How catch-up works
- The provider archives selected channels on its servers as they air.
- Your login tells the player which channels have an archive and for how many days.
- In the TV guide, you go back to a programme that has already aired and select it.
- The player requests that programme from the archive and plays it from the start.
Channels with catch-up are usually marked in the guide, often with a small icon next to the channel name. Formuler’s MyTVOnline, for example, shows a small red symbol.
Catch-up, timeshift and recording
| Feature | Where the programme comes from | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Catch-up | The provider’s archive on its servers | Play programmes that have already aired, for a limited number of days |
| Timeshift | A buffer while you watch live | Pause and rewind the channel you’re watching |
| Recording | Your own storage (USB drive, box or server) | Keep programmes you choose, subject to the provider’s terms |
What you need for catch-up
- A provider that archives the channel. Only channels the provider records have catch-up.
- A login that carries the archive information. Xtream Codes logins pass it to compatible players automatically. Portal logins, as used by MAG and Formuler boxes, support it too.
- A player that supports it. In TiviMate catch-up is a Premium feature; Formuler boxes support it in MyTVOnline; players such as Sparkle TV list it among their paid features.
- A loaded TV guide for the channel, because catch-up works from the guide. See EPG not loading.
Catch-up with an M3U playlist
With an M3U playlist, catch-up only works if the list includes the catch-up details and your player reads them. The IPTV Simple Client add-on for Kodi documents the common M3U tags:
| Tag | What it does |
|---|---|
catchup | The catch-up mode, such as default, append, shift or xc |
catchup-days | How many days back catch-up is available |
catchup-source | The address, or the part added to the channel address, used to request the archive |
catchup-correction | A time correction for archives that are offset from local time |
If you have an Xtream Codes login, adding it as Xtream Codes rather than converting it to M3U is usually the easiest way to keep catch-up working. See Xtream Codes to M3U for what changes when you convert.
When catch-up doesn’t work
| Problem | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| No catch-up icon on any channel | Player or login doesn’t carry archive information | Add the login as Xtream Codes; check the player supports catch-up |
| Icon shows, but playback fails | Archive not available for that programme or time | Try a more recent programme; check your device clock and time zone |
| Wrong programme plays | Guide and archive times don’t match | Fix the guide time offset; see EPG showing the wrong time |
| Works on one app, not another | The second player doesn’t support catch-up | Use the player that does, or check its settings |
For the full step-by-step fixes, see catch-up not working. To keep programmes for longer than the archive, see how to record IPTV.