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Formats · EPG
What is EPG (the program guide)?
It's the "what's on now and next" grid for IPTV. Here you see it at a glance and learn where it comes from.
What EPG is, in one sentence
EPG (Electronic Program Guide) is the grid that shows which program is on now and which come next on each channel. It's the equivalent of the traditional TV guide, but for IPTV: times, titles and sometimes a short synopsis.
How it looks
"Now" and "next" on every channel
With the EPG, a channel stops being a silent box: you know what's on and what's coming.
What an XMLTV is
XMLTV is the standard file format the EPG travels in: a file (often a link ending in .xml or .xml.gz) with the schedule for many channels, each with its programs and times. The player downloads it and matches it to the channels in your list. With Xtream Codes it usually arrives on its own from the server; with an M3U list, you sometimes have to add the XMLTV link separately.
When something's off
Why the guide sometimes doesn't match
Time offset
The XMLTV comes in a different time zone, so programs appear hours early or late. Adjustable in the player.
Failed match
The channel's identifier in your list doesn't match the guide's, so the EPG gets crossed or stays empty.
Stale data
The guide provider hasn't refreshed the schedule, or the channel changed its broadcast at the last minute.
Channel with no data
Not every channel publishes an EPG; some simply don't have one, and there's nothing to show.
Frequently asked questions
What is EPG in IPTV?
EPG (electronic program guide) is the grid that shows what's on now and next on each IPTV channel: times, titles and sometimes a synopsis. It's the equivalent of the traditional TV guide, and it lets the player show "now/next" and browse the day's schedule.
What is an XMLTV file?
XMLTV is the standard format the EPG is delivered in. It's a file or link (usually .xml or .xml.gz) with the schedule for many channels, each with its programs and their start and end times. The player downloads it and matches it to the channels in your list.
Why is my EPG guide empty or shifted?
Almost always a time offset or a failed match. If it appears early or late, the XMLTV is in a different time zone; if it's crossed or empty, your channels' identifiers don't match the guide's. Both are adjustable from the player — we cover it in the EPG guide.
Does the EPG come inside the M3U list?
No. The EPG is separate data that travels in an XMLTV file. With Xtream Codes it usually arrives automatically from the server; with an M3U list, you sometimes have to add the XMLTV link separately for the schedule to appear.
Do I need EPG to watch IPTV?
It's not essential: you can play your channels without a guide. But the EPG makes the experience much more comfortable, because you see what's on now and next, browse the day's schedule and, with catch-up, can return to something that already started.
Keep learning
Add your EPG guide and see what's on now and next.
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