A working TV guide is one of the main reasons people choose TiviMate. When it is set up correctly, the guide grid shows what is on every channel now and later, just like a cable or satellite box. When it is not, you see empty rows, the wrong programmes or times that are hours out. This guide explains how the TiviMate EPG works, how to configure and refresh it, and how to fix the problems that come up most often.
Quick answer: TiviMate's EPG is the TV guide data supplied by your IPTV service. Most playlists load it automatically; if not, add the EPG source in TiviMate's EPG settings and run an update. Wrong times are usually fixed with the device's time zone or TiviMate's EPG time shift, and empty rows usually mean a channel has no matching guide data.
What EPG means
EPG stands for Electronic Programme Guide. It is the schedule data behind the TV guide: programme titles, start and end times, descriptions and sometimes images or categories.
In TiviMate, EPG data powers:
- The guide grid, with channels down the side and time across the top
- The "now" and "next" information shown while you watch
- Programme details when you select a show
- Catch-up and recording from the guide, where the service and your version of the app support them
It is important to know that TiviMate does not create EPG data. Like the channels themselves, the guide comes from your IPTV service or a guide source it provides. TiviMate downloads that data and displays it. If you are new to the app, our TiviMate IPTV player guide explains how the player and the service fit together.
How EPG works with an IPTV playlist
Understanding the basic mechanism makes almost every EPG problem easier to solve.
Two separate pieces of data
An IPTV setup usually involves two sources:
- The playlist, which lists channels and where each stream is.
- The EPG source, which lists programme schedules. This is usually a file in a format called XMLTV.
The two are often delivered together — for example, an Xtream Codes login can give the player access to both — but they are still separate pieces of data.
How channels are matched to guide data
Each channel in the playlist carries an identifier, often called an EPG ID or TVG ID. The EPG source uses the same kind of identifier for each channel's schedule. TiviMate matches the two:
- If the identifiers match, the channel shows programme information.
- If they do not match, or the channel is not in the EPG source, the channel's guide row stays empty.
Most "missing guide" problems come down to this matching step.
Downloaded, not live
TiviMate downloads EPG data and stores it on your device for a period of days. It does not fetch the guide live every time you open it. This is why guide data can become outdated if updates stop, and why the first download can take a little while.
How to configure the TiviMate EPG
In many cases the EPG configures itself: when you add a playlist, TiviMate reads any guide source the playlist points to and starts downloading. If your guide is empty after setup, configure it manually. Menu names can vary slightly between versions, but the steps are similar.
Step-by-step EPG setup
- Make sure your playlist is added and channels are loading. If not, start with our TiviMate IPTV setup guide.
- Open TiviMate's Settings.
- Go to the EPG section.
- Check whether an EPG source is already listed.
- If your IPTV service gave you a separate EPG link, choose to add a new source and enter it exactly as provided.
- Start an update and wait for the download to finish. Large guides can take several minutes.
- Return to the TV guide and check that programme blocks appear for your channels.
Choosing how much guide data to keep
Some versions let you choose how many days of guide data to store. More days means you can plan further ahead, but also more storage use and longer updates. On devices with limited storage, keeping a shorter period can make the guide faster and more reliable.
How to refresh EPG data
Guide data needs regular updates to stay current. TiviMate can update automatically, and you can also trigger an update manually.
Automatic updates
In the EPG settings, look for options that control when updates happen — for example updating when the app starts, or at a set interval. Enabling automatic updates is the simplest way to keep the guide fresh.
Manual refresh
To refresh the guide straight away:
- Open Settings and go to the EPG section.
- Select your EPG source.
- Choose the option to update it.
- Wait until the update completes before returning to the guide.
If your service has changed its channel list, update the playlist as well as the EPG. A new playlist can contain new channel identifiers that need fresh guide data to match.
Common TiviMate EPG problems
EPG showing wrong times
If programmes appear shifted by one or more hours, the cause is usually a time setting rather than faulty data.
- Check your device's date, time and time zone. Your Android TV or Fire TV device should use automatic network time and the correct time zone. An incorrect device clock affects the whole guide.
- Check for daylight saving differences. A one-hour offset often appears after clocks change, or when the guide source uses a different time zone from yours.
- Use the EPG time shift option. TiviMate offers a way to shift guide times by a set number of hours. Menu names vary by version, but it is typically found in the EPG or playlist settings. Adjust it until programme times match what is actually airing.
- Check only some channels. If only certain channels are out, their guide data may be based on another region's time zone. A per-channel or per-source shift, where available, can correct this.
Missing programme information
Empty rows, or "No information" for some channels, usually mean one of these:
- The channel is not in the EPG source. Not every channel has guide data, especially smaller or event-only channels.
- The identifiers do not match. The channel's EPG ID in the playlist does not match any schedule in the guide source. Some versions of TiviMate let you manually link a channel to the correct guide entry — useful if you know which listing it should use.
- The guide has not finished downloading. Wait for the update to complete, then reopen the guide.
- The stored period has ended. If updates stopped, the guide eventually runs out of future listings.
EPG not updating
If the guide shows old information or stops at a certain day:
- Confirm automatic updates are enabled in the EPG settings.
- Run a manual update and watch for an error message.
- Check your internet connection on the device.
- Make sure the device has free storage — a full device can stop guide data being saved.
- Confirm your subscription is still active, since an expired subscription may stop guide access too.
- Restart the app, and then the device, after updating.
Channels play, but some show a playback error
Guide problems and stream problems are separate. If a channel shows an HttpDataSourceException rather than missing listings, see our guide to fixing the TiviMate HttpDataSourceException error.
The guide is slow or the app freezes
Very large guide files can slow down low-powered devices. Reducing the number of days stored, hiding unused channel groups, and clearing the app cache (not app data) can help.
Practical EPG troubleshooting checklist
Work through these steps in order. Each one rules out a common cause:
- Check that your device's date, time and time zone are correct and set to automatic.
- Confirm your subscription is active and channels play normally.
- Update the playlist from the playlist settings.
- Update the EPG source from the EPG settings and wait until it finishes.
- Restart the TiviMate app, then restart your device.
- Confirm the correct EPG source is listed; re-enter it if you received a separate link.
- Adjust the EPG time shift if programmes are consistently early or late.
- Reduce the number of guide days if your device is slow or low on storage.
- Clear the app cache from your device's app settings — not app data, which would remove your playlists.
- If a specific channel is still blank, it may simply have no guide data available.
If you have worked through the list and the guide is still not right, contact our support team with your device model, TiviMate version and a description of which channels are affected.
EPG, catch-up and recording
The TV guide is more than a schedule. In TiviMate, several features depend on accurate EPG data:
- Catch-up uses the guide to find past programmes. If the guide is missing or times are wrong, catch-up may open the wrong programme or not work at all — even on channels where the service supports it.
- Recording from the guide uses programme start and end times. Wrong times can cut off the start or end of a recording.
- Reminders, where your version supports them, rely on correct start times to alert you at the right moment.
This is why fixing time offsets and missing listings is worth the effort: it improves every guide-based feature, not just the grid. Catch-up and recording are generally TiviMate Premium features and depend on support from the IPTV service — our TiviMate Premium guide explains how the upgrade works.
Using the EPG on more than one device
EPG settings, time shifts and stored guide data are kept separately on each device. If you use TiviMate in several rooms, you may need to:
- Add the same EPG source on each device
- Apply the same time shift if programmes are offset
- Enable automatic updates on each device
If one device shows correct times and another does not, compare their date, time and time zone settings first — a difference in the device clock is the most common cause.
Getting the most from the TV guide
Once the EPG is working reliably, it becomes the fastest way to find something to watch:
- Browse the grid instead of flicking through channels.
- Use programme details to check what an episode is about before switching.
- Set reminders for upcoming programmes, where your version supports them.
- Use catch-up from the guide on channels where your service supports it.
Accurate guide data depends on both the player and the service. Our IPTV subscription includes EPG data for supported channels, ready to use with TiviMate and other compatible players. Compare our plans, check which devices are compatible, or browse our frequently asked questions to learn more.
