Once your subscription is loaded into IBO Player Pro, the first thing most people notice is how much there is to browse. A full lineup can run to a very long list, and scrolling through it every evening quickly gets old. The player’s favourites, channel groups and electronic program guide (EPG) exist to solve exactly that.

This guide explains how each of those features works and how to use them together. IBO Player Pro is developed independently and changes between versions, so button names and screen layouts vary. Look for the closest match on your device. And as always, the channels, groups and guide data you see come from your subscription; the player organizes and displays them.

Channel Groups: The Built-In Organization

When the player loads your subscription, channels arrive sorted into groups, also called categories. Groups might be organized by country, language, or type of content such as news, sports, movies or kids. They are set by the subscription, not by the player, so their names and order depend on the service.

  1. Open the live TV section of the player.
  2. Browse the group list, usually shown on the left or as a menu.
  3. Select a group to see only the channels inside it.
  4. Use the search option, if available, when you know the channel name.

Some versions of the player let you hide groups you never use, which shortens the list. Look for a group management or edit option in the settings.

Favourites: Your Personal Shortlist

Favourites let you collect the channels you watch most into one place, regardless of which group they belong to.

  1. Highlight a channel in the list.
  2. Open its options. In many versions this means a long press on the select button, or a dedicated options button on the remote.
  3. Choose the option to add it to favourites. A star or heart icon often confirms it worked.
  4. Open the favourites group to see your shortlist.

To remove a channel, open its options again from the favourites list and choose to remove it. If the version you use supports reordering, move your most watched channels to the top.

Favourites are usually saved on the device, so each TV keeps its own list. For households with several viewers, our guide to organizing favourites for the whole household has practical ideas.

The EPG: What Is On Now and Next

The EPG is the TV guide. In IBO Player Pro, it typically appears as a grid with channels down the side and time across the top, or as a now-and-next bar when you change channels. The guide data comes with your subscription and is downloaded by the player.

  • Open the guide from the live TV section or the home screen. The exact location depends on the version.
  • Move across the grid to see upcoming programs.
  • Select a program to see its description, where available.
  • Select a current program to start watching that channel.

Search Instead of Scrolling

When you know the name of a channel, movie or series, the search option is often quicker than browsing groups. Typing only the first few letters is usually enough to narrow the results. If typing with the remote is slow, some devices accept voice input or a phone keyboard, which saves time when searching for longer titles.

Refreshing Guide Data

Guide data covers a limited window of days and needs to refresh from time to time. If listings look out of date or empty, look for a refresh or update EPG option in the player’s settings. Closing the app fully and reopening it can also prompt a fresh download. Allow a few minutes for large guides to load.

When the Guide Shows the Wrong Time

If listings are off by whole hours, the device time zone is almost always the cause. Fix it in the device settings rather than in the player. Our time zone guide for Canada explains each zone, and the player’s own guide offset, if your version has one, should usually stay at zero.

Putting It All Together

A simple daily routine works well for most households: open favourites for your regular channels, use groups when you want to explore a category, and check the guide when you want to know what is coming up. Locking groups that are not suitable for children adds peace of mind.

Our guide to IBO Player Pro parental controls shows how to lock groups with a PIN.

Troubleshooting Favourites, Groups and the Guide

My Favourites Disappeared

Reinstalling the app or deleting and re-adding a playlist can reset favourites. Keep a short written list so you can rebuild it quickly.

A Group Is Missing

Check whether it was hidden in the player’s settings. If not, reload the playlist; our guide to managing playlists in IBO Player Pro explains how.

The Guide Is Empty for Some Channels

Not every channel always has guide data. If the guide is empty for all channels, refresh it and restart the app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rename channel groups?

Group names come from the subscription. Some player versions allow hiding groups, but renaming is not always available.

Are favourites shared between my TVs?

Usually not. Favourites are typically stored on each device.

How often does the guide update?

It depends on the version and settings. If listings look stale, refresh the guide manually.

Why is the guide off by an hour?

Check the device time zone first, especially around daylight saving changes.

A Tidier Way to Watch

Used together, favourites, groups and the guide make IBO Player Pro quick to navigate every day. New to the player? Start with our IBO Player Pro setup guide.