M3U, Xtream Codes & EPG — Full IPTV Player Feature List
Everything you need to manage and play your own playlists beautifully.
M3U Playlist Support
Load your M3U playlist by URL instantly. Supports extended M3U format with groups, logos and EPG IDs.
Xtream Codes API
Connect using Xtream Codes API with server URL, username and password. Stable and feature-rich.
Playlist Grouping
Playlist entries are organised into groups for easier navigation, even with large legal playlists.
Favourites
Mark playlist entries as favourites for quick access. Saves between sessions.
EPG Programme Guide
View current and upcoming programmes with full EPG support. Know what's on without leaving the app.
Parental Controls
Set a PIN to lock selected playlist groups and keep the app experience appropriate for your household.
Multi-Device
One licence, multiple devices. Activate on phone, tablet, TV box or Smart TV.
Multiple Playlists
Store multiple playlist profiles and switch between them instantly.
External Player
Open supported playlist entries in your preferred external player with a single tap.
Catch-up Support
Use catch-up playback when it is included with your legitimate playlist source.
Audio Track Selection
Switch between audio tracks and subtitles during playback for multilingual content.
Offline Playlist Cache
Playlist data cached locally so your channel list loads even faster.
In-Depth Features Overview
Discover exactly why ChannelMate is the preferred IPTV player for Android TV and Firestick.
M3U Playlist Support
Our M3U Playlist Support is designed for users who want to manage their own media libraries without hassle. By simply pasting your legally obtained M3U playlist URL into ChannelMate, the app automatically parses the file to extract channel names, group structures, broadcaster logos, and Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) identifiers. This means your raw text file is instantly transformed into a beautiful, TV-friendly interface that feels native to your big screen. Use cases include households that want to consolidate multiple legal streaming sources into one app, or users who travel and want to access their home media server playlists remotely. Whether your playlist has 100 entries or 10,000, ChannelMate processes it quickly and efficiently, ensuring you spend less time scrolling and more time enjoying your content.
Xtream Codes API
For users who prefer a more structured and secure connection, our Xtream Codes API support provides a seamless experience. Instead of dealing with long, complex URLs that can easily break, you simply enter your provider's server URL, along with your authorised username and password. This connection method is often much more stable and allows the player to request data in manageable chunks, reducing memory load on older Smart TVs and Firesticks. Use cases include users who want faster load times, real-time updates to their channel lists, and integrated VOD (Video on Demand) categorization. Because ChannelMate securely stores these credentials on your device, you never have to retype them, ensuring quick and reliable access to your legal media every time you open the app.
Playlist Grouping
Navigating through thousands of media entries can be overwhelming. ChannelMate's Playlist Grouping feature solves this by automatically reading the category metadata embedded within your M3U or Xtream Codes source and organizing your channels into logical folders (like News, Sports, Movies, or custom categories). This hierarchical structure mirrors the experience of traditional cable TV boxes, making it intuitive for users of all ages. Use cases include families where parents want quick access to news while children can navigate straight to the kids' group. Furthermore, our interface allows you to collapse, expand, or quickly jump between groups using your remote control's directional pad, drastically reducing the time it takes to find the specific stream you are looking for.
Favourites
The Favourites feature is a must-have for anyone who frequently watches the same handful of channels or streams. With a single click of a button on your remote, you can instantly add any channel from any group into your personalized Favourites list. This list is always pinned to the top of your interface for immediate access. Use cases include sports fans who want to pin their local team's broadcast channels before game day, or users who want to build a custom "daily watch" list without having to navigate through their provider's default group structure. Your favourites are saved locally on your device between sessions, meaning your curated list is always waiting for you exactly as you left it the next time you launch the ChannelMate app.
EPG Programme Guide
An Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) completely transforms your viewing experience by providing a traditional, timeline-based TV guide. When your playlist provider supplies valid EPG data (usually via an XMLTV link or through the Xtream API), ChannelMate automatically downloads and maps this data to your channels. You can see what is currently playing, read detailed show descriptions, and look ahead to see upcoming broadcasts. Use cases include planning your evening viewing, checking if a movie has just started, or reading the synopsis of a documentary before deciding to watch it. The guide is highly optimized to scroll smoothly on Android TV and Firestick devices, ensuring that even large, multi-day schedule files do not slow down your device's performance.
Parental Controls
Keeping your household's viewing environment safe and appropriate is critical. ChannelMate's Parental Controls allow you to easily lock specific playlist groups, categories, or individual channels behind a secure PIN code. This feature is processed entirely locally on your device for maximum privacy. Use cases are numerous: parents can lock mature or unrated content groups so children can browse safely, or you can hide cluttered, irrelevant groups to keep your main interface clean. Once a group is locked, its contents are completely hidden from the main viewing interface and search results until the correct PIN is entered. This gives you complete peace of mind and total control over what content is accessible on your living room television.
Multi-Device
In today's connected world, you shouldn't be limited to watching your media on just one screen. ChannelMate is engineered to be a true Multi-Device solution. Whether you are using a large-screen Android TV in the living room, an Amazon Firestick in the bedroom, or an Android tablet while traveling, the app provides a consistent, high-quality experience. Use cases include starting a movie on your main television and seamlessly transitioning to a tablet in another room, or keeping a secondary Firestick packed for hotel use during business trips. The interface dynamically scales and adapts to whether you are using a remote control with directional buttons or a touchscreen, ensuring that your navigation remains intuitive no matter which of your activated devices you are currently using.
Multiple Playlists
Many users manage more than one media source—perhaps a primary M3U playlist for live broadcasts and a secondary Xtream Codes account for a personal VOD library. ChannelMate's Multiple Playlists feature allows you to add and store several independent playlist profiles within the same app. You can name each profile (e.g., "Home Server", "Sports List") and switch between them instantly without having to re-enter URLs or credentials. Use cases include households where different family members prefer their own curated lists, or technical users who want to keep different language sources completely separate. The app keeps the cache and settings for each playlist isolated, ensuring that your channels and EPG data never get mixed up or overwritten when switching profiles.
External Player
While ChannelMate includes a highly capable built-in media engine, we understand that power users often have specific preferences for video playback. Our External Player Support feature allows you to route any video stream from your playlist directly into third-party applications installed on your device, such as VLC, MX Player, or Just Player. Use cases include playing obscure audio/video codecs that require specialized hardware decoding, utilizing advanced subtitle rendering features found in dedicated video apps, or applying specific audio-sync corrections. By giving you the freedom to choose your playback engine on a per-stream basis, ChannelMate ensures you never encounter a "format not supported" error, maximizing your compatibility across all types of media files.
Catch-up Support
Never miss your favourite broadcasts again. If your authorised playlist provider supports server-side recording, ChannelMate's Catch-up feature allows you to seamlessly rewind time and watch programmes that have already aired. The app integrates this feature directly into the EPG timeline—simply scroll backwards on a supported channel and press play to start watching a past broadcast. Use cases include catching the evening news if you arrive home late, re-watching a sports match that aired in a different time zone, or binge-watching a weekend marathon that you forgot to record. ChannelMate automatically calculates the correct timestamps and handles the necessary API requests in the background, making time-shifted viewing as simple as watching live television.
Audio Track Selection
Watching international content or media with specialized accessibility features requires robust playback controls. ChannelMate's Audio Track and Subtitle Selection allows you to instantly switch between different languages or audio formats while a stream is actively playing. If your media source provides multiple tracks (such as English, Spanish, or a Director's Commentary), you can toggle between them using an on-screen menu without stopping the video. Use cases include expatriates watching broadcasts in their native language, language learners utilizing subtitles to improve comprehension, or users switching from stereo to a 5.1 surround sound track for a cinematic experience. The controls are designed to be easily accessible via the directional pad on any standard TV remote.
Offline Playlist Cache
A common frustration with many IPTV players is waiting minutes for a massive playlist to download from the internet every time the app is opened. ChannelMate solves this with an intelligent Offline Playlist Cache. When you first load your M3U or Xtream Codes source, the app saves a highly compressed, optimized copy of your channel structure and EPG data directly to your device's local storage. Use cases include significantly reducing the launch time of the app (from minutes to mere seconds), saving bandwidth if you are on a metered connection, and allowing you to browse your channel guide even if your internet connection temporarily drops. The app silently checks for updates in the background, ensuring your list is always current without disrupting your immediate viewing experience.
ChannelMate vs TiviMate vs IPTV Smarters
See how our modern IPTV player stacks up against the alternatives. We focus on simplicity, ease of use, and a premium living-room experience.
| Feature | ChannelMate | TiviMate | IPTV Smarters |
|---|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Modern & Clean | Complex / Power-User | Outdated Design |
| Setup Difficulty | Easy (Web Upload) | Medium | Medium |
| M3U & Xtream Support | âś… Yes | âś… Yes | âś… Yes |
| Smart EPG Integration | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Basic |
| App Store Safe / Legal | 100% Player Only | Player Only | Often Flagged |
| Device Activation | âś… Web Portal | Companion App Req. | No Central Portal |
| Target Audience | Everyday Users & Families | Tech Enthusiasts | Legacy Users |
Built for Playlist Power Users
Everything you need. Nothing you don't.
Ready to Experience All These Features?
Download IPTV ChannelMate, activate your device and add your own legally obtained playlist.