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Add a TV guide: EPG in XMLTV format for your M3U playlist
An M3U playlist contains channels and stream addresses, but no schedule. That comes from a second source, the EPG in XMLTV format. Here’s how to connect the two in Nightdeck – and how to find out why a channel shows no programmes.
Nightdeck is a player only. It contains no channels, movies or shows and doesn’t arrange providers. Only use it with sources you’re entitled to – for example cable TV through your own tvheadend server, your own media server or a licensed service you pay for.
EPG, XMLTV, url-tvg – in short
EPG stands for “electronic programme guide”. The most common format for it is XMLTV: an XML file with a list of channels and their programmes, each with start, end, title and description. Because these files get large, they often come compressed as .xml.gz.
Many playlists already name the matching EPG address in their first line, like this: #EXTM3U url-tvg="http://anbieter.tv:8080/epg.xml.gz" (example value). Nightdeck reads the url-tvg, x-tvg-url and tvg-url attributes and uses them automatically.
If you have an Xtream Codes login, you don’t need any of this: the server delivers the TV guide along with everything else.
What you need
- Nightdeck on an LG TV (webOS 4 or newer), Fire TV with Fire OS, Android TV, Google TV, a Mac or a Windows PC. Coming soon to the LG Content Store.
- The link to your M3U or M3U8 playlist.
- The address of a TV guide in XMLTV format (.xml or .xml.gz) – from your provider or your own server. tvheadend, for example, serves it at
/xmltv/channels.
Step by step
Add or edit the playlist
New playlist: choose “M3U playlist” on first launch, or later Settings → Playlists → “Add playlist”. Existing playlist: pick it under Settings → Playlists, then choose “Edit”.
Check the playlist address
“Playlist address (M3U)” holds the link to your playlist, starting with http:// or https://.
Enter the EPG address
Enter the TV guide address under “TV guide (XMLTV, optional)”, for example http://anbieter.tv:8080/epg.xml.gz (example value). Leave it empty if your playlist already includes the address – that’s what “empty = taken from the playlist” means.
Connect
“Connect” checks the playlist. If the confirmation says “with TV guide”, Nightdeck has found an EPG address.
Check the TV Guide
Open the TV Guide. With large files the first load takes a moment. After that Nightdeck refreshes the guide by itself every few hours.
When shows are missing or times are off
- Channels without a schedule: Nightdeck matches channels and programmes by the
tvg-idfrom the playlist first, otherwise by channel name. If thetvg-iddoesn’t match the ID in the XMLTV file and the name differs too, the channel stays empty. Playlist and guide then need to be aligned – which only whoever provides them can do. - Times are shifted: under Settings → Live TV & EPG → “EPG time offset” you can move the schedule by up to three hours either way.
- Message “The TV guide is compressed (.gz)”: older TVs can’t unpack compressed files themselves. Enter the uncompressed address (.xml) instead – many providers offer both.
- Several EPG addresses: Nightdeck uses up to two addresses from the playlist header. If you enter one yourself, only that one is used.
- Reload the schedule: Settings → Data & cache → “Clear cache” reloads the catalogue and programme data. Favourites and progress are kept.
- Time range: Nightdeck loads the schedule from a few hours back to about a day and a half ahead – enough for the TV Guide, “Tonight” and reminders, and easy on the TV’s memory.
If your playlist includes catch-up information (catchup), you can play past shows straight from the TV Guide. More about the playlist itself: Play an M3U playlist on an LG TV. How to add cable TV with a TV guide via tvheadend: FRITZ!Box cable TV on Fire TV and Android TV.
Take a look at NightdeckSee pricing
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get an EPG address?
From your provider or your own server, such as tvheadend. Many playlists already include it in their header. Nightdeck doesn’t arrange sources.
Do compressed files (.xml.gz) work?
Yes, if the device can unpack them – Mac and Windows always can. Older TVs can’t; Nightdeck then shows a message and you enter the uncompressed .xml address.
Do I need an EPG address with Xtream Codes?
No. With an Xtream Codes login the TV guide comes straight from the server.
Can I combine two EPG sources?
Nightdeck uses up to two addresses from the playlist header. Your own address replaces them; you can’t enter more than one address yourself.
Are channels or schedules included?
No. Nightdeck is a player only. Playlist and TV guide come from your own source that you’re entitled to use.
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Last updated: November 2026