IPTV Questions The basics
Does IPTV come with a TV guide (EPG)?
How does an IPTV TV guide work?
Listings travel as their own data file, apart from the video. Your provider publishes them for each channel, most often as XMLTV, and tags every channel with an ID. The app fetches the file, pairs each ID with a channel on your list and builds the grid. Most apps refresh it once a day. When a channel's ID does not match, its row stays blank even though the channel plays fine. Wikipedia's EPG article covers the history if you are curious.
How do you get the guide in your IPTV app?
It depends on the app and the type of login you use:
| App or device | With Xtream Codes | With an M3U link |
|---|---|---|
| TiviMate | Loads with the playlist; open the TV guide from the main menu | Add the guide address under Settings, then EPG |
| IPTV Smarters Pro | Downloads after sign-in; use the refresh button on the home screen if empty | Paste the guide address when you add the playlist |
| Smarters Player Lite (Apple) | Loads after sign-in | Add the guide address in the playlist settings |
| MAG or Formuler | Sent through the portal, nothing to add | Not used |
Exact menu wording changes from one app version to the next. Our TiviMate setup guide and Smarters walkthrough show the current screens, and our M3U and Xtream Codes comparison explains why the second option fills the guide with less effort.
Which IPTV has the best EPG?
Judge a guide by how complete it is for the channels you actually watch, and test that during a trial rather than trusting claims. Things worth checking:
- Your Canadian local channels and French channels have listings, not blank rows
- Show times match your province once your device clock is right
- The guide covers at least the next two or three days
- Catch-up works on channels that offer it, so you can replay last night from the grid
- Sports events show the real teams, not just "Live programming"
The app matters too. TiviMate has a cable-style grid many people prefer for long channel lists, while Smarters keeps things simpler. Our Smarters and TiviMate comparison sets the two side by side.
Why does the guide say "No information"?
Usually the listings have not downloaded yet, or the app is reading old data. Work through these in order:
- Wait a few minutes after a fresh sign-in, because big guides take time.
- Use the app's refresh or update option for the EPG.
- Look at the clock and time zone on the TV or stick. A wrong setting shifts every show.
- Look for a time offset setting (sometimes called time shift) if shows are off by exactly one or more hours.
- Clear the app cache, or remove and re-add the playlist.
If only a handful of channels stay blank, the provider has not matched them. Our full EPG troubleshooting guide covers the less common causes.
Does King IPTV include a TV guide?
Yes. Every King IPTV plan includes the EPG, with catch-up on supported channels, at no extra cost. Xtream Codes users see it appear automatically, and M3U users can ask support for the guide address. Spot an empty row on a channel you care about? Send the channel name through Live Chat so we can fix the match. You can check the guide on your own device during the one-day free trial.
More TV guide questions
How do I get the TV guide on IPTV in Canada?
Use Xtream Codes details if your provider offers them, since the guide comes along automatically. Then set your TV or stick to the right time zone for your province: Pacific in BC, Eastern in Ontario and Quebec, Atlantic in Nova Scotia. Finally, refresh the EPG in the app. Most guides are full within a few minutes.
How often does an IPTV guide update?
Providers usually refresh listings daily, and most apps download the new file every 12 to 24 hours or when you open them. If a schedule changed at the last minute, such as a game running late, the guide may lag behind. Use the manual refresh option in the app when you need the latest version straight away.
Can I record a show from the IPTV guide?
Some apps can. TiviMate lets you schedule recordings from the guide on Android devices with enough storage, as part of its paid version. If your provider offers catch-up on a channel, you can often skip recording and replay recent shows straight from the grid. Recording options vary by app and device, so check your player's settings.
See the full guide on your own TV
Our 24-hour trial includes the EPG and catch-up, so you can check your favourite channels before paying from $18 CAD.