EPG, or Electronic Program Guide, helps you look at the data of programs that are being streamed as well as those previously streamed on a channel. Users can view information like time, program rating, content, casting, overview, etc., of the programs. Similar to Cable and DTH streaming, IPTV services also provide EPG support. Most IPTVs allow users to view the EPG info of programs well in advance.
How is EPG Used in IPTV?
Each IPTV provider has the program schedule for all its channels and it can be viewed through the IPTV player. Your provider relays the program data in two ways.
- The first way is sending the EPG data in a separate transport channel without the video content. Then, your IPTV player will receive those data, merge them, and stream the data to its users.
- Another way is to send the EPG data as well as the video to the same transport channel. The IPTV player receives the data and simply extracts the required data. Then, it forms the EPG chart and sends it to users.
Of both the methods, the second one is better than the former because sending the EPG data together with the video stream helps the providers to accommodate any unexpected changes in scheduling. Another advantage is that IPTV players can add more data to the EPG when it is streamed as a whole package.
Once the IPTV player has all the data processed, it uploads the data into a headend system and transmits it via video character generation equipment. Then, users can access those EPG data through their IPTV player easily.
Types of EPG
EPG streaming is of 4 types. Here’s a bit of an explanation of all the types.
- Single Channel EPG: As the name suggests, it provides the program data of only one channel in your playlist.
- Multiple-Channel EPG: This type sends the EPG data of multiple or all the channels in your playlist. Most IPTV providers follow this method.
- Non-Interactive EPG: A non-interactive EPG just displays the program guide of your TV Channels and nothing more.
- Interactive EPG: An interactive EPG lets users search for the exact program and access it. This feature is quite helpful as it removes the need to shuffle through the entire playlist to look for a program.
Advantages of Using EPG
Using the EPG functionality has several benefits, and here are some of them.
- Using this feature, you will learn about the program schedule more quickly.
- It has the time shift option, which lets you use features like fast-forward, rewind, and pause.
- It also lets you customize the TV guide based on your preferences.
- Improves the viewing experience of the users by providing details about the movies, including the cast, reviews, ratings, and plot.
- In addition, it includes a search option, which lets you find the shows quickly and provides recommendations for movies based on your viewing experience.
How to Add EPG Sources to IPTV?
For this, you need to subscribe to an IPTV provider that offers EPG data and an IPTV player that has EPG support. Here, we have installed the Perfect IPTV player to configure the EPG file. You can install and use other players that you’re comfortable with.
- Launch the Perfect IPTV Player app on your device and go to its Settings.
- In that, go to EPG Settings.
- Enter the EPG URL link provided by your IPTV provider in the required space.
- Then, select the time interval for the automatic update of EPG.
- Save all the changes and exit the settings screen.
- After this, you can access the program list of every channel and its timings.
Tip! Users can either manually update the EPG or set it to automatic from time to time.
EPG Time Shift – An Overview
On most IPTVs, the Time Shift feature is provided as an on-demand service. If you have no time to watch a live Program, you can watch it later at your convenience with the EPG Time Shift feature. This feature lets you pause, rewind, and skip forward on a live program (Stored).
Sounds similar to Catch Up? But it isn’t. With Catch Up, users can only watch content within a time frame, say a week or more. A Time shift has nothing like that. Users can watch live-streamed content any time they wish as long as the IPTV service provides the data. This is what makes EPG better than normal catch-up.
Note! The Time Shift feature is available only for selected programs and content on IPTVs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I filter EPG to show only specific programs/channels?
Yes. Several IPTV Players have this feature, which allows you to filter a program based on its content, rating, etc. This ensures you will find the program quickly.
What should I do if the EPG facility fails to work on my device?
If the Electronic Program Guide fails to work, check the internet connection and switch to a different EPG source file. Or else, try clearing cache files, refreshing the EPG data, or changing the time zone. If none of these work, you need to contact your service provider for help.
Despite the huge number of advantages, what is the disadvantage of EPG Time Shift?
One disadvantage we find in EPG Time Shift is that your IPTV provider has to bear the entire burden of storing the streamed content on their servers, which may sometimes slow down their performance.
