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The EPG in plain English
An electronic programme guide lists programmes by channel and time, usually with a description, and lets you jump straight to a channel, set a reminder or record. On Freeview and satellite, the listings are broadcast alongside the channels themselves. On IPTV, the app downloads them separately from the internet.
How IPTV guides get their data
- XMLTV: the common file format for IPTV listings, with programme titles, times and descriptions for each channel ID.
- Channel matching: your playlist gives each channel an ID; the app matches it to the listings with the same ID.
- Updates: the app refreshes the listings regularly, typically once a day, keeping a few days ahead.
Step-by-step instructions for adding a guide are in how to set up an EPG.
What makes a good guide
Accuracy
Correct times, including the switch between GMT and British Summer Time.
Coverage
Listings for every channel you watch, with descriptions.
Speed
A grid that scrolls smoothly, which depends on the app and the device as much as the data.
Integration
Catch-up and recording available straight from the guide, where the service supports them.
Why guides sometimes go wrong
Most guide problems are simple: listings that have not downloaded, IDs that do not match, or a time offset after the clocks change. Our EPG not loading page walks through the fixes. For the wider picture of how live TV and catch-up work, read live TV vs VOD.
From listings magazines to the EPG
For decades British viewers planned their evenings with printed listings magazines and newspaper pages. Teletext brought listings to the screen, until the BBC’s Ceefax closed in 2012 as analogue TV was switched off. Digital TV made the electronic programme guide standard, and IPTV apps now combine it with catch-up, search and recordings in one place.
EPG features you might not use yet
- Reminders: get a prompt when a programme starts.
- Search: find a programme across every channel.
- Now and next bar: see what is on without leaving the current channel.
- Favourites and groups: filter the guide to the channels you actually watch.
- Catch-up from the guide: where the service supports it, start a programme that has already aired.
Frequently asked questions
What does EPG stand for?
Electronic programme guide: the on-screen TV schedule.
What is EPG on IPTV?
The programme guide in your IPTV app, downloaded as listings data (usually XMLTV) and matched to your channels.
Is EPG the same as the TV guide?
Yes. "EPG" is the technical name for the on-screen TV guide.
