Catch-up replay lets you watch a show that already aired. In TiviMate, you add a playlist that supports catch-up, turn on Premium, open the TV guide, and select a past program.
If the replay option is missing, the cause is almost always the playlist, the guide data, or the time settings. This guide shows each fix.
What Catch-Up Replay Means in TiviMate
Catch-up is a replay feature. Your provider keeps a short archive of past programs. TiviMate reads that archive and shows it inside the TV guide, so you can go back and press play.
It is not the same as recording. A recording saves a show on a disk or in the cloud. Catch-up simply streams a past program from the archive that your provider keeps.
Three parts must work together:
- The playlist: it must include catch-up information for each channel.
- The guide (EPG): short for Electronic Program Guide. It lists what aired and when.
- The app: TiviMate with an active Premium upgrade, which unlocks the full guide and playback tools.
Quick Overview Table
| Part | What it does | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Playlist | Carries the stream links and catch-up data | Is catch-up enabled on your subscription? |
| EPG (TV guide) | Shows past and future programs | Does it load and match each channel? |
| TiviMate Premium | Unlocks extra features in the app | Is the upgrade active on this device? |
| Device clock | Sets the time of each program | Are date, time and time zone correct? |
| Network | Carries the video | Is the connection stable? |
What You Need Before You Start
- A supported device. Good options include Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Android TV Box, Xiaomi Mi Box S, Samsung Smart TV (Tizen), LG webOS and Apple TV. Note that TiviMate itself runs on Android-based devices, so check that your device can install it.
- TiviMate 5.x installed, with the Premium upgrade active.
- A paid streaming subscription with catch-up support and your playlist details.
- A stable internet connection.
- Your remote control, and a few minutes of time.
If you still need a subscription, 👉 Get Instant Access Now. SubTV IP offers paid plans of 1, 3 or 12 months, with instant activation after your order. Payment options include PayPal and credit card, and support is on WhatsApp. Plans are paid only.
Step-by-Step: Turn On Catch-Up Replay
Menu names can change a little between TiviMate versions. The paths below follow the usual layout of TiviMate 5.x.
- Open TiviMate and press the Menu or Settings button on your remote, or move to the gear icon on the main screen.
- Go to "Settings > Playlists" and check that your playlist is added and shows as active. If it is missing, add it with the link or login details from your provider.
- Select your playlist and let it finish loading. Wait until the channel list is complete.
- Go to "Settings > EPG" and make sure a guide source is set. If your provider gave you a guide link, use it. Then refresh the guide data.
- Confirm Premium is active. Open "Settings" and look for the Premium or account section. If it says Premium is not active, finish the upgrade first.
- Check your device clock. On your device, go to its own system settings and turn on automatic date and time, and set the right time zone.
- Go back to the main screen and open the "TV Guide" from the top menu.
- Pick a channel and scroll left in the guide, toward earlier times.
- Select a past program. If catch-up is available, you will see a play or replay option. Press OK to start.
That is the whole flow. If the program plays from its start, catch-up works for that channel.
How to Tell That Catch-Up Is Available
Past programs that can be replayed usually look different in the guide. The app may show a small marker, or it may let you open the program and choose to watch it from the beginning. If a past program does nothing when you press OK, that channel may not have an archive.
Not every channel keeps an archive. Many providers keep archives only for some channels and only for a limited number of days. Ask your provider how far back the archive goes for your plan.
Set Up the Guide the Right Way
Catch-up depends on the guide. If the guide has the wrong times or the wrong program names, the replay may start in the wrong place.
Match Channels to Guide Data
Each channel needs a link to its guide entry. TiviMate does this on its own for most channels. If a channel shows an empty guide, open the channel options and look for a way to match it to the right guide entry by hand.
Refresh the Guide
Old guide data causes many problems. Refresh it after you add a playlist, after you change the time zone, and any time past programs look empty.
Keep the Time Zone Right
The guide uses time to find the right part of the archive. A wrong time zone shifts everything. A show may start a few minutes or a few hours off. Fix the device clock first, then refresh the guide.
Why Premium Matters
TiviMate offers a base version and a Premium upgrade. Premium adds tools that make replay far easier to use, such as a fuller guide, more playlist options and extra playback controls. The exact list of features can change, so check the in-app Premium screen for the current list.
Two points to keep in mind:
- The Premium upgrade belongs to the app. It does not create an archive by itself.
- Catch-up still needs a provider that stores past programs.
For general reviews of streaming boxes and apps, you can also read Tom's Guide. For picture and sound setup tips, Sound & Vision is a handy reference.
Get Smooth Replay on Your Device
Replay streams use the same connection as live streams. A weak connection leads to stalls, so a few small changes help a lot.
Use a Wired or Strong Connection
Use an Ethernet cable if your device has a port, or an adapter. If you use Wi-Fi, move closer to the router and use the 5 GHz band when you can.
Set a Faster DNS
DNS is the service that turns web names into addresses. A fast DNS can help when your internet provider slows traffic. A common choice is Cloudflare DNS at 1.1.1.1. You can set it in your router or in your device network settings.
Raise the Buffer
The buffer is a small store of video that loads ahead of time. A larger buffer smooths out short drops in speed. A setting of 5,000 ms (five seconds) is a good target for most connections. Look for the buffer or cache option in the player settings of your app.
Match Video Quality to Your Device
SubTV IP streams in 4K at 60 fps with HEVC video. HEVC is a modern video format that keeps quality high at a smaller file size. Older devices may struggle with 4K, so use a device like the Fire TV Stick 4K Max if you want that level of detail.
If a Step Fails
Use these Cause and Fix pairs to solve the most common problems.
Cause: The playlist has no catch-up data. Fix: Ask your provider
If no channel offers replay, the playlist may not include catch-up data. Contact your provider and ask if catch-up is part of your plan. SubTV IP customers can reach support on WhatsApp.
Cause: The guide is empty or wrong. Fix: Reload the guide source
Go to "Settings > EPG", check the source link, and refresh. Then open the TV guide again and check that past programs show names and times.
Cause: The device time is wrong. Fix: Switch on automatic time
Open the system settings of your device, turn on automatic date and time, and set the right time zone. Restart TiviMate after the change.
Cause: Premium is not active on this device. Fix: Check your account
Premium is tied to your TiviMate account. Sign in with the same account you used to buy it. If it still does not show, restart the app and check again.
Cause: The program is too old. Fix: Pick a newer one
Archives keep programs for a limited time. If you pick a program older than the archive window, nothing will play. Try a program from the last day or two.
Cause: The replay stalls or buffers. Fix: Improve the connection
Switch to a wired connection, set the DNS to 1.1.1.1, and raise the buffer to 5,000 ms. Close other apps that use bandwidth.
Cause: The replay starts at the wrong time. Fix: Re-sync guide and clock
This points to a time zone mismatch. Fix the device time zone, refresh the guide, and try again. Check one more program to confirm the start time is right.
Daily Tips for Using Catch-Up
- Open the guide, then move back in time instead of searching by name.
- Use replay soon after a show ends, because newer programs are more likely to be in the archive.
- Keep the app updated to the newest 5.x version.
- Refresh the guide once in a while.
- Restart the device now and then to clear its memory.
A Simple Routine for Reliable Replay
Once catch-up works, a short routine keeps it working. Most replay problems come back to the same three things, so a quick check saves time later.
Weekly Checks
- Open the TV guide and scroll back one day on two or three channels.
- Refresh the guide source from the EPG settings.
- Confirm the device still shows the right date, time and time zone.
After Any Change
If you change your router, move house, switch to a new device or update your playlist link, repeat the setup steps from the top. A new device does not carry over your guide data, and a new playlist link may use different channel names.
Moving to a New Device
Install TiviMate 5.x on the new device and sign in with the account that holds your Premium upgrade. Add your playlist again, load the guide, and check the clock. Then open the TV guide and try a past program from the last day. This gives you a quick answer on whether replay works on the new box.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Adding the playlist twice. Two copies of the same playlist can mix up guide data. Keep one active copy.
- Skipping the guide. A playlist alone shows channels, but replay needs the guide to find past programs.
- Ignoring the clock. A device with a wrong time zone is the top cause of replay that starts at the wrong point.
- Expecting every channel to work. Archives are set by the provider. Some channels keep none at all.
- Using weak Wi-Fi. Replay needs a steady stream. Wired is best, and 5 GHz Wi-Fi is the next choice.
How Catch-Up Fits With Other TiviMate Tools
Catch-up works well next to other TiviMate features. You can mark favorite channels so they sit at the top of the guide. That way you can reach the channels you care about with fewer button presses. You can also sort channels into groups, which makes scrolling back in time faster.
When a program is still airing, many players let you pause and rewind. That uses a short buffer and is not the same as an archive. Catch-up goes further back, so you can start a show after it has ended.
Devices That Work Well
| Device | Good for |
|---|---|
| Fire TV Stick 4K Max | Small, fast, and simple to set up |
| Android TV Box | Flexible, with wired network ports on many models |
| Xiaomi Mi Box S | A compact Android TV option |
| Samsung Smart TV (Tizen) | Built into the TV, uses a compatible player app |
| LG webOS | Built into the TV, uses a compatible player app |
| Apple TV | Smooth interface, uses a compatible player app |
Other supported players include IBO Player Pro, IPTV Smarters Pro, Kodi 21 and Flex IPTV. If your device cannot run TiviMate, one of these players may be a better fit. Their menus differ from TiviMate, so follow the same ideas: add the playlist, load the guide, and check the time.
Ready to Start?
Catch-up replay works best with a stable, high-quality service. SubTV IP is a premium paid subscription with 99.9% uptime and an anti-lag server cluster. Activation is instant after you order.