[Feature]: Create dummy epg from parsing channel name

[mwongj]

Is your feature request related to a problem?

As a user when I look at the tv guide for a channel having epg data in the stream title then I want the guide to accurately display the program within defined start/end times

Current implementation

Currently, when setting a channel to use a dummy epg the tv guide displays the channel title in 4hr program segments for an extended period of time. This may have several drawbacks affecting automated recording and a poor user experience understanding when a program is airing.

Examples

• Channel Number 1 : Women's Swimming Press Conference (2025-08-11 11:30:00)
• Channel Number 2 : Bananas @ Apples @ 01:00 PM ET
• Channel Number03: Gladiator - Premiere League : Marcus Attilius vs Spiculus @ 01:15pm
• Channel Number : Mon, 8/11 - Drag Racing (2025-08-11 17:30:00)

Describe the solution you'd like

There are likely many solutions to this particular problem so I will describe one possible MVP:

M3U & EPG Manager

Add an advanced EPG form that enables a user to configure regex for various epg fields that can extract information for a field.

• Add "+ Add Advanced EPG" button
• Create form containing fields for:
  1. Name - Unique identifier for the advanced EPG
  2. Source Type - Add "Stream Title"
  3. Title Regex - Regex to extract the program title
  4. Time Regex - Regex to extract the program time
  5. Source Time Format - Time format for parsing
  6. Output Time Format - Time format for displaying
  7. Source Timezone - Source timezone
  8. Output Timezone - Output timezone (if different)
  9. Date Regex - Regex to extract the program air date
  10. Date Format - Date format for parsing
  11. Event Duration - Dropdown: 30 Min, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, 6 hours

Channels

Add the ability to select an advanced dummy epg to use for a specific channel.

• Update channel edit form
  1. Similar to selecting a source for EPG, Use Dummy will allow a user to select from "Default" or one of the advanced epg sources added by the user

Additional context

Potential future iterations could improve the user experience such as:

• A button in the channel edit dialogue a user can click to test the regex by rendering the results of the stream title parsing mapped into the corresponding fields
• (Toggle) Remove channel when a regex match is true. Building off the existing feature of automatically removing channels this would behave similarly. For example, when no event is occurring some stream titles will contain the prefix, but no additional information. In that case we can remove the channel.
• Add field to set the Category - String field. User could input (Sports, Movies, Kids, Family, Basketball, etc)

[distributorofpain]

what about(dunno if its easier than the above suggestion):

1. Have a general setting that uses the channel name from the first stream source if the epg data is empty?
2. Have a tick box on each channel that does 1 as an option. Maybe something that can be set by default.

I have a script i use currently, but recently it stopped working, dispatcharr simply wont put the data in the epg... it runs through the process, but nadda.

[distributorofpain]

``#!/usr/bin/env python3
import re
import gzip
from urllib.request import urlopen
from urllib.error import URLError
from xml.etree.ElementTree import Element, SubElement, tostring
from xml.dom import minidom
import datetime
import requests

Configuration for prefixes, separators, EPG modes, and durations

PREFIX_CONFIG = [
{"prefix": "EVENTS", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "US ★ EVENT", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "US ★ SUPERSPORT", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "US ★ ESPN+", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "US ★ PEACOCK", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "EPL", "separator": "-", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "US ★ NFL", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "US ★ MLB TEAMS :", "separator": "HD", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "US ★ MLB", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "MiLB TV ★", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "US ★ MLS", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "US ★ UFC", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "US ★ NBA", "separator": "HD", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "US ★ NBA", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "US ★ NCAA", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "US ★ SOCCER", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "TRILLERTV", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "US ★ DAZN", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "US ★ BOXING", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "US ★ BEIN", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "US ★ NHL", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "dynamic"},
{"prefix": "PC", "separator": ":", "epg_mode": "static"}
]

STATIC_BLOCK_DURATION = 24 # Static channels' block duration in hours
STATIC_TOTAL_HOURS = 24 # Total hours for static guide
DYNAMIC_BLOCK_DURATION = 24 # Dynamic channels' block duration in hours
NO_EVENT_DURATION = 24 # No Event listed block duration in hours 0=None
GUIDE_OFFSET = datetime.timedelta(hours=4) # Shift back by 4 hours

PROGRAM_NAME_MODIFIERS = [
(r'^PC: ', ''), # Remove "PC: " from program names
(r'\s+', ' ') # Normalize whitespace
]

SOURCE = 'http://user.provider.com:2082/get.php?username=XXXXXXX&password=XXXXXXX&output=ts&type=m3u_plus' # URL source

SOURCE = '/root/epg/XXXXXXXX.m3u' # Local file alternative
#OUTPUT_M3U = '/config/PlayLists/M3U/Event2Guide.m3u'
#OUTPUT_XML = '/config/PlayLists/EPG/Event2Guide.xml'
OUTPUT_M3U = '/root/epg/event2guide.m3u'
OUTPUT_XML = '/root/snap/docker/current/dispatcharr_data/epgs/event2guide.xml'

def modify_program_name(name):
for pattern, replacement in PROGRAM_NAME_MODIFIERS:
name = re.sub(pattern, replacement, name)
return name

def get_config(channel_name):
for config in PREFIX_CONFIG:
if channel_name.startswith(config["prefix"]):
return config
return None

def parse_channel_name(name, separator, epg_mode):
tvg_name = name.strip()
event_name = "No Event"

if separator in name:
    parts = name.split(separator, 1)
    tvg_name = parts[0].strip()
    event_name = modify_program_name(parts[1].strip())

if epg_mode == "static":
    tvg_name= name.strip()
    event_name = modify_program_name(name.strip())

return tvg_name, event_name

def parse_m3u(source):
if source.startswith("http"):
response = requests.get(source)
response.raise_for_status()
m3u_content = response.text
else:
#with gzip.open(source, 'rt', encoding='utf-8', errors='ignore') as f:
with open(source, 'rt', encoding='utf-8', errors='ignore') as f:
m3u_content = f.read()

lines = m3u_content.split('\n')
filtered_channels = []
current_channel = {}

for line in lines:
    if line.startswith('#EXTINF:'):
        current_channel = {}
        logo_match = re.search(r'tvg-logo="([^"]+)"', line)
        group_match = re.search(r'group-title="([^"]+)"', line)
        tvg_match = re.search(r'tvg-id="([^"]+)"', line)

        current_channel['tvg_id'] = tvg_match.group(1) if tvg_match else "1234"
        current_channel['icon'] = logo_match.group(1) if logo_match else None
        current_channel['group'] = group_match.group(1) if group_match else "Default"

        parts = line.split(',', 1)
        if len(parts) > 1:
            current_channel['name'] = parts[1].strip()
            config = get_config(current_channel['name'])
            if config:
                tvg_name, event_name = parse_channel_name(
                    current_channel['name'], config["separator"], config["epg_mode"]
                )
                #current_channel['tvg_id'] = tvg_id
                current_channel['clean_name'] = tvg_name
                current_channel['event_name'] = event_name
                current_channel['epg_mode'] = config["epg_mode"]
    elif line.startswith('http') and current_channel:
        if get_config(current_channel['name']):
            current_channel['url'] = line.strip()
            filtered_channels.append(current_channel)
        current_channel = {}

return filtered_channels

def create_new_m3u(channels):
new_m3u = "#EXTM3U\n"
for channel in channels:
new_m3u += f"#EXTINF:-1 tvg-id="{channel['clean_name']}" tvg-name="{channel['clean_name']}" group-title="{channel['group']}""
if channel['icon']:
new_m3u += f" tvg-logo="{channel['icon']}""
new_m3u += f",{channel['clean_name']}\n"
new_m3u += f"{channel['url']}\n"
return new_m3u

def generate_xmltv(channels):
"""Generate XMLTV for filtered channels."""
tv = Element('tv')
tv.set('generator-info-name', 'Event2Guide')

now = datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc)
now_adjusted = now - GUIDE_OFFSET
start_of_day = now_adjusted.replace(hour=0, minute=0, second=0, microsecond=0)

for channel in channels:
    # Create channel section regardless of events
    chan = SubElement(tv, 'channel')
    chan.set('id', channel['clean_name'])
    display_name = SubElement(chan, 'display-name')
    display_name.text = channel['clean_name']

    if channel['icon']:
        icon = SubElement(chan, 'icon')
        icon.set('src', channel['icon'])

    if channel['epg_mode'] == "dynamic":
        # Add dynamic events
        duration = DYNAMIC_BLOCK_DURATION
        if channel['event_name'] and channel['event_name'] != "No Event":
            start = now.replace(hour=0, minute=0, second=0, microsecond=0)
            stop = start + datetime.timedelta(hours=duration)
            program = SubElement(tv, 'programme')
            program.set('start', start.strftime('%Y%m%d%H%M%S +0000'))
            program.set('stop', stop.strftime('%Y%m%d%H%M%S +0000'))
            program.set('channel', channel['clean_name'])
            title = SubElement(program, 'title', lang='en')
            title.text = channel['event_name']
            desc = SubElement(program, 'desc', lang='en')
            desc.text = "Live event broadcast."
        elif NO_EVENT_DURATION > 0:
            start = now.replace(hour=0, minute=0, second=0, microsecond=0)
            stop = start + datetime.timedelta(hours=NO_EVENT_DURATION)
            program = SubElement(tv, 'programme')
            program.set('start', start.strftime('%Y%m%d%H%M%S +0000'))
            program.set('stop', stop.strftime('%Y%m%d%H%M%S +0000'))
            program.set('channel', channel['clean_name'])
            title = SubElement(program, 'title', lang='en')
            title.text = "No Event Scheduled"
            desc = SubElement(program, 'desc', lang='en')
            desc.text = "No details available."

    elif channel['epg_mode'] == "static":
        # Add static events
                #current_channel['tvg_id'] = tvg_id
                current_channel['clean_name'] = tvg_name
                current_channel['event_name'] = event_name
                current_channel['epg_mode'] = config["epg_mode"]
    elif line.startswith('http') and current_channel:
        if get_config(current_channel['name']):
            current_channel['url'] = line.strip()
            filtered_channels.append(current_channel)
        current_channel = {}

return filtered_channels

def create_new_m3u(channels):
new_m3u = "#EXTM3U\n"
for channel in channels:
new_m3u += f"#EXTINF:-1 tvg-id="{channel['clean_name']}" tvg-name="{channel['clean_name']}" group-title="{channel['group']}""
if channel['icon']:
new_m3u += f" tvg-logo="{channel['icon']}""
new_m3u += f",{channel['clean_name']}\n"
new_m3u += f"{channel['url']}\n"
return new_m3u

def generate_xmltv(channels):
"""Generate XMLTV for filtered channels."""
tv = Element('tv')
tv.set('generator-info-name', 'Event2Guide')

now = datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc)
now_adjusted = now - GUIDE_OFFSET
start_of_day = now_adjusted.replace(hour=0, minute=0, second=0, microsecond=0)

for channel in channels:
    # Create channel section regardless of events
    chan = SubElement(tv, 'channel')
    chan.set('id', channel['clean_name'])
    display_name = SubElement(chan, 'display-name')
    display_name.text = channel['clean_name']

    if channel['icon']:
        icon = SubElement(chan, 'icon')
        icon.set('src', channel['icon'])

    if channel['epg_mode'] == "dynamic":
        # Add dynamic events
        duration = DYNAMIC_BLOCK_DURATION
        if channel['event_name'] and channel['event_name'] != "No Event":
            start = now.replace(hour=0, minute=0, second=0, microsecond=0)
            stop = start + datetime.timedelta(hours=duration)
            program = SubElement(tv, 'programme')
            program.set('start', start.strftime('%Y%m%d%H%M%S +0000'))
            program.set('stop', stop.strftime('%Y%m%d%H%M%S +0000'))
            program.set('channel', channel['clean_name'])
            title = SubElement(program, 'title', lang='en')
            title.text = channel['event_name']
            desc = SubElement(program, 'desc', lang='en')
            desc.text = "Live event broadcast."
        elif NO_EVENT_DURATION > 0:
            start = now.replace(hour=0, minute=0, second=0, microsecond=0)
            stop = start + datetime.timedelta(hours=NO_EVENT_DURATION)
            program = SubElement(tv, 'programme')
            program.set('start', start.strftime('%Y%m%d%H%M%S +0000'))
            program.set('stop', stop.strftime('%Y%m%d%H%M%S +0000'))
            program.set('channel', channel['clean_name'])
            title = SubElement(program, 'title', lang='en')
            title.text = "No Event Scheduled"
            desc = SubElement(program, 'desc', lang='en')
            desc.text = "No details available."

    elif channel['epg_mode'] == "static":
        # Add static events
        duration = STATIC_BLOCK_DURATION
        for block in range(STATIC_TOTAL_HOURS // duration):
            start = start_of_day + datetime.timedelta(hours=block * duration)
            stop = start + datetime.timedelta(hours=duration)
            program = SubElement(tv, 'programme')
            program.set('start', start.strftime('%Y%m%d%H%M%S +0000'))
            program.set('stop', stop.strftime('%Y%m%d%H%M%S +0000'))
            program.set('channel', channel['clean_name'])
            title = SubElement(program, 'title', lang='en')
            title.text = channel['event_name'] if channel['event_name'] != "No Event" else "Default Program"
            desc = SubElement(program, 'desc', lang='en')
            desc.text = "Live event broadcast."

return minidom.parseString(tostring(tv)).toprettyxml(indent="  ")

channels = parse_m3u(SOURCE)
new_m3u_content = create_new_m3u(channels)
with open(OUTPUT_M3U, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as f:
f.write(new_m3u_content)
xmltv_content = generate_xmltv(channels)
with open(OUTPUT_XML, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as f:
f.write(xmltv_content)

[distributorofpain]

I was looking at the output on mine and i noticed that they dont always put the right timezone and sometimes they dont even put the timezone. They also dont always put the end time, so being able to set events for X number of hours by default would be nice. Or maybe a rule to override and make the event the entire day? The other challenge is that the epg might need more frequent updates than the general one.

Another thought i just had, what about just allowing a channel name to be updated and use the Dummy EPG, tivimate will just use the channel name as the guide info. Dont want to replace the channel though

[SergeantPanda]

Available in dev.

[distributorofpain]

sweet!

[mwongj]

First off, great job @SergeantPanda! I think the direction of the implementation is close to solving this problem. In testing I had one issue and a minor suggestion:

Bug:

2nd dummy EPG does not work when viewing the TV Guide despite the Test Your Configuration using the sample stream name matching and having the correct Formatted Output Preview results

STR:

1. Create dummy EPG 1 with the following:

Title Pattern:

(?<league>.+)\s\d{1,3}\s:\s(?<team1>.+)\s[VSvs]{2}\s(?<team2>.+)\s@

Time Pattern:

(?<hour>\d{1,2}):(?<minute>\d{2})\s(?<ampm>AM|PM|am|pm)

Date Pattern: None

Title Template:

{league} - {team1} at {team2}

Description Template:

Watch {team1} play {team2} @ {time}

Upcoming Title Template:

Next Event: {team1} at {team2} @ {time}

Upcoming Description Template: None

Ended Title Template:

No Event

Ended Description Template:

No Event

Event Timezone: US/Eastern
Output Timezone: None

Sample Stream Name

League Pass 1 : Team 1 vs Team 2 @ 08:15 PM ET

2. Create dummy EPG 2

Title Pattern:

\d{1,3}:.+-\s(?<league>.+)\s:\s(?<team1>.+)\s[VvSs]{2}\s(?<team2>.+)\s@

Time Pattern:

@\s(?<hour>\d{1,2}):(?<minute>\d{1,2})(?<ampm>am|AM|pm|PM)

Date Pattern: None

Title Template:

{league} - {team1} at {team2}

Description Template:

Watch {team1} take on {team2} in the {league} at {time}

Upcoming Title Template:

Next Event: {team1} at {team2} @ {time}

Upcoming Description Template: None

Ended Title Template:

No Event

Ended Description Template:

No Event

Event Timezone: US/Eastern
Output Timezone: None

Sample Stream Name

Country Sport03: Spain - League : Team 1 vs Team 2 @ 08:00am

3. Create Channel from Stream and assign corresponding dummy EPG

4. Navigate to TV Guide

The channel using dummy EPG 1 works without issue. The dummy EPG 2 has the original stream name and the program times default to the 4 hr segments

Suggestions

1. In the Formatted Output Preview the variable time or time24 doesn't get replaced using the sample stream name. This had me confused about the validity of the regex for the time capture groups. If this is intended it would be good to inform the user with text that the time variable will be replaced at runtime.

[SergeantPanda]

You may want to update your container again. I made several changes this morning.

[SergeantPanda]

Thank you the for the detailed analysis BTW!