diff --git a/apps/client/src/common/components/view-params-editor/constants.ts b/apps/client/src/common/components/view-params-editor/constants.ts
index 74f94ec76..ab86c440f 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/common/components/view-params-editor/constants.ts
+++ b/apps/client/src/common/components/view-params-editor/constants.ts
@@ -249,12 +249,11 @@ export const MINIMAL_TIMER_OPTIONS: ParamField[] = [
 export const getLowerThirdOptions = (customFields: CustomFields): ParamField[] => {
   const topSourceOptions = makeOptionsFromCustomFields(customFields, {
     title: 'Title',
-    lowerMsg: 'Lower Third Message',
   });
 
   const bottomSourceOptions = makeOptionsFromCustomFields(customFields, {
     title: 'Title',
-    lowerMsg: 'Lower Third Message',
+    none: 'None',
   });
 
   return [
@@ -267,7 +266,7 @@ export const getLowerThirdOptions = (customFields: CustomFields): ParamField[] =
         event: 'Event Load',
         manual: 'Manual',
       },
-      defaultValue: 'event',
+      defaultValue: 'manual',
     },
     {
       id: 'top-src',
@@ -283,7 +282,7 @@ export const getLowerThirdOptions = (customFields: CustomFields): ParamField[] =
       description: 'Select the data source for the bottom element',
       type: 'option',
       values: bottomSourceOptions,
-      defaultValue: 'lowerMsg',
+      defaultValue: 'none',
     },
     {
       id: 'top-colour',
diff --git a/apps/client/src/common/hooks/useSocket.ts b/apps/client/src/common/hooks/useSocket.ts
index 2f41b3804..287e07520 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/common/hooks/useSocket.ts
+++ b/apps/client/src/common/hooks/useSocket.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ export const useOperator = () => {
 export const useMessageControl = () => {
   const featureSelector = (state: RuntimeStore) => ({
     timer: state.message.timer,
-    lower: state.message.lower,
     external: state.message.external,
     onAir: state.onAir,
   });
@@ -36,8 +35,6 @@ export const useMessageControl = () => {
 export const setMessage = {
   timerText: (payload: string) => socketSendJson('message', { timer: { text: payload } }),
   timerVisible: (payload: boolean) => socketSendJson('message', { timer: { visible: payload } }),
-  lowerText: (payload: string) => socketSendJson('message', { lower: { text: payload } }),
-  lowerVisible: (payload: boolean) => socketSendJson('message', { lower: { visible: payload } }),
   timerBlink: (payload: boolean) => socketSendJson('message', { timer: { blink: payload } }),
   timerBlackout: (payload: boolean) => socketSendJson('message', { timer: { blackout: payload } }),
 };
diff --git a/apps/client/src/common/stores/runtime.ts b/apps/client/src/common/stores/runtime.ts
index c2d8def6f..e72e39b32 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/common/stores/runtime.ts
+++ b/apps/client/src/common/stores/runtime.ts
@@ -23,10 +23,6 @@ export const runtimeStorePlaceholder: RuntimeStore = {
       blink: false,
       blackout: false,
     },
-    lower: {
-      text: '',
-      visible: false,
-    },
     external: {
       text: '',
       visible: false,
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/control/message/InputRow.module.scss b/apps/client/src/features/control/message/InputRow.module.scss
index 877549f99..769b4eaf2 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/control/message/InputRow.module.scss
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/control/message/InputRow.module.scss
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+@import "./MessageControl.module.scss";
+
 .inputItems {
   display: grid;
   grid-template-columns: 1fr auto;
@@ -6,10 +8,5 @@
 }
 
 .label {
-  font-size: $inner-section-text-size;
-  color: $label-gray;
-
-  &.active {
-    color: $action-text-color;
-  }
+  @extend .label;
 }
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/control/message/MessageControl.module.scss b/apps/client/src/features/control/message/MessageControl.module.scss
index b2040d597..3419afec2 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/control/message/MessageControl.module.scss
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/control/message/MessageControl.module.scss
@@ -10,3 +10,19 @@
   gap: $element-spacing;
   margin-top: -0.5rem;
 }
+
+.singleAction {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: $element-spacing;
+  margin-top: $element-inner-spacing;
+}
+
+.label {
+  font-size: $inner-section-text-size;
+  color: $label-gray;
+
+  &.active {
+    color: $action-text-color;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/control/message/MessageControl.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/control/message/MessageControl.tsx
index 21dc84c86..ae08096b7 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/control/message/MessageControl.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/control/message/MessageControl.tsx
@@ -17,21 +17,14 @@ export default function MessageControl() {
   const message = useMessageControl();
   const blink = message.timer.blink;
   const blackout = message.timer.blackout;
+
   return (
     <div className={style.messageContainer}>
-      <InputRow
-        label='Lower third message'
-        placeholder='Shown in lower third'
-        text={message.lower.text || ''}
-        visible={message.lower.visible || false}
-        changeHandler={(newValue) => setMessage.lowerText(newValue)}
-        actionHandler={() => setMessage.lowerVisible(!message.lower.visible)}
-      />
       <InputRow
         label='Timer'
         placeholder='Message shown in stage timer'
-        text={message.timer.text || ''}
-        visible={message.timer.visible || false}
+        text={message.timer.text}
+        visible={message.timer.visible}
         changeHandler={(newValue) => setMessage.timerText(newValue)}
         actionHandler={() => setMessage.timerVisible(!message.timer.visible)}
       />
@@ -61,8 +54,8 @@ export default function MessageControl() {
         label='External Message (read only)'
         placeholder={enDash}
         readonly
-        text={message.external.text || ''}
-        visible={message.external.visible || false}
+        text={message.external.text}
+        visible={message.external.visible}
         changeHandler={noop}
         actionHandler={noop}
       />
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/viewers/ViewWrapper.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/viewers/ViewWrapper.tsx
index 644fd5e1a..1fe94b3ac 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/viewers/ViewWrapper.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/viewers/ViewWrapper.tsx
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ type WithDataProps = {
   external: Message;
   general: ProjectData;
   isMirrored: boolean;
-  lower: Message;
   nextId: string | null;
   onAir: boolean;
   pres: TimerMessage;
@@ -105,7 +104,6 @@ const withData = <P extends WithDataProps>(Component: ComponentType<P>) => {
           external={message.external}
           general={project}
           isMirrored={isMirrored}
-          lower={message.lower}
           nextId={nextId}
           onAir={onAir}
           pres={message.timer}
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/viewers/common/viewUtils.ts b/apps/client/src/features/viewers/common/viewUtils.ts
index a3b44888f..4b2159ac5 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/viewers/common/viewUtils.ts
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/viewers/common/viewUtils.ts
@@ -41,10 +41,7 @@ export function isStringBoolean(text: string | null) {
  * Considers custom fields
  */
 export function getPropertyValue(event: OntimeEvent | null, property: MaybeString): string | undefined {
-  if (!event) {
-    return undefined;
-  }
-  if (typeof property !== 'string') {
+  if (!event || typeof property !== 'string' || property === 'none') {
     return undefined;
   }
 
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/viewers/lower-thirds/LowerThird.scss b/apps/client/src/features/viewers/lower-thirds/LowerThird.scss
index b17ffe078..8a5797803 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/viewers/lower-thirds/LowerThird.scss
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/viewers/lower-thirds/LowerThird.scss
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@
       font-family: var(--lowerThird-font-family-override), Lato, Arial, sans-serif;
       text-align: var(--lowerThird-text-align-override, left);
       white-space: nowrap;
+      &::after {
+        content: '\200b';
+      }
     }
 
     .data-top {
@@ -86,7 +89,6 @@
   }
 }
 
-
 @keyframes in {
   0% {
     transform: translateX(-100%);
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/viewers/lower-thirds/LowerThird.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/viewers/lower-thirds/LowerThird.tsx
index 5c6b3c348..34dcf582d 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/viewers/lower-thirds/LowerThird.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/viewers/lower-thirds/LowerThird.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-import { useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react';
+import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { useSearchParams } from 'react-router-dom';
-import { CustomFields, Message, OntimeEvent, ViewSettings } from 'ontime-types';
+import { CustomFields, OntimeEvent, ViewSettings } from 'ontime-types';
 
 import { overrideStylesURL } from '../../../common/api/constants';
 import { getLowerThirdOptions } from '../../../common/components/view-params-editor/constants';
@@ -11,14 +11,8 @@ import { getPropertyValue } from '../common/viewUtils';
 
 import './LowerThird.scss';
 
-enum TriggerType {
-  Event = 'event',
-  Manual = 'manual',
-}
-
 type LowerOptions = {
   width: number;
-  trigger: TriggerType;
   topSrc: string;
   bottomSrc: string;
   topColour: string;
@@ -38,12 +32,10 @@ interface LowerProps {
   customFields: CustomFields;
   eventNow: OntimeEvent | null;
   viewSettings: ViewSettings;
-  lower: Message;
 }
 
 const defaultOptions: Readonly<LowerOptions> = {
   width: 45,
-  trigger: TriggerType.Event,
   topSrc: 'title',
   bottomSrc: 'lowerMsg',
   topColour: '000000ff',
@@ -60,8 +52,14 @@ const defaultOptions: Readonly<LowerOptions> = {
 };
 
 export default function LowerThird(props: LowerProps) {
-  const { customFields, eventNow, lower, viewSettings } = props;
+  const { customFields, eventNow, viewSettings } = props;
   const [searchParams] = useSearchParams();
+  const previousId = useRef<string>();
+  const animationTimeout = useRef<NodeJS.Timeout>();
+  const [playState, setPlayState] = useState<'pre' | 'in' | 'out'>('pre');
+  useRuntimeStylesheet(viewSettings?.overrideStyles && overrideStylesURL);
+
+  useWindowTitle('Lower Third');
 
   const options = useMemo(() => {
     const newOptions = { ...defaultOptions };
@@ -71,11 +69,6 @@ export default function LowerThird(props: LowerProps) {
       newOptions.width = Number(width);
     }
 
-    const trigger = Object.values(TriggerType).find((s) => s === searchParams.get('trigger'));
-    if (trigger) {
-      newOptions.trigger = trigger;
-    }
-
     const topSrc = searchParams.get('top-src');
     if (topSrc) {
       newOptions.topSrc = topSrc;
@@ -139,50 +132,51 @@ export default function LowerThird(props: LowerProps) {
     return newOptions;
   }, [searchParams]);
 
-  const [playState, setPlayState] = useState<'pre' | 'in' | 'out'>('pre');
-  useRuntimeStylesheet(viewSettings?.overrideStyles && overrideStylesURL);
-
-  useWindowTitle('Lower Third');
-
-  const trigger = useMemo(() => {
-    if (options.trigger === TriggerType.Event) {
-      return eventNow?.id;
-    } else if (options.trigger === TriggerType.Manual) {
-      return lower.visible;
-    }
-    return false;
-  }, [eventNow?.id, lower.visible, options.trigger]);
-
-  // coordinate load-unload of lower third
+  // on unmount, cancel any ongoing animations
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (options.trigger === TriggerType.Event && trigger) {
+    return () => {
+      // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+      clearTimeout(animationTimeout.current);
+    };
+  }, []);
+
+  // check if data has changed and schedule animations
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const hasChanged = eventNow?.id !== previousId.current;
+    if (!hasChanged) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    previousId.current = eventNow?.id;
+    const animateOutInMs = options.delay * 1000 + options.transition * 1000;
+
+    const reschedule = (newState: 'pre' | 'in' | 'out') => {
+      clearTimeout(animationTimeout.current);
+      animationTimeout.current = setTimeout(() => setPlayState(newState), animateOutInMs);
+    };
+    if (eventNow?.id == null) {
+      setPlayState('out');
+      reschedule('pre');
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (eventNow.id && !previousId.current) {
       setPlayState('in');
-      const animateOutInMs = options.delay * 1000 + options.transition * 1000;
-      const timeout = setTimeout(() => {
-        setPlayState('out');
-      }, animateOutInMs);
-      return () => clearTimeout(timeout);
-    } else if (options.trigger === TriggerType.Manual) {
-      setPlayState(trigger ? 'in' : 'out');
-    } else {
-      setPlayState('pre');
+      reschedule('out');
+      return;
     }
-    return () => null;
-  }, [options.delay, options.transition, options.trigger, trigger]);
 
-  const topText = useMemo(() => {
-    if (options.topSrc === 'lowerMsg') {
-      return lower.text;
+    if (playState === 'in') {
+      // event has changed, we just reschedule the timeout
+      reschedule('out');
+      return;
     }
-    return getPropertyValue(eventNow, options.topSrc) ?? '';
-  }, [eventNow, lower.text, options]);
+    setPlayState('in');
+    reschedule('out');
+  }, [eventNow?.id, options.delay, options.transition, playState, previousId]);
 
-  const bottomText = useMemo(() => {
-    if (options.bottomSrc === 'lowerMsg') {
-      return lower.text;
-    }
-    return getPropertyValue(eventNow, options.bottomSrc) ?? '';
-  }, [eventNow, lower.text, options]);
+  const topText = getPropertyValue(eventNow, options.topSrc) ?? '';
+  const bottomText = getPropertyValue(eventNow, options.bottomSrc) ?? '';
 
   const transition = `${options.transition}s`;
 
diff --git a/apps/server/src/api-integration/integration.controller.ts b/apps/server/src/api-integration/integration.controller.ts
index 2ec06f05c..2190e1d48 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/api-integration/integration.controller.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/api-integration/integration.controller.ts
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@ const actionHandlers: Record<string, ActionHandler> = {
 
     const patch: DeepPartial<MessageState> = {
       timer: 'timer' in payload ? validateTimerMessage(payload.timer) : undefined,
-      lower: 'lower' in payload ? validateMessage(payload.lower) : undefined,
       external: 'external' in payload ? validateMessage(payload.external) : undefined,
     };
 
diff --git a/apps/server/src/services/message-service/MessageService.ts b/apps/server/src/services/message-service/MessageService.ts
index a7f4a6373..0721a4fcc 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/services/message-service/MessageService.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/services/message-service/MessageService.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ let instance: MessageService | null = null;
 
 class MessageService {
   timer: TimerMessage;
-  lower: Message;
   external: Message;
 
   private throttledSet: PublishFn;
@@ -37,11 +36,6 @@ class MessageService {
       blackout: false,
     };
 
-    this.lower = {
-      text: '',
-      visible: false,
-    };
-
     this.external = {
       text: '',
       visible: false,
@@ -56,14 +50,12 @@ class MessageService {
   getState(): MessageState {
     return {
       timer: this.timer,
-      lower: this.lower,
       external: this.external,
     };
   }
 
   patch(message: DeepPartial<MessageState>) {
     if (message.timer) this.timer = { ...this.timer, ...message.timer };
-    if (message.lower) this.lower = { ...this.lower, ...message.lower };
     if (message.external) this.external = { ...this.external, ...message.external };
 
     const newState = this.getState();
diff --git a/apps/server/src/services/message-service/__tests__/MessageService.test.ts b/apps/server/src/services/message-service/__tests__/MessageService.test.ts
index 2223191f5..23773cab0 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/services/message-service/__tests__/MessageService.test.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/services/message-service/__tests__/MessageService.test.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ describe('MessageService', () => {
   it('should patch the message state', () => {
     const message = {
       timer: { text: 'new text', visible: true },
-      lower: { text: 'lower text' },
       external: { visible: true },
     };
 
@@ -22,10 +21,6 @@ describe('MessageService', () => {
 
     expect(newState).toEqual({
       timer: { text: 'new text', visible: true, blackout: false, blink: false },
-      lower: {
-        text: 'lower text',
-        visible: false,
-      },
       external: {
         text: '',
         visible: true,
@@ -42,10 +37,6 @@ describe('MessageService', () => {
 
     expect(newState).toEqual({
       timer: { text: 'initial text', visible: true, blackout: false, blink: false },
-      lower: {
-        text: '',
-        visible: false,
-      },
       external: {
         text: '',
         visible: false,
diff --git a/e2e/tests/features/201-message-control.spec.ts b/e2e/tests/features/201-message-control.spec.ts
index 3a9a4c3c5..b18e63462 100644
--- a/e2e/tests/features/201-message-control.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/tests/features/201-message-control.spec.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { test } from '@playwright/test';
+import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
 
 test('message control sends messages to screens', async ({ context }) => {
   const editorPage = await context.newPage();
@@ -6,15 +6,6 @@ test('message control sends messages to screens', async ({ context }) => {
 
   await editorPage.goto('http://localhost:4001/messagecontrol');
 
-  // lower third message
-  await editorPage.getByPlaceholder('Shown in lower third').click();
-  await editorPage.getByPlaceholder('Shown in lower third').fill('testing lower');
-  await editorPage.getByRole('button', { name: /toggle lower third message/i }).click();
-
-  await featurePage.goto('http://localhost:4001/lower?trigger=manual&bottom-src=lowerMsg');
-  await featurePage.waitForLoadState('load', { timeout: 5000 });
-  await featurePage.getByText('testing lower').click({ timeout: 5000 });
-
   // stage timer message
   await editorPage.getByPlaceholder('Timer').click();
   await editorPage.getByPlaceholder('Timer').fill('testing stage');
@@ -22,5 +13,5 @@ test('message control sends messages to screens', async ({ context }) => {
 
   await featurePage.goto('http://localhost:4001/timer');
   await featurePage.waitForLoadState('load', { timeout: 5000 });
-  await featurePage.getByText('testing stage').click();
+  await expect(featurePage.getByText('testing stage')).toBeVisible();
 });
diff --git a/packages/types/src/definitions/runtime/MessageControl.type.ts b/packages/types/src/definitions/runtime/MessageControl.type.ts
index da5c0da1f..4eeaa5992 100644
--- a/packages/types/src/definitions/runtime/MessageControl.type.ts
+++ b/packages/types/src/definitions/runtime/MessageControl.type.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,5 @@ export type TimerMessage = Message & {
 
 export type MessageState = {
   timer: TimerMessage;
-  lower: Message;
   external: Message;
 };