EPG means Electronic Programme Guide. In IPTV, it is data that displays programme titles, descriptions, and scheduled times for channels. An EPG helps viewers understand what is on now and what is coming next, but it is separate from the video stream itself.
What information can an EPG show?
Depending on the source and player, a guide may include programme names, start and end times, descriptions, categories, episode details, and sometimes artwork. The player matches guide entries to channels using identifiers or other mapping rules. A channel can play normally while its guide is missing or incorrectly aligned.
EPG data is often provided in XMLTV or another format supported by the service and player. Some setups use a separate EPG URL; others obtain guide information through a provider-specific system. Confirm the format your app expects rather than assuming all guide sources are interchangeable.
EPG versus playlist
A playlist identifies channels or stream locations. An EPG describes scheduled programming. A playlist may include a channel identifier such as tvg-id, which the player uses to associate the correct programme schedule. If the identifier in the playlist does not match the identifier in the guide data, listings may be blank or assigned to the wrong channel.
How to add or refresh guide data
- Check the player’s documentation to confirm which EPG formats and source types it supports.
- Obtain the guide URL or file from a source you are authorised to use.
- Enter it in the player’s EPG or programme-guide settings, not in the video-stream field.
- Refresh or download the guide and allow the app to finish processing it.
- Check the player’s time-zone setting and any channel-mapping options.
- Open a few channels with known schedules to confirm names and times align.
Menu labels and refresh behaviour vary by app. Follow the current instructions for your player, and do not share private URLs or account credentials publicly.
Troubleshooting a missing or incorrect EPG
No listings anywhere: check the guide URL, format, internet access, account status, and refresh result.
Only some channels lack listings: inspect the channel IDs and mapping. Similar display names do not always mean the identifiers match.
Programme times are shifted: check device and player time zones, daylight-saving settings where relevant, and whether the guide source uses a different time basis.
Old information remains: force a guide refresh if supported, check the source’s update schedule, and clear the guide cache only if the app’s documentation recommends it.
Video works but the EPG does not: treat them as separate systems. Do not reinstall the entire app until you have checked guide-specific settings.
Frequently asked questions
Does an EPG stream television?
No. It provides programme information; video playback depends on the stream source.
Is EPG always included?
No. Some services include guide data, some provide it separately, and some channels may have incomplete schedules.
Why are channel names correct but listings wrong?
The player may match the wrong guide identifier or apply an incorrect time-zone setting.
Bottom line
A useful EPG depends on a supported guide source, correct channel mapping, and accurate time settings. Diagnose guide data separately from stream playback.