IPTV EPG Explained: How the Programme Guide Works

The EPG — electronic programme guide — is the TV schedule layer that tells you what is playing on each channel now, what comes next, and what is scheduled over the coming days. In traditional broadcast television it is delivered as a data signal embedded in the broadcast feed. In IPTV it works differently, and understanding how it works explains both why it is sometimes missing and how to fix it when it is.

How IPTV EPG data is delivered

IPTV EPG data is delivered as a separate XML file — usually formatted to the XMLTV standard — that your IPTV player downloads from the server alongside the channel list. The file maps channel IDs to programme schedules, which the player then overlays onto the channel grid in the guide. The EPG file is updated on the server at regular intervals; your player re-downloads it periodically to keep the guide current.

This is why the EPG sometimes appears empty or inaccurate immediately after first login — the initial data download has not completed yet, or the mapping between channel IDs and EPG programme data is being established. Most IPTV apps sync EPG data in the background and the guide populates within a few minutes of the first launch.

EPG in Tivimate

Tivimate automatically downloads EPG data from the server when you add your playlist. Go to Settings > Update > EPG to see the last sync time and to trigger a manual refresh if the guide looks stale. Tivimate generally shows 14 days of schedule data when the full EPG file is available.

The "Channel catch-up" feature in Tivimate allows you to scroll backwards in the EPG to content that has already aired — if the channel supports catch-up, you can start watching a programme that began earlier in the day. Not all channels support catch-up; those that do are usually marked in the guide.

When the EPG is missing or showing wrong information

An empty EPG usually means one of three things: the EPG sync has not completed yet (wait 10 minutes and refresh), the EPG data for that specific channel is not included in the server's data file (some specialist or international channels have limited EPG coverage), or there is a mismatch between the channel's ID in the playlist and the corresponding EPG entry.

If the EPG shows incorrect programme data — such as the wrong schedule or programme names from a different country — this is usually a channel ID mapping issue. Contact support via WhatsApp and we can check the server-side EPG configuration for the specific channels affected.

EPG coverage across the channel list

Major UK and international channels have comprehensive EPG data with accurate, up-to-date schedules. Specialist, regional and some international channels have partial or no EPG coverage — the channel plays correctly but no schedule information is shown in the guide. At IPTV UK Pro, EPG coverage is included as part of every plan and improves progressively as channel mapping is updated. See the FAQ for more on EPG setup.

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