What is IPTV?
IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television: television that comes over the internet instead of an aerial, cable or satellite. A provider delivers the channels as a playlist or an Xtream login, and a player app like IPTVGenie plays them, with a programme guide, movies and series. The app itself delivers no channels; they always come from your provider.
- M3U and M3U8
What is an M3U playlist?
An M3U playlist is a text file that lists channels: one line per channel with its name, logo, group and guide ID, and below it the stream address. M3U8 is the same in UTF-8, so with accented letters. Your provider gives it to you as a link or file; IPTVGenie turns it into a channel list and programme guide.
- Xtream Codes
What is Xtream Codes?
Xtream Codes is an interface through which many IPTV providers deliver their service. Instead of a link, you get three details: server address, username and password. With them, an app loads channels, the programme guide, movies and series separately, and often faster than through an M3U playlist. The archive for catch-up usually comes this way too.
- EPG
What is an EPG?
EPG stands for Electronic Program Guide, the programme guide on your screen. It shows what is on every channel right now and what comes next, with title, time and description. IPTVGenie shows it as a grid across all channels, as “Now” and “Next” under each channel, and right in the picture while you watch.
- XMLTV
What is XMLTV?
XMLTV is the usual file format for programme data: an XML file, often packed as .xml.gz, with the programmes of many channels for the next few days. Some providers include it automatically, with others you enter the address yourself. IPTVGenie reads it and matches the programmes to the channels by their guide ID.
- tvg-id and url-tvg
What do tvg-id and url-tvg mean?
They are details in an M3U playlist. url-tvg sits in the first line and gives the address of the XMLTV programme data. tvg-id sits with each channel and says which entry in that programme data belongs to it. If the ID is missing or does not match, you match the guide to the channel by hand in IPTVGenie.
- Catch-up
What is catch-up in IPTV?
Catch-up means watching programmes later that have already aired. It only works if your provider keeps a channel’s programmes for a while, in a so-called archive; how long is up to the provider. In IPTVGenie you start them from the programme guide, and you play a programme that is on now from the start.
- VOD
What is VOD?
VOD stands for Video on Demand: movies and series that you start whenever you like, instead of watching them at a fixed airtime. Many IPTV providers include VOD through Xtream Codes. IPTVGenie shows it as a library of its own with covers, seasons and episodes, and remembers where you stopped watching.
- Connections
What does “one connection” mean in IPTV?
Most IPTV logins allow only a certain number of streams at the same time, often just one. If someone is watching on the TV and you start on your iPhone at the same time, one of the two stops. IPTVGenie warns you beforehand if this would stop another device. For Multiview, your login needs correspondingly more connections.
- User-Agent
What is a User-Agent?
The User-Agent is the name an app uses to identify itself to the server. Some IPTV providers only deliver to certain apps or devices and check this name to do so. If your provider asks for a particular User-Agent, you enter it in IPTVGenie for that playlist; otherwise you do not need it.
- HEVC and MKV
What do HEVC and MKV have to do with IPTV?
HEVC, also called H.265, is a method of compressing video, and MKV is a file format for movies. Not every player can play every format: the built-in VLC player plays some streams that Apple’s player does not know. If a channel or movie does not start, switch the player in IPTVGenie to “VLC” and try again.
- Multiview
What is Multiview?
Multiview shows several channels at the same time on one screen, up to four in IPTVGenie. That way you follow several matches in parallel or keep an eye on the news. It is available on iPad, Mac and Apple TV. Each channel is a stream of its own, so your login has to allow enough connections.
- Picture in Picture
What is Picture in Picture?
Picture in Picture keeps a video playing in a small window while you use another app. You push the window to the edge, make it bigger or bring it back into the app. In IPTVGenie this works on all four devices with Apple’s player; on the Mac there is also a floating window above all apps.
Is IPTV the same as streaming?
Almost. Streaming generally means video over the internet, for example in a streaming service’s app. IPTV usually means TV channels that a provider delivers over the internet, as a playlist or an Xtream login that you open in a player app like IPTVGenie. The app itself delivers no content; it plays what your provider gives you.
Do I need an IPTV provider?
Yes. IPTVGenie is a player without channels of its own. You need access that a provider gives you: an M3U link, an M3U file or an Xtream Codes login. Make sure your provider holds the rights to the channels it delivers. With that access, you try IPTVGenie free for 30 days on all your devices.