Apps & Players4 min read
TiviMate IPTV Player: A Guided Tour of Its Main Features
What does TiviMate actually do, screen by screen? This tour explains its main features and who each one helps.
By CatchON TV Team
TiviMate has a reputation as one of the most TV-like IPTV players for Android-based TV devices. People often describe it as feeling like a cable box guide, only faster and more customisable. This tour explains the player's main features, what each does and who benefits most. If you are wondering what the TiviMate IPTV player actually does, this is the place to start.
Features and their availability can change between versions, and some are part of TiviMate's paid premium version. TiviMate is made by an independent developer; CatchON TV is not affiliated with it and does not claim official support for it. For the service side of using TiviMate, see our guide to what your service needs for TiviMate.
The first impression: a TV-style interface
TiviMate opens to live TV rather than a menu of icons. Channels, the guide and the picture are all close at hand, and navigation is designed around a TV remote. For viewers moving from cable or satellite, that familiarity is a big part of the appeal.
The grid guide
TiviMate's grid guide shows channels down the side and time across the top, with programme details when you highlight an entry. It is quick to scroll and can be customised — for example, how many rows are shown and whether channel logos appear.
Who benefits: anyone who browses live TV through the guide, especially former cable subscribers.
Channel groups and ordering
You can reorder, hide and rename channel groups and channels. This lets you turn a large lineup into a tidy, personal list — for example, putting news and sports at the top and hiding groups you never use.
Who benefits: households with large lineups and specific favourites.
Favourites
Favourites let you create a short list of your most-watched channels, accessible with a couple of button presses.
Who benefits: everyone — it is the single most useful everyday feature.
Catch-up
Where the service provides catch-up on selected channels, TiviMate can display it through the guide: you move back in time and select a past programme to play.
Who benefits: viewers who miss programmes and want to watch them later.
Reminders
Set reminders for upcoming programmes so the player alerts you when they start.
Who benefits: sports fans and planners.
Playback settings
TiviMate includes settings for the decoder, buffer size, frame-rate matching on supported devices and audio options. These help tune playback for your device and TV.
Who benefits: anyone troubleshooting stutters or motion judder. Our guide to choosing a big-screen player explains these settings.
Multiple playlists
TiviMate can hold more than one playlist or account, which is useful if you want separate entries for different purposes.
Premium features
TiviMate offers a paid premium version that unlocks additional features. These have typically included options such as recording, multi-view and extra customisation. Premium is purchased from the app's developer — not from your IPTV provider — and its terms are the developer's. See our guide to getting TiviMate and its premium version.
Feature summary
| Feature | What it does | Who benefits most |
|---|---|---|
| Grid guide | TV-style listings | Guide browsers |
| Group management | Reorder, hide, rename | Large-lineup households |
| Favourites | Quick access to key channels | Everyone |
| Catch-up | Watch past programmes where offered | Busy viewers |
| Reminders | Alerts for upcoming shows | Sports fans, planners |
| Playback settings | Decoder, buffer, frame rate | Troubleshooters |
| Multiple playlists | Several services or entries | Advanced users |
| Premium features | Extras such as recording, multi-view | Enthusiasts |
Your first hour with TiviMate
A little setup at the start makes TiviMate feel personal:
- Add your service and wait for channels and the guide to load.
- Hide groups you never watch, so the channel list is short from day one.
- Reorder the remaining groups — for example news, entertainment, sports, kids.
- Build favourites from your must-have channels.
- Check guide times against a programme you know is on, and adjust the offset if needed.
- Set the decoder to hardware and enable frame-rate matching if your device supports it.
- Try catch-up on a channel where your service offers it.
After this, most daily use is simply opening the app, pressing the guide button and choosing a programme.
Limitations to know
- Platform: designed for Android-based TV devices; not available for Apple TV or Roku.
- Content: TiviMate includes no channels; it needs a service.
- Data-dependent features: guide and catch-up quality depend on the service.
- Premium: some features require the paid version.
Is TiviMate right for you?
If you watch on Android TV, Google TV or Fire TV and like a cable-style guide, TiviMate is worth trying. If you watch mainly on phones, Apple devices or Roku, another player will suit you better. Our roundup of well-known IPTV apps covers alternatives.
Questions about TiviMate's features
Is TiviMate free?
TiviMate can be used with core features, and a paid premium version unlocks additional features. Premium is purchased from the developer, separately from any IPTV subscription.
Does TiviMate include channels?
No. TiviMate is a player; channels come from the IPTV service you add to it.
Can TiviMate show catch-up?
Yes, where the service provides catch-up on selected channels using a method TiviMate supports.
A player built for the living room
TiviMate's grid guide, group management, favourites, catch-up support and playback settings make it feel like a modern cable box on Android-based TV devices. Pair it with a well-organised service and it becomes the heart of the living room. For questions about using CatchON TV in your player, contact us.
