A blank programme guide, missing listings for only some channels, or times that are simply wrong are four different symptoms with four different causes — and none of them mean your IPTV subscription itself is broken. Playback usually still works fine while the guide (EPG) sits blank, which is the clearest sign the fault is in the guide data, not the stream.
Blank guide: check the EPG source first
In apps like TiviMate, the channel list and the programme guide can come from two different places — an Xtream Codes login usually pulls guide data automatically, but an M3U playlist often needs a separate EPG URL entered manually. A typo in that URL, a missing character, or the wrong file extension will leave the guide blank with no error message shown to you. Double-check the EPG URL field specifically, separately from your main login details.
It worked yesterday, gone today
If the guide was working and then vanished without you changing anything, the most likely explanation is that your provider changed or discontinued the EPG feed on their end, rather than a fault on your Firestick. This is outside your control to fix directly, but worth reporting to your provider rather than endlessly troubleshooting your own device.
Some channels show programme info, others do not
Partial guide coverage — where some channels display full listings and others show nothing — is usually a channel-mapping mismatch between your playlist and the EPG source, sometimes referred to as a tvg-id mismatch. Each channel in the guide data needs to be labelled to match the equivalent channel in your playlist exactly; when the two do not line up, that channel is simply skipped by the guide.
Stale or corrupted guide cache
A normal in-app refresh does not always clear a corrupted local cache of old guide data. If refreshing the playlist does not fix a wrong or missing guide, look for a separate “clear cache” option in the app’s settings, distinct from the everyday refresh button.
Programme times off by exactly one hour
This is a genuinely UK-specific, calendar-predictable problem: many IPTV EPG feeds are generated on servers set to a different timezone, and the difference only becomes visible around the UK’s clock changes each March and October, when British Summer Time starts or ends. If your guide is consistently an hour out, check whether it lines up with the date of the most recent UK clock change before assuming anything else is wrong.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my TV guide blank on TiviMate but the channels still play?
This almost always means the guide (EPG) source is separate from the channel list and has not been set up correctly, or the URL has a typo — playback and guide data are handled independently.
Why does my guide only show 1–2 days instead of a full week?
This is usually a limitation of the specific EPG source being used rather than the app itself; some sources provide a shorter forward window than others.
Why are my programme times an hour out?
Most commonly a timezone mismatch between the EPG server and UK time, which becomes visible around the UK’s clock-change dates in March and October.
Does clearing the EPG cache delete my channels or login?
No — clearing guide cache specifically should only remove stored programme-listing data, not your playlist or login details. If unsure, check your provider’s specific guidance before clearing anything.
If the issue turns out to be app-specific rather than guide-specific, see our IPTV app troubleshooting guide.
Full step-by-step for TiviMate and IPTV Smarters: UK BST/GMT EPG time offset guide.