What You’ll Learn
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to:
- find EPG information in Live TV
- open the favorites EPG timeline
- open program details
- start playback from EPG when possible
- recognise and play provider-supported catch-up programs
- create recordings from EPG
- update EPG data
- understand why EPG data can be missing or blocked
- understand how TV VPN Kill Switch can affect EPG images and updates
Before You Start
EPG on TV depends on the profile data synced from the IPTV Buddy account. The selected profile needs Live TV favorites and EPG data for the related channels.
If the provider or playlist does not include usable EPG data, the TV app cannot invent program information. In that case, users should first check EPG setup and favorites on the mobile app or Web Editor.
Tutorial Steps
1. Where EPG Appears on TV
EPG appears in several TV places:
- Live TV channel lists when Show EPG overview is enabled
- the SHOW EPG action at the top of a favorite channel list
- fullscreen Live TV overlay when the current channel has EPG data
- recording actions and recording details when the recording was created from an EPG program
The most complete TV guide view is the favorites EPG timeline.
2. Show Current Program in the Live TV Overview
Open Settings > Appearance > Show EPG overview.
When enabled, Live TV lists can show what is currently running on each channel. This is useful before opening fullscreen playback.
If a channel has no matching EPG entry, the app can show No EPG or omit the program text for that channel.
3. Open the Favorites EPG Timeline
Go to Live TV, select a favorite group, then choose SHOW EPG at the top of the channel list.
The TV app opens a fullscreen timeline for the favorites in that group. It loads programs for the selected time window and shows programs by channel and time.
If no program data is available for the selected favorites and time window, IPTV Buddy can show No EPG data is currently available for these favorites in the selected time window.
4. Read the Timeline
The EPG timeline helps users answer three questions:
- What is currently running?
- What starts next?
- Which channel has the program I want to watch or record?
Program entries can show title, time range, duration, and available metadata. The duration format can appear as a minute value or as hours and minutes.
Use remote navigation to move through channels and programs. Open a program to see more details. Choose Now to return the timeline to the current program window after browsing earlier or later times.
An archive symbol marks channels or past programs for which provider-supported catch-up is available. The symbol does not mean that every past program on that channel is playable.
5. Open Program Details
Open a program to see what it is about before you watch or record it. The detail view can show the time, duration, description, episode information, age rating, image, and extra metadata when your EPG data includes it.
If some information is missing, the provider or imported EPG list did not include it.
6. Use EPG From Fullscreen Live TV
During fullscreen Live TV, open the playback overlay. If the current channel has a matching current program, the overlay can show EPG.
Select EPG to open the details for the current program.
If no current program can be matched, the EPG action is not shown or cannot open details.
7. Start Playback From the EPG
For a live program, the EPG detail can offer Play now. This starts the related Live TV stream.
For an ended program, the detail can offer Play with catch-up when the provider marks an eligible source as catch-up capable and the program is still inside that source’s archive window.
If the selected Live TV source does not support the requested archive program, IPTV Buddy can try another known source for the same channel. A message such as Catch-up is playing via … identifies that temporary fallback. It does not replace your saved source selection.
If no eligible provider source is available, IPTV Buddy shows Already ended or Catch-up is not available from the provider.
8. Record From the EPG
For programs that have not ended, the EPG detail can show recording actions:
- Start recording for a program that is currently live
- Schedule recording for a future program
- Edit for a planned recording that already exists
- Cancel for a recording that is starting, running, resuming, or waiting for VPN
- Recording running when the current state is informational
Recording setup, storage, Exact Alarm permission, preroll, postroll, and recording statuses are covered in the recordings tutorial.
9. Load EPG Data in the Background
The TV app loads required EPG data in the background when Live TV channels, the EPG timeline, or additional time ranges are opened. The header can show an update status while this is running.
If an update is already running, the app uses that operation instead of starting another one in parallel.
If TV VPN Kill Switch is enabled and VPN is disconnected, EPG update can be blocked. The app shows that EPG update was blocked by VPN Kill Switch and will be retried once a VPN connection is active.
10. Understand EPG Images and VPN Kill Switch
Program images are network-loaded media. When TV VPN Kill Switch is enabled and the TV is not connected through VPN, images can be blocked.
In that case, the app can show Image blocked: VPN required (kill switch active).
This affects images and network updates; it does not mean the EPG program entry itself is wrong.
Troubleshooting
SHOW EPG Is Missing
SHOW EPG appears inside a Live TV favorite group. Select Live TV, choose a favorite group, then look at the top of the channel list.
The Timeline Says No EPG Data Is Available
The selected favorites have no EPG data in the current time window. Check whether EPG data is available for these channels in the profile and whether the TV has network access. Reopen the timeline or use Try again after correcting the cause.
The Timeline Could Not Be Loaded
Use Try again. If the error returns, check the network and VPN state, resync the current profile if needed, then reopen the guide.
Program Images Are Blocked
TV VPN Kill Switch is enabled and the TV has no active VPN connection. Connect VPN or disable the TV VPN Kill Switch if this TV is allowed to load IPTV-related network content without VPN.
EPG Data Stays Outdated
A background update may already be running, the TV may be offline, or TV VPN Kill Switch may be waiting for VPN. Check the header indicators and reopen the guide after the network state is stable.
FAQ
Where Do I Open the TV Guide?
Open Live TV, choose a favorite group, and select SHOW EPG at the top of the channel list.
Why Do Some Channels Have No EPG?
EPG depends on provider or playlist data and correct channel matching. If IPTV Buddy has no program data for a channel, the TV app cannot show program details for it.
Can I Watch Past Programs From the EPG?
Yes, when the provider supports catch-up for a known source and the program is still inside its advertised archive window. Other ended programs remain unavailable.
Can I Record From the EPG?
Yes. Programs that have not ended can show Start recording or Schedule recording, depending on whether they are live or future programs.
Why Are EPG Images Blocked?
When TV VPN Kill Switch is enabled without an active VPN, IPTV Buddy blocks IPTV-related network requests, including EPG images.
Next tutorial Timeshift, Playback, Multi-View, Subtitles, and Audio on TV