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In this article, we’ll look at the Electronic Program Guide, or EPG, which is one of the features of IPTV services.
If you are a frequent user or have used live TV apps or IPTV services a few times, you may have noticed a TV guide that contains on-air and upcoming shows. EPGs (Electronic Program Guides) are widespread in the pay-TV and video-on-demand industries.
With the digital television transition from analog to digital broadcasts rapidly approaching, many people are unaware of what an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) is. And you’re probably using one without even realizing it.
An EPG, or Electronic Program Guide, contains the schedule of the shows that will be shown on their app, including details such as network, title, time, and so much more. And, while the channel’s content may change, the EPG remains unchanged.
So this article will discuss why an electronic program guide is beneficial to your TV viewing experience and which IPTV services offer it for your channel surfing convenience.
EPG and IPTV
What is EPG?
An EPG (Electronic Program Guide) is a technology that displays television program listings for both broadcast and cable television systems. It is a database that contains information about television shows, such as the title, channel, air-time, genre, year of production, and episode information. To sum it up, EPG is a service that allows you to search for TV show schedules and discover which channels are broadcasting them live.
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What are the different types of EPG?
Non-interactive EPG
As the name implies, this type of electronic programming guide is non-interactive, which means it does not require or allow viewer action or input. The guide provides limited information about each program and its duration, but it allows viewers to plan their viewing schedule ahead of time. It only functions as a basic electronic programming guide because it is not interactive, and the viewer cannot simply click on it to link to the program or search for specific programs.
Interactive EPG
The Interactive (Electronic) Programming Guide, abbreviated as IPG, is a more modern version of the EPG that allows users to browse, select, and watch various television channels and video-on-demand services. The viewer can navigate directly to the desired station by using the remote control’s keypad. It generally allows viewers to navigate, set parental controls, and record DVR.
Single Channel EPG
Only displays the schedule of a single channel on the Electronic Program Guide.
Multiple Channel EPG
On the Electronic Program Guide, the schedule of various multiple channels is shown.
How Does EPG Work?
An Electronic Program Guide (EPG) is an interactive program guide that provides users with current and future program selections via digital television, radio broadcasting, or specialized video character generation. It provides a schedule of upcoming programs on a specific channel and TV provider, allowing viewers to plan their viewing. For many viewers, EPGs are the only source of a complete list of all the television shows they watch regularly, while for others, it is a supplement to a print-based TV listing service.
What are the Benefits of EPG?
- Allows viewers to see what programs are coming up, current programs being aired, and what programs will be on in the next hours
- You can schedule recordings well in advance and set reminders when a show is about to start
- It gives you the information you may require when it comes to your favorite shows like what channel, time, and other related information is needed
- Provides you a better way to navigate through live TV or IPTV services
- Gives you additional opportunities to always be aware of what is on so you can be on time
- Helps you easily find your favorite shows and channels
- It improves the overall satisfaction of the streaming experience
What is IPTV?
IPTV is currently one of the most popular video services. It provides on-demand services in addition to live channels. The on-demand features of IPTV are a significant advantage over traditional television services. Aside from LiveTV shows and films, IPTV services offer several other beneficial features. One of them is an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) for TV shows, which allows you to keep up with TV shows even if you missed it when it was first aired.
What is the Importance of EPG in IPTV Services?
Electronic Program Guide is a menu for full-featured IPTV services. It gives viewers detailed information about current and upcoming broadcasts of over-the-air programs. A modern IPTV service seems to have a brand new user interface, design, and navigation. It works on the same ideals as cable TV but is constantly innovating. Since IPTV is a constantly evolving technology, providers are intending not only to improve service quality but also to add new features that make life easier for their subscribers, such as EPG.
Best Legal Apps with EPG
There is an ever-expanding selection of legal apps available to cord-cutters. From sports streaming to local TV listings, we’ve found the best legal IPTV services that offer a free Electronic Program Guide to their users:
Pluto TV
Pluto TV is one of the best legal apps for Android users that provides EPG. Here you can watch free movies, television shows, and listen to music channels on your phone, tablet, and Smart TV. It has over 300 channels and some of the most popular content include Comedy Central, CNN, Fox Business, NBC News, BBC, Nick Jr, Pluto TV Kids, Fox Sports, and NFL Channel.
Fubo TV
Fubo TV is a live streaming service and one of the best legal apps with an EPG, or Electronic Program Guide. The company offers TV channels for any preference which includes ESPN, ABC, CBS Sports Network, Discovery Channel, MTV, Nickelodeon, The Weather Channel, Cheddar News, Fuse, and Lifetime. But what I like best about Fubo TV is that it is one of the few apps on the market that allows you to watch sports live.
Sling TV
Sling TV is a subscription service that carries most of the major channels for sports, news, TV shows, and kid’s channels which can be streamed on multiple devices. It has several benefits including ease of use, channel integration, and device compatibility. Sling TV has evolved into one of the best legal streaming options available on the market for those seeking both entertainment and sports. It offers channels such as CNN, CNBC, Bravo, Hallmark, TLC, Nick JR, Cartoon Network, TNT, and ESPN.
Hulu Live TV
Hulu Live TV is one of the best live television apps available because it has the best in-season TV show catalog of any streaming service. You can stream and watch more than 60 live TV channels from your device, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, and many others. Hulu Live TV with its EPG feature will allow you to enjoy live television together with a modern electronic programming guide. As a result, Hulu Live TV is an excellent service for cord-cutters and those looking to save money on cable.
AT&T TV
AT&T TV is AT&T’s online streaming service that provides live and on-demand television as well as broadband internet services. You can watch live TV from a variety of networks, premium channels, and Video-On-Demand with AT&T TV. This cable alternative also allows you to watch your favorite shows on a variety of devices, including tablets, smartphones, laptops, and SmartTVs. Aside from that, it also enables you to pause and rewind live television. Also, if you enjoy watching sports on TV, AT&T TV with EPG is the right service for you.
Philo
Philo is an online streaming service that provides live and on-demand programming without any contracts or commitments. It streams from a variety of channels Animal Planet, AXS TV, BBC America, Cooking Channel, Food Network, MTV, Nickelodeon, Travel Channel, Science Channel, Vice, GetTV, and CMT. Aside from having an EPG available, it offers an affordable subscription with fewer ads and easy access.
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Stream Safely With a VPN
One of the best things about the Firestick is that it enables us to watch live TV from a lot of different IPTV services available on the Amazon App Store. It even allows us to access channels from different countries in the world. However, there are some live TV apps and geo-restricted IPTV services which limit our streaming experience if we are not in that country. Luckily, a VPN such as Surfshark exists. Surfshark will allow you to connect from one of its more than 3200+ servers in 65 countries and will provide you with an anonymous IP address so that the app can detect your location within its unrestricted location. Aside from being able to bypass geo-restrictions and censorships, you can also enjoy the following benefits:
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How to Install Surfshark VPN on Firestick
If your Firestick still has the older interface, read this article to learn how to update it: Update Firestick Interface.
Follow our screenshots below to install the SurfShark VPN app on your Fire TV stick.
1. Go to the Home screen of your Firestick.
2. Navigate towards the Find tab. Press the Search button from the resulting dropdown.
3. Type in the keyword of SurfShark and select from the suggestions that will appear.
4. Click the official SurfShark icon from your search results.
5. Press the Download (You own it) button.
6. The SurfShark VPN installer will download on your device.
7. SurfShark VPN’s app will automatically install itself on your Fire TV stick.
8. Press the Open button after completing SurfShark VPN’s installation process.
9. Please wait for the SurfShark VPN to load its user interface.
10. You can now log in with your SurfShark VPN account credentials.
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FAQs
What is EPG?
EPG stands for Electronic Programming Guide. It is a technology that allows your provider to display a list of TV channels and the programming information for each channel. It provides TV viewers with a complete program guide to select videos they want to watch. Moreso, it is a digital alternative for the traditional television guide provided to a cable or satellite subscriber. Think of it as the grid programming that lists all the shows, their times, and channels.
Is EPG free?
Yes, EPG is free. However, because IPTV services generally require a subscription, EPG services do as well.
Does EPG have an available APK?
Yes, you can find an EPG app on the Amazon App store but it currently only supports 1 Portuguese EPG provider.
Do all IPTV services offer EPG?
Yes, every IPTV service offers an Electronic Program Guide.
Is EPG the same as TV Guide?
Yes, because EPG is technically a TV guide used in IPTV services and live TV apps.
Conclusion
Live TV service can be convenient and useful if you are a cord cutter or simply looking for a better alternative to cable. However, it cannot be considered as good without an electronic program guide (EPG). So, for me, EPG is a feature of IPTV services that I find extremely useful. Though each app has a different EPG format, it equally informs you of which shows are currently airing as well as upcoming shows. With EPG, you won’t have to guess whether your favorite show has already aired or is about to.
Thank you for reading to the end. We hope we were able to educate you on EPG and perhaps a little bit on IPTV. Have fun streaming!
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FuboTV: Installation Guide and Review on Firestick
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Sling TV: Installation Guide And Review On Firestick
