Note: Kodi setup is more complex than TiviMate or IPTV Smarters. If you're new to IPTV, we recommend TiviMate on Firestick instead. This guide is for existing Kodi users.
Kodi Builds vs. PVR IPTV Simple Client — What's the Difference?
"Fully loaded" Kodi builds — pre-configured skins bundled with dozens of add-ons, popular on YouTube and forum threads — are a different thing entirely from what this guide sets up. Many of those builds quietly bundle unofficial add-ons that stream copyrighted films and TV with no licensing behind them at all, which is both a legal risk for whoever is running Kodi and the usual source of the buffering, crashes and malware complaints those builds are known for.
PVR IPTV Simple Client is a different route. It's an official, open-source add-on distributed through the built-in Kodi Add-on Repository — the same repository Kodi itself ships with — and all it does is turn your own M3U playlist and EPG URL into a normal Kodi PVR (live TV) source, the same way a TV tuner card would. It doesn't bundle any add-ons or content of its own and needs nothing from outside the official repository. If you've been pointed at a "build" rather than this add-on, it's worth knowing the two aren't the same thing before you install anything.
Setting Up IPTV on Kodi with PVR IPTV Simple Client
💡 Request both your M3U URL and EPG URL from Flickhaven support before starting Kodi setup. The steps above are the same on Kodi 19 (Matrix), Kodi 20 (Nexus) and Kodi 21 (Omega) — menu wording differs slightly by version, but the Add-ons → Install from Repository → PVR Clients path is unchanged.
UK EPG Time Zone & Clock Changes
Once your channels are loaded, go to Settings → PVR & Live TV → Guide and confirm the EPG time offset is set to 0 for the UK. Kodi doesn't always follow the UK's clock change to British Summer Time (late March to late October) automatically on every device, so if listed programme times look an hour out after a clock change, check that your device's system time zone is set to Europe/London rather than a fixed GMT/UTC offset.
UK Broadband Notes for Kodi
- Virgin Media — the Hub (3, 4 or 5) ships with a fairly strict default NAT/firewall profile. It's rarely an issue for a standard M3U/EPG PVR connection, but if channels time out on load, check Advanced Settings → Firewall or Modem Mode if you're running your own router behind it.
- BT — the Smart Hub 2 prioritises traffic dynamically, and UK peak hours (roughly 6–10pm) see the most contention on BT's network. A wired Ethernet connection into whichever box runs Kodi avoids most of the buffering that turns up right at that time.
- TalkTalk and EE — both routers tend to have shorter Wi-Fi range than the Virgin/BT hubs, worth bearing in mind if your Kodi device sits far from the router.
- Content filters — BT, Virgin Media, TalkTalk and EE have all run default-on family content filters since 2013. If PVR IPTV Simple Client can't reach your M3U or EPG URL at all (not just buffering), it's worth checking your router's parental controls before assuming the URL itself is wrong.
Get Your M3U & EPG URLs
Message us on WhatsApp — our support team works UK time (GMT/BST), seven days a week — and we'll send you both URLs with your subscription.
For the full picture, see our beginner's guide to the technology · UK IPTV guide · complete best IPTV UK guide · IPTV free trial UK.