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What Is Catch-Up TV in IPTV and How Do You Use It?

By the IPTV Prime US team · Updated October 14, 2026

Wall-mounted TV above a minimalist white shelf

Missed last night's show? Catch-up TV (also called time-shift or archive) lets you go back in the TV guide and play programs that already aired—on channels where the provider supports it.

How catch-up works

The provider stores recent broadcasts for supported channels for a limited number of days. Your player shows those past programs in the guide, usually with a small "archive" or clock icon. Select one and it plays from the start.

Requirements

  • A channel that has catch-up enabled (not all do)
  • A player that supports catch-up
  • An Xtream login (usually works best)

Apps that support catch-up

AppCatch-up
TiviMateYes (Premium)
OTT NavigatorYes
IPTV SmartersYes, via "Catch Up" section where available
Apple apps (APTV, IPTVX, UHF)Depends on app and version

Using catch-up

  1. Open the TV guide.
  2. Scroll left (back in time) on a channel with the catch-up icon.
  3. Select the program and choose Play / Watch from start.

Catch-up vs recording

Catch-up is stored by the provider for a few days; recordings are saved by your app or device and last until you delete them. See recording live TV.

Further reading: Electronic program guide (Wikipedia) · TiviMate on Google Play

Frequently asked questions

Which channels have catch-up?

It varies. Look for the archive icon in your guide, or ask us.

How many days back can I watch?

It depends on the channel; typically a few days.

Does catch-up work on a MAG box?

MAG portals can support archive on channels where it's enabled.

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