What is an EPG?
EPG stands for Electronic Program Guide: which show runs when on which channel. IPTV providers usually deliver it as an XMLTV file. An IPTV app such as IPTVGenie matches the shows to each channel by its identifier (tvg-id) and shows “Now”, “Next” and a guide grid.
Automatic: Xtream Codes and url-tvg
With an Xtream Codes login, the EPG comes straight from your provider’s server; there is nothing to set up.
With an M3U playlist, the guide address is often in the first line, as url-tvg="…". IPTVGenie then loads it automatically in the background.
Add an XMLTV address of your own
- Open Settings in IPTVGenie and go to the “TV Guide” section.
- Tap “Add TV Guide…” and paste the XMLTV address; gzip-compressed files (.xml.gz) work too.
- IPTVGenie checks that a guide is there and loads it in the background.
- “Refresh Now” reloads the guide right away.
The guide does not match the channel
- Wrong channel: assign a guide to a channel by hand when its name is spelled differently in the playlist and the guide.
- Wrong time: if every show is off by an hour or more, set the guide’s “Time Offset”.
- Gaps: if some channels are missing, add another guide; IPTVGenie can use several sources per playlist.
Where do I get an XMLTV address?
From your IPTV provider, usually in your account area or in the email with your login details. The address often ends in .xml or .xml.gz. If your provider has no guide, there are public XMLTV sources for free-to-air channels; make sure their channel identifiers match your playlist.
What the EPG gives you
- “Now” and “Next” right in the channel list
- A guide grid across all channels, on Apple TV with the remote
- Reminders before a show starts, as a Live Activity on iPhone
- Catch-up: missed shows later if your provider has an archive
- “Tonight”: the evening’s picks on the home screen
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between EPG and XMLTV?
The EPG is the TV guide itself, the schedule in the app with “Now”, “Next” and the grid. XMLTV is the file format providers usually deliver it in, often as .xml or gzip-compressed as .xml.gz. An XMLTV address is therefore the source IPTVGenie builds the EPG from.
Why do some channels show no guide?
The guide does not know the channel under the same identifier (tvg-id) as the playlist, or does not include it at all. In IPTVGenie, assign the guide by hand when the channel is only named differently in the guide. If it is missing entirely, add another guide source that includes this channel.
Can I use several TV guides at once?
Yes. Next to your provider’s guide you can add more XMLTV addresses in Settings under “TV Guide”; IPTVGenie uses them together and fills gaps that way. That helps when your provider covers only part of your channels. Each extra source loads in the background and can be removed again.
The guide is an hour off. What can I do?
Set the “Time Offset” in Settings under “TV Guide” until “Now” matches the show that is actually on. This often happens when a provider delivers times without a time zone or ignores daylight saving time. The offset applies to the whole playlist, so to all its channels at once.