IPTV EPG Guide, Explained
The electronic programme guide (EPG) is the on-screen TV schedule, and getting it right, in your local time, is what separates a good IPTV service from a frustrating one.
An EPG is the grid that shows what is on now and coming up next across your channels. It is what turns a wall of channel numbers into something you can actually browse. On IPTV, the guide is delivered alongside the channel list and refreshes automatically, the key detail is that it should match your time zone.
Why local time matters in Canada
Canada spans six time zones. A guide stuck on the wrong one turns a 7:00 PM game into guesswork. IPTV PROS sets the EPG to your local time, Eastern for Toronto and Montréal, Mountain for Calgary and Edmonton, Pacific for Vancouver, Atlantic for Halifax, so the schedule is right the first time.
Setting up the guide in your player
The guide loads automatically from the Xtream Codes login we email you, so there is usually nothing to import by hand. In TiviMate, open Settings, set the EPG time zone to your region, and use “Refresh EPG” if listings look empty. In IPTV Smarters Pro, the guide appears in the Live TV grid; if it is blank, refresh the playlist and reopen the app. If you ever add an external EPG source manually, it uses the standard XMLTV format that every major player understands.
Catch-up and recordings
A good guide is not just about what is on now. On supported channels, catch-up (also called archive or timeshift) lets you scroll back in the EPG and play something that aired earlier in the week, so a missed first period or a skipped newscast is easy to recover. On players like TiviMate you can also set favourites and, on supported setups, recordings, turning the guide into a proper personal TV planner rather than a static list. If the guide or catch-up ever misbehaves, the troubleshooting guide walks through the fixes.
FAQ
What is an EPG on IPTV?+
EPG stands for electronic programme guide, the on-screen schedule of what is playing now and next on each channel. A good IPTV EPG is set to your local Canadian time zone so the listings match reality.
Why is my IPTV guide showing the wrong time?+
The guide is likely set to the wrong time zone in your player. Set the player's EPG time zone to your region (Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific or Atlantic) and the listings will line up.
How do I fix a missing EPG?+
Refresh the playlist and EPG in your player (TiviMate and IPTV Smarters Pro both have a refresh option), then restart the app. If it is still missing, contact support and we will resend your guide details.
What is catch-up TV on IPTV?+
Catch-up (sometimes called archive or timeshift) lets you go back and watch programming that aired in the last few days on supported channels. In the guide you simply scroll back to an earlier show and play it, handy if you missed the start of a game or the evening news.
How often does the IPTV guide update?+
The EPG refreshes automatically, usually pulling several days of upcoming listings. If yours looks stale, force a manual EPG refresh in your player and it will pull the latest schedule; there is no need to reinstall anything.
Does the EPG work with TiviMate and IPTV Smarters Pro?+
Yes. Both read the guide automatically from your Xtream Codes login, and both let you set the time zone and refresh the EPG. TiviMate in particular has a polished guide with favourites and recordings on supported setups.
Related: Setup guide · Troubleshooting
Where the guide comes from: M3U vs Xtream Codes, and the XMLTV guide link