What Is an EPG and Why Do You Need One?

An Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) is the TV schedule that appears when you browse channels on your Formuler device — similar to the programme guide on a cable or satellite box. Without EPG data, you'll only see channel names with no information about what's currently airing or what's coming up next. Setting up a proper EPG dramatically improves the usability of your IPTV service.

Types of EPG Sources

MyTVOnline supports two primary EPG formats:

  • XMLTV: A widely used XML-based format. Your IPTV provider often supplies an XMLTV URL alongside your M3U playlist.
  • Provider EPG (built-in): If you're using a portal URL, the EPG may be delivered automatically as part of the portal service — no extra configuration needed.

Step 1: Get Your EPG URL

The first step is obtaining a valid XMLTV EPG URL. There are two ways to get one:

From Your IPTV Provider

Log into your IPTV provider's customer panel or check your welcome email. Many providers include a dedicated EPG/XMLTV URL alongside your M3U link. It typically looks like: http://provider.example.com/xmltv.php?username=XXXX&password=XXXX

From a Third-Party EPG Source

If your provider doesn't supply EPG data, free community-maintained XMLTV sources exist for many regions. Search for "free XMLTV EPG [your country]" to find up-to-date sources, but always verify the reliability of third-party sources before relying on them.

Step 2: Add the EPG URL in MyTVOnline 5

  1. Open MyTVOnline 5 on your Formuler device.
  2. Tap the Settings (gear) icon.
  3. Select your active service/playlist from the list.
  4. Tap Edit or Service Settings.
  5. Locate the EPG URL or XMLTV URL field.
  6. Enter your EPG URL and save.
  7. Return to the main screen and wait for the EPG data to download (this may take a few minutes depending on the size of the guide).

Step 3: Verify EPG Data Is Loading

After adding the URL, navigate to a channel and press the Info/OK button to see if programme information appears. You should see the current show title, description, and a timeline of upcoming programmes.

If no EPG data appears:

  • Double-check the URL for typos.
  • Ensure your device is connected to the internet.
  • Force a manual EPG refresh in Settings → EPG Settings → Update EPG.
  • Confirm the XMLTV file uses channel IDs that match the channel names in your M3U playlist.

EPG Channel Mapping

A common issue is that EPG data loads but doesn't match the right channels. This happens because the channel IDs in your XMLTV file don't match the channel names in your M3U. MyTVOnline 5 has a Channel Mapping tool to address this:

  1. Go to Settings → EPG Settings → Channel Mapping.
  2. Find the channel with missing EPG data.
  3. Manually assign it to the correct EPG entry from the loaded XMLTV data.

Tips for the Best EPG Experience

  • Set the EPG to auto-refresh daily so programme schedules stay current.
  • Schedule the auto-refresh during off-peak hours (e.g., 3:00 AM) to avoid any impact on streaming performance.
  • If your EPG covers 7+ days of data, the initial download will be larger — be patient on first load.
  • Use the catch-up/timeshift feature (if your provider supports it) by browsing past EPG entries and pressing play to watch previously aired content.

Summary

Setting up EPG data transforms your Formuler device from a basic channel player into a full-featured TV experience. Once configured, you'll always know what's on, what's coming up, and — with catch-up enabled — what you missed. The initial setup takes only a few minutes and is well worth the effort.