IPTV Features
What Is an EPG and How to Use It With Your IPTV Service
An EPG is the TV guide for your IPTV service. Without it, IPTV is just a numbered list of channels. With it, you see show names, descriptions, schedules, and can plan your viewing just like with cable.
What EPG stands for
EPG stands for Electronic Programme Guide. It is the on-screen guide that shows what is currently airing and what comes next on every channel — the digital equivalent of the printed TV schedule in a newspaper.
Why EPG matters for IPTV users
- See show names and descriptions without memorizing channel numbers
- Plan your viewing schedule up to 7 days ahead
- Set reminders for upcoming programs
- Access catch-up / TV archive (watch shows that already aired)
- Browse by genre or time slot
How EPG data is delivered
Your IPTV provider supplies an EPG URL in XMLTV format. You enter this URL once in your IPTV app settings and it updates automatically, typically every 24 hours. TiviLeaf provides a full 7-day EPG URL with your subscription credentials.
Setting up EPG in TiviMate
- Open TiviMate and go to Settings
- Select Playlists → tap your playlist
- Select EPG → Add EPG source
- Paste your TiviLeaf EPG URL
- Tap Update EPG — data loads within a few minutes
Setting up EPG in IPTV Smarters
- Go to Settings → EPG Settings
- Enter your EPG URL in the provided field
- Save and return to the channel list — guide data appears automatically
How far ahead does EPG show?
Most providers offer 7-day EPG data. TiviLeaf includes a full 7-day guide for all supported channels. Some niche or regional channels may have partial EPG coverage — this is normal and affects all IPTV providers equally.
Frequently asked questions
Why are some channels missing EPG data?
EPG data is only available for channels whose broadcasters publish schedule information in XMLTV format. Niche, international, or very small regional channels sometimes do not provide this data.
Does EPG slow down the app?
A small amount. EPG data files can be 20–50 MB. Most apps load EPG in the background so it does not affect your viewing. If the app feels slow, try setting EPG to update overnight instead of on launch.
Why the EPG Breaks and How to Fix It
An empty or wrong guide is the most common complaint about any IPTV setup, and it is almost always one of a small number of causes.
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Guide completely empty | Data still downloading | Wait 10–15 minutes after install |
| Times shifted by hours | Wrong time zone on the device | Set the device time zone, not the app's |
| Some channels have no data | Channel IDs not matched to the guide | Remap the channel in the app's EPG settings |
| Guide stops updating | Cached data went stale | Clear the app's EPG cache and reload |
| Wrong programmes entirely | Guide matched to a different regional feed | Select the correct regional variant |
Time Zones Across Canada
This one catches people constantly. Canada spans six time zones, and if your device time zone is wrong the entire guide shifts. Set the time zone at the device level — Fire TV, Apple TV or the smart TV's system settings — rather than inside the player app, and let the app inherit it.
- Newfoundland: UTC-3:30 — the half-hour offset breaks some apps that assume whole hours.
- Atlantic: UTC-4
- Eastern: UTC-5 — the default most guide data is published against.
- Central: UTC-6 — note Saskatchewan does not observe daylight time.
- Mountain: UTC-7
- Pacific: UTC-8
Using the Guide Well
Beyond simply showing what is on, a properly configured EPG is what makes a large channel lineup usable rather than overwhelming:
- Build a favourites list. Most households watch eight to fifteen channels. Filtering the guide to those turns a 500-row list into something you can scan.
- Use catch-up from the guide. On services with a replay window, scrolling back in the EPG and selecting a finished programme is usually the fastest route to it.
- Set reminders for live sport. Most players support a reminder on a guide entry, which is more reliable than remembering a start time across time zones.
- Search rather than scroll when looking for a specific match or film.
Guide Depth and What to Expect
Guide data typically runs three to seven days forward and, where catch-up is supported, the same window backward. Sports listings are the least reliable part of any EPG — games move, overruns push everything back, and the guide rarely reflects that in real time. For a match that matters, check the broadcaster's own schedule rather than trusting the guide's end time.
FAQ
Why is my IPTV guide empty?
Most often the guide data is still downloading after a fresh install, which can take ten to fifteen minutes. If it is still empty after that, clear the app's EPG cache and reload.
Why are my EPG times wrong?
Almost always an incorrect device time zone. Set the time zone in your device's system settings rather than inside the player app, and let the app inherit it. Newfoundland's half-hour offset causes problems in some apps specifically.
How far ahead does the EPG show?
Typically three to seven days forward. Where catch-up is supported, the guide usually scrolls back over a similar window so you can select and play a finished programme.
Why do some channels have no guide data?
The channel's ID has not been matched to an entry in the guide data. Most players let you remap a channel manually in their EPG settings, which fixes it permanently.