EPG stands for electronic program guide: the on-screen TV guide that shows what's playing now and next on each live channel. In IPTV apps, the EPG is downloaded as data and matched to your channel list, so you can browse live TV the way you would with a cable or satellite box.
What the EPG shows
- The program on now, with its start and end time
- What's on next, and usually listings for the coming hours or days
- Program titles and descriptions
- A timeline view across many channels at once, on supported apps
XCodes IPTV includes a real-time TV guide with live channels, inside the XCodes IPTV app and in compatible players.
How IPTV EPG works
The guide is a separate data feed from the video streams. Your app:
- Downloads guide data from the provider (often in a format called XMLTV)
- Matches each guide entry to a channel using a channel ID
- Converts the listing times to your device's local time
- Displays it in the live TV screen or a grid view
Because of step 3, the EPG relies on your device's clock and time zone.
Why guide times are wrong, and how to fix them
If listings are an hour or more out:
- Check your device time zone. On Fire TV: Settings > Preferences > Time Zone. On Android TV and Google TV: Settings > System > Date & time.
- Daylight saving changes. In the US, Canada and the UK the clocks change twice a year. If the guide was cached before the change, refresh it.
- Player time offset. Some third-party players have an "EPG time shift" setting. Set it to 0 unless support advises otherwise.
Why some channels have no guide data
- The guide hasn't finished downloading yet. Large guides can take a minute on first load.
- The app's cache is out of date. In the XCodes IPTV app, use Reload portal; in other players, refresh the EPG in settings.
- Some channels, such as event or pop-up channels, may not carry listings.
EPG tips for a better experience
- Add favorites so the guide opens on the channels you watch most.
- Use the guide's search on supported apps to find a program by name.
- On slower devices, a shorter guide range loads faster.
Frequently asked
Does XCodes IPTV include an EPG? Yes. XCodes IPTV includes a real-time TV guide for live channels. See the XCodes IPTV FAQ.
Does VLC show an EPG? Not a full one. For a proper guide on computers, use a dedicated IPTV player. See IPTV apps explained.