Overview
XMLTV EPG format is based on the XMLTV standard format and includes support for most standard XMLTV fields. The amount of metadata provided for any particular channel or event may vary depending on the information available at the time the feed is generated.
XMLTV EPG delivers channel, program, and schedule metadata in XML format and is designed to support compatibility across a wide range of streaming platforms* and guide ingestion systems*.
*Note that not all streamers and delivery workflows can support the XML TV EPG format. Please reach out to your account representative for more details on XMLTV EPG availability for your target FAST streaming platform destinations.
XMLTV EPG Features
Industry-standard XMLTV formatted output
Support for channel, program, and schedule metadata
UTF-8 encoded XML output
Compatible with most XMLTV ingestion systems
Metadata availability varies by content provider and event
Timezone-aware scheduling information
Multi-day schedule support
Delivery
XMLTV feed endpoints are provided during the Wurl channel handoff process.
For schema validation, XMLTV uses a Document Type Definition (DTD) file, which is available here https://github.com/XMLTV/xmltv/blob/master/xmltv.dtd
Daily Updates
XMLTV EPG feeds may be updated daily based on the configured refresh schedule for the channel.
Days of Data
The XMLTV EPG endpoint typically provides multiple days of schedule data depending on platform configuration and metadata availability.
XMLTV EPG Structure
The XMLTV EPG feed includes the following primary metadata sections:
XMLTV Data Tags
The following table describes the supported XMLTV tags and attributes available in the XMLTV EPG feed.
Data Tag |
Attribute |
Description |
Example |
Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
tv |
content |
Contains any number of <channel/> and <programme/> entries. |
<channel>...</channel> |
N/A |
|
tv |
date |
Date and time the XMLTV feed was generated (YYYYMMDDhhmmss -TZ). |
20250605163000 +0000 |
N/A |
|
tv |
generator-info-name |
Name of the generator that created the feed. |
wurl |
N/A |
|
channel |
id |
Unique Wurl identifier for the channel. Used to associate programmes with channels. |
xmltv_tvnetwork_us |
ChannelKey |
|
display-name |
content |
Display name for the channel. |
this.is.my.title |
channel.Title |
|
display-name |
lang |
Two-character language code for the display name. |
en |
channel.Language |
|
programme |
start |
Programme start date and time (YYYYMMDDhhmmss -TZ). |
20250607173000 +0000 |
event.StartsAt |
|
programme |
stop |
Programme end date and time (YYYYMMDDhhmmss -TZ). |
20250607180000 +0000 |
nextEvent.StartsAt |
|
programme |
channel |
Channel ID this programme is associated with. |
xmltv_tvnetwork_us |
ChannelKey |
|
title |
content |
Programme title. Defaults to series title if available. |
This is My Show |
series.Title |
|
title |
lang |
Two-character language code for the title. |
en |
channel.Language |
|
sub-title |
content |
Episode title or secondary title. |
No Fall Zone |
episode.Title |
|
description |
content |
Long or short description for the programme. |
This week, John and Zack head north... |
episode.Description |
|
credits |
content |
Contains actor, director, and producer entries. |
<actor>...</actor> |
N/A |
|
actor |
content |
Actor name. |
John Smith |
episode.Actors |
|
director |
content |
Director name. |
Chuck Stream |
episode.Directors |
|
producer |
content |
Producer name. |
Nick Rick |
episode.Producers |
|
date |
content |
Original release date (YYYYMMDD). |
20190404 |
episode.ReleaseDate |
|
category |
content |
Genre/category metadata. |
General Variety |
Genre metadata |
|
keyword |
content |
Keywords associated with the episode. |
diy |
episode.Keywords |
|
language |
content |
Programme language. |
en |
channel.Language |
|
length |
content |
Programme duration. |
2959 |
episode.DurationMs |
|
length |
units |
Duration measurement units. |
seconds |
N/A |
|
icon |
src |
Image source URL. |
https://...png |
*.images[i].URI |
|
icon |
width |
Image width in pixels. |
800 |
*.images[i].Width |
|
icon |
height |
Image height in pixels. |
450 |
*.images[i].Height |
|
country |
content |
Country name or country code. |
US |
CountryCode |
|
episode-num |
content |
Episode numbering in xmltv_ns format. |
4.3. |
Episode metadata |
|
episode-num |
system |
Episode numbering system. |
xmltv_ns |
N/A |
|
video |
content |
Video metadata container. |
<quality>HD</quality> |
N/A |
|
present |
content |
Indicates video/audio presence. |
yes |
N/A |
|
colour |
content |
Indicates whether content is in color. |
yes |
N/A |
|
aspect |
content |
Aspect ratio metadata. |
16:9 |
N/A |
|
quality |
content |
Video quality metadata. |
HD |
Resolution |
|
audio |
content |
Audio metadata container. |
<stereo>stereo</stereo> |
N/A |
|
stereo |
content |
Audio format information. |
stereo |
N/A |
|
subtitles |
type |
Subtitle type available. |
onscreen |
episode.HasCaptions |
|
rating |
system |
Content rating system. |
USA_PR |
Rating source |
|
value |
content |
Rating value. |
TVPG |
Ratings metadata |
|
image |
content |
Image URL. |
https://ingest-assets.com/...jpeg |
*.images[i].URI |
|
image |
type |
Image type. |
poster |
N/A |
|
image |
size |
Relative image size classification. |
3 |
N/A |
|
image |
orient |
Image orientation (P portrait / L landscape). |
P |
N/A |