Complete EPG Guide (2026): XMLTV Sync, 48h Catch-Up & Timezone Calibration

1. What is an EPG and How Does XMLTV Ingestion Work?

The Electronic Program Guide is the digital schedule metadata layer displayed over your channel lineup. In professional streaming, this data is structured using the universal XMLTV standard:

• XMLTV Data Structure: An XMLTV feed is a compressed XML document containing verified program schedules for every channel, including program title, start time, end time, category, director, parental rating, and poster art.
• The Channel-ID Key: For your player to correctly match a program with a live video feed, it relies on a unique identifier called the channel-id (for example, SkySportsMainEvent.uk). If this ID matches between your M3U playlist and the EPG server, schedules appear instantly.
• Automated Ingestion: KY TV’s automated crawlers refresh TV schedule data directly from primary broadcast registries every 4 hours, ensuring 7-day schedule accuracy across US, UK, Canadian, French, and European channels.

2. Step-by-Step EPG Setup on TiviMate, Smarters & IBO Player

When using the Xtream Codes API with KY TV, your EPG URL is automatically configured by your player. However, if you are setting up manual playlists or need to force-synchronize your guide:

1. Locate Your Dedicated EPG Link: In your KY TV client dashboard or activation email, copy your dedicated XMLTV URL: http://your-server-domain:port/xmltv.php?username=XXX&password=YYY
2. TiviMate Configuration: Go to Settings › EPG › EPG Sources › Add Source. Paste the URL, set Update Interval to Once every 12 hours, and enable Update on App Start.
3. Clear & Reload Cache: If outdated schedules linger, select Clear EPG Cache and then Update EPG. Your program grid will populate completely.

3. Calibrating EPG Timezone Offsets (Fixing 1-Hour Schedule Shifts)

A frequent issue occurs when your EPG guide displays programs shifted by +1 or -1 hour relative to real-time broadcasts. This is caused by daylight saving time discrepancies between server UTC time and your device’s local clock:

4. Utilizing 48-Hour Catch-Up TV (Never Miss Live Events)

Catch-Up TV turns live television into an on-demand streaming archive. On KY TV premium bouquets, over 3,000 top-tier channels feature automated 48-hour continuous rolling archives:

• Identifying Catch-Up Channels: In TiviMate and Smarters Pro, channels with catch-up functionality display a distinctive clock icon next to the channel name.
• Rewinding Live TV: Open the EPG guide, navigate backwards to an event that aired earlier today or yesterday, and press Select. The server automatically serves the recorded segment with full pause, fast-forward, and rewind controls.

5. High-Resolution Vector Channel Logos

A premium TV guide is visual. Many budget services use pixelated, blurry 50×50 pixel JPEG logos that look dreadful on modern 4K panels.

The KY TV EPG server serves transparent 32-bit high-density PNG (512×512 pixels) logos with clean alpha channels. When your app caches these assets, your TV guide delivers an interface comparable to modern tier-1 video streaming apps.