+    def schedule_upcoming_items(self, event_manager) -> None:
+        """Schedule all upcoming items from the database"""
+        with db.Session() as session:
+            upcoming_items = session.execute(
+                select(MediaItem.id, MediaItem.aired_at)
+                .where(MediaItem.type.in_(["movie", "episode"]))
+                .where(MediaItem.aired_at > (datetime.now() + self.processing_delay))
+                .where(MediaItem.last_state == States.Unreleased)
+            ).scalars().all()
+
+            for item_id, aired_at in upcoming_items:
+                self.schedule_item(item_id, aired_at, event_manager)
+
+        logger.debug(f"Scheduled {len(upcoming_items)} upcoming items")