Content reviewed: October 9, 2026. This is a documentation-based setup guide, not a report of hands-on testing. Menu names and features depend on your model, region, software and player version.
An electronic programme guide shows scheduled programmes associated with channels. Video playback and guide data are separate: a channel can play while its guide is blank, out of date or mapped to a different channel.
Know Which Guide Format Your Player Uses
Some players obtain guide data through account integration; others ask for a separate EPG address. Ask support which method applies to the account format you were given. Do not invent an EPG address or paste the M3U playlist into the guide field.
XMLTV is one common TV-listings format. Its specification includes channel identifiers and programme entries with start times and channel references. Correct identifiers and time information matter; a similarly named channel is not necessarily a matching identifier.
A Practical EPG Setup Checklist
- Record the player name, version and supported guide method.
- Confirm the guide source with support and enter it in the correct field where required.
- Use the player’s refresh or update action and allow it to complete.
- Open several channels and compare the current programme with the actual broadcast.
- Check the device’s date, local time and time zone before applying a guide offset.
- Restart the player once and verify that the guide source remains saved.
Match the Problem to the Check
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| Guide blank for every channel | Source configuration, account guide method, refresh result and network access. |
| Guide missing for a few channels | Whether listings exist and whether the player maps those channel identifiers. |
| Programme times shifted consistently | Device time zone, source time information and any player offset. Do not change all settings together. |
| Wrong programme on one channel | Channel mapping and the guide source for that channel. |
| Old schedule after refresh | Source update status, refresh error and the selected date range. |
Test Guide Coverage Before Subscribing
Check the channels you actually watch, rather than assuming a complete guide exists for the whole catalogue. Ask about the available time range. Seven days of listings are not guaranteed for every channel, and guide listings do not establish that catch-up playback is available.
If replay matters, separately test a past programme on a channel and player that support catch-up. Confirm the available replay period with support. A title in the guide is a schedule entry, not a recording or a promise that you can replay it.
What Support Needs
Send the player version, a few affected channel names, your time zone, the visible programme time and the refresh error if there is one. Hide complete guide URLs or account tokens when sharing screenshots publicly. Mention whether video itself plays normally.
Choose Your Next Step
Request a 24-hour trial to check your actual device. Then compare durations and simultaneous screen allowances. Read the FAQ or ask IPTV Lions on WhatsApp with your device model, app version and specific issue.
Format Reference
XMLTV’s official format definition describes channel references and programme timing. It explains the data format, not IPTV Lions coverage or your player’s particular settings menu.