IPTV EPG and Catch-Up: A Beginner's Guide

The TV guide (EPG) and catch-up are the two features that turn a plain channel list into something that feels like normal TV: you see what's on now and next, and on some channels you can jump back to watch a show that has already started or finished. This guide explains what they are, how they appear in your IPTV app and what to do when the guide is blank or the times are wrong.

In this guide

• What is the EPG?
• What is catch-up?
• How the EPG gets into your app
• Using the guide day to day
• How to watch a show with catch-up
• Common problems and fixes
• FAQ

What is the EPG?

EPG stands for Electronic Program Guide. It's the grid you see in your IPTV app: one row per channel, showing what's on now, what's next and the schedule for the coming hours or days.

A good EPG helps you with three things:

• Seeing what's on right now without flicking through channel after channel.
• Planning: checking when a game or a series starts.
• Getting to catch-up, because in most apps past shows open straight from the guide.

What is catch-up?

In IPTV, catch-up (also called replay) lets you watch a show that has already aired, or that started a while ago, without having recorded it. You pick it in the guide, in the time slot that has already passed, and it plays from the start.

Two things to know up front:

• Not every channel has catch-up. It depends on each channel and on broadcast rights.
• How far back you can go varies by channel. Some keep a few hours, others several days. The guide in your app shows how far back you can go.

How the EPG gets into your app

The way you load your IPTV subscription decides whether the guide appears on its own.

• With Xtream Codes (server, username and password), the app downloads the channel list, the TV guide and the on-demand library in one go. It's the recommended option if you want the EPG and catch-up.
• With an M3U link, you get the channel list, but depending on the app the guide may not load automatically, and catch-up usually needs Xtream Codes.

Not sure which to use? We cover the differences in M3U vs Xtream Codes. And if your app asks for a separate EPG URL, message us and we'll tell you what to enter.

The first time, the app takes a minute or two to download the guide, sometimes longer with large lists. Let it finish before backing out.

Using the guide day to day

A few habits make the EPG in your IPTV service much more useful:

1. Mark your favorite channels. A guide with twenty channels you actually watch is far easier to read than one with thousands.
2. Use the guide view rather than the channel list to see at a glance what's on everywhere.
3. Turn on the mini guide if your app has one: in TiviMate, for example, it shows what's on without leaving the channel. We explain it in our TiviMate setup guide.
4. Refresh the guide now and then. Most apps do it on their own, but if you see gaps, a manual refresh usually fixes it.

How to watch a show with catch-up

The steps are almost the same in every IPTV app:

1. Open the TV guide and find the channel.
2. Scroll left, to the time slots that have already passed.
3. Shows with catch-up usually carry an icon or marker (a clock or a circular arrow, depending on the app).
4. Select the show and choose play. It starts from the beginning, and you can skip forward or back like a normal video.

Some apps also have their own section called "Catch up" or similar, listing the channels that support it. If a show has no marker, that channel or show doesn't offer the feature.

A typical use: you're late for a hockey game, you find it in the guide and watch it from the start, provided the channel offers catch-up.

Common problems and fixes

The guide is blank

1. Refresh the EPG manually in the app's settings. In TiviMate: Settings → Playlists → your playlist → Refresh EPG.
2. Check you're using Xtream Codes rather than just an M3U link.
3. Wait for the first download to finish: with large lists it can take longer than usual.

The times are wrong

If the guide in your IPTV app runs an hour or two ahead or behind, it's almost always the device's date, time or time zone. Check they're set to automatic and to the right time zone. Some apps also have a time-offset setting for the guide.

A channel shows the wrong schedule

That can happen when the guide for that channel has been matched incorrectly. Message us with the channel name and we'll look into it.

Catch-up doesn't appear

Check that the channel supports it and that you're using Xtream Codes. If it still doesn't show on a channel that should have it, contact support.

FAQ

Does the EPG use a lot of data?

No. The guide in an IPTV subscription is text: even for many channels it's tiny compared with a single minute of video.

Do all channels have catch-up?

No. Availability depends on each channel and on broadcast rights. The guide in your app shows which shows have it.

Can I test the EPG and catch-up before paying?

Yes. During the 24-hour IPTV free trial you get the TV guide and catch-up on the channels that offer it. It's one of the things we recommend checking during the trial.

Which IPTV app has the best guide?

TiviMate presents the guide best, with a full timeline view. IPTV Smarters Pro is free and shows the guide too. We compare them in the best IPTV apps.

Does the guide work the same on a smart TV, Fire TV or phone?

The EPG is the same; only the IPTV app changes. See our guides for Fire TV Stick, Samsung and LG smart TVs, iPhone and iPad and Windows and Mac.