Making a Custom XML EPG for a single channel

[fonzie 23]

I'm trying to make a custom xml listing for a channel.  I'm using the template below:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<tv date="1/1/2021 12:00:00 PM" source-info-url="" source-info-name="" generator-info-name="" generator-info-url="">

<channel id="NAME OF YOUR CHANNEL HERE">
<display-name>NAME OF YOUR CHANNEL HERE</display-name>
</channel>

<programme channel="NAME OF YOUR CHANNEL HERE" start="20210101000000 +0000" stop="20211231235900 +0000">
<title>CHANNEL TITLE HERE</title>
<desc>CHANNEL DESCRIPTION HERE</desc>
<sub-title>CHANNEL SUB TITLE HERE</sub-title>
</programme>

</tv>

But I'm wondering how I can add a poster to the program.  All of the programs on my EPG currently have posters so I'm wondering what code I can add to this xml to have my custom channel display a poster for it as well.

[fonzie 23]

I found the answer on this page: https://github.com/XMLTV/xmltv/blob/master/xmltv.dtd

for those wondering.  I put the code in between the <programe> brackets.

The code used is: 

<icon src="https://example.com/url_to_program_poster.jpg" width="100" height="100" />

 

[Luke 43001]

Hi, thanks for following up.

[SalimRahmani 1]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been following this discussion with great interest and appreciate the helpful information shared. However, I wanted to clarify something regarding the use of posters in the XMLTV format.

While the <icon> tag is indeed used for logos, the xmltv.dtd also defines a dedicated <image> tag that can specify types of images like posters and backdrops. Here’s an example of how it can be used:

<programme channel="NAME OF YOUR CHANNEL HERE" start="20210101000000 +0000" stop="20211231235900 +0000">
  <title>Programme Title</title>
  <desc>Programme description</desc>
  <sub-title>...</sub-title>
  ...
  <image type="poster" size="2" orient="P" system="example_system">https://example.com/url_to_program_poster.jpg</image>
  <image type="backdrop" size="3" orient="L" system="example_system">https://example.com/url_to_program_backdrop.jpg</image>
</programme>

This might provide more flexibility and specificity for different types of images compared to using the <icon> tag.

I’m curious if Emby supports the <image> tag in the XMLTV format? If anyone has experience or insights on this, it would be great to hear your thoughts.

Thanks!

[Luke 43001]

Hi, currently only the icon node is processed, but we could certainly look at supporting image.

[hjebbour 0]

@LukeAny update on supporting <image> withing Live TV guide programs? Thanks.

[Luke 43001]

1 hour ago, hjebbour said:

@LukeAny update on supporting <image> withing Live TV guide programs? Thanks.

Hi, you can’t use the conventions that already exist?

[hjebbour 0]

I am using the default XMLTV TV Guide pluging in Emby and some programs that uses <image> instead of <icon> do not show images in Emby

[Luke 43001]

10 hours ago, hjebbour said:

I am using the default XMLTV TV Guide pluging in Emby and some programs that uses <image> instead of <icon> do not show images in Emby

Actually looks like we did add support for it, but it needs to have the type attribute to tell us if it's a poster or backdrop. Maybe yours is missing that? Anyway, what xml source is this? why would they mix image and icon nodes?

[hjebbour 0]

On 9/1/2026 at 4:07 AM, Luke said:

Actually looks like we did add support for it, but it needs to have the type attribute to tell us if it's a poster or backdrop. Maybe yours is missing that? Anyway, what xml source is this? why would they mix image and icon nodes?

Here’s an example of an XML that contains only the <image> element, but the image is not displayed as either the poster or the backdrop.

<programme start="20260903000000 +0000" stop="20260903013500 +0000" channel="OSNMoviesPremiere.ae@SD"><title lang="en">Black Bag</title><desc lang="en">When intelligence agent Kathryn Woodhouse is suspected of betraying the nation, her husband, also a legendary agent, faces the ultimate test of whether to be loyal to his marriage, or his country.</desc><date>20250101</date><category lang="en">Drama</category><category lang="en">Thriller</category><image>https://osn-artwork.anghcdn.co/program_landscape_tt_LIN-PR692804/2b4354db49a0a911bb32a48b12b88b5c.jpg</image></programme>

 

[Luke 43001]

Try adding type=poster to the image node

[hjebbour 0]

17 minutes ago, Luke said:

Try adding type=poster to the image node

This is an external EPG provider, I do not have control on the XML