An empty guide almost never means the guide is missing: the app has not loaded it yet, loads it only once a day, or shows it one or two hours off because of the time zone setting. Force a guide update in the app, set the EPG time shift to 0 for the Netherlands and Belgium, and give the app a minute after the first start. The per-app settings are below; if a single channel stays empty, that channel has no guide data at the source and we can add it when you tell us which one.
The four causes
1. Not loaded yet
The guide is a separate download of several megabytes. Right after adding the playlist, or after a fresh install, it takes one to three minutes before the timeline fills. Wait, or trigger the update by hand.
2. Wrong time shift
Guide data is delivered in the right time zone for the Netherlands and Belgium. If your app has an EPG offset, time shift or time zone setting on anything other than 0 or Europe/Amsterdam, every programme shows one or two hours off. Set it to 0 and reload.
3. The app updates the guide once a day
Most apps refresh at a fixed interval. If the TV was off at that moment, today's guide can be empty until the next refresh. Set the interval to every 6 or 12 hours, or press the update button.
4. One channel without data
Smaller and regional channels sometimes have no guide feed, or the channel name in the list does not match the guide entry. Message us the channel name and we link it; it usually shows within a day.
The setting per app
| App | Where the guide setting is | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| HOT IPTV Player | Press Refresh on the home screen after we load your playlist; the guide comes with it. Time shift under Settings, EPG. | HOT IPTV setup |
| IBO Player | Settings, then EPG: Update EPG. Time shift on the same screen; leave it at 0. | IBO Player setup |
| TiviMate | Settings, Playlists, your playlist, EPG: Update now; set Update interval to 6 hours. Time shift under the same menu. | TiviMate setup |
| IPTV Smarters | Open the user, three dots or Settings: Update EPG. If it stays empty, log in with Xtream Codes instead of an M3U link; the guide loads automatically that way. | Smarters setup |
| Smart IPTV and Net IPTV | The guide comes from the playlist upload on the app's website; upload again with the EPG address from our message and restart the app. | Smart IPTV setup |
Read: what the EPG is and how catch-up uses it
Questions about the IPTV programme guide
The guide shows 'no information' on every channel
Cause 1 or 3: the guide has not been downloaded. Force the update in the app; if nothing happens, the app cannot reach the guide address, which is usually a network filter or an old app version.
Programmes are one hour off
Cause 2: set the EPG time shift to 0 and check the device clock is on automatic time. After daylight-saving changes, restart the app once.
Does catch-up depend on the guide?
Yes: catch-up lists the programmes from the guide. No guide, no catch-up list, even though the recordings exist. Fix the guide and catch-up appears.
Can I get a guide for channels from other countries?
The main channels of the neighbouring countries have guide data; smaller ones often not. Tell us which ones you watch and we check.
Guide still empty?
Send us the app name and a photo of the guide screen. We answer in Dutch, seven days a week, usually within the hour.
