Programguide

Programguide, often written as program guide or electronic program guide (EPG), is a user interface that presents a schedule of programs for television, radio, or streaming services. It lists upcoming and currently airing programs organized by channel or service and time, typically including program titles, start and end times, duration, and a brief description. Modern guides commonly add metadata such as genres, episode numbers, cast, posters, and parental ratings. The primary purpose is to help viewers plan viewing, discover content, and manage recording or reminders across devices.

Program guides derive their data from broadcast schedules, metadata providers, and user submissions. Data are delivered in formats such as DVB EIT, XMLTV, JSON, or proprietary protocols, and can be transmitted through digital broadcasts, IP streams, or downloaded as guide files. Guides are embedded in television sets, set‑top boxes, streaming apps, and mobile devices, and typically offer grid or list views, search and filtering, favorites, reminders, and recording assistance, as well as cross‑channel browsing and content recommendations.

Historically, electronic program guides developed from teletext services and analog guide listings in the late 20th century. With the rise of digital television and streaming, guides have become more data‑rich and standardized, supporting localization, multilingual descriptions, and accessibility. They play a central role in digital video recorders (DVRs) and in content discovery across platforms that blend live, time‑shifted, and on‑demand programming.

Challenges for program guides include maintaining schedule accuracy and timely updates, handling time zones and daylight saving changes, licensing and data rights, and ensuring accessibility. Privacy considerations may arise when guides incorporate personalized recommendations based on viewing history, requiring appropriate consent and transparent data practices.