How to Use Catch-Up on MAG in 2026: Watch Missed TV Programs

Catch-up on MAG lets you watch TV programs that already aired, because your IPTV provider records supported channels to its own servers and keeps them available for a limited window — usually 24 to 72 hours, sometimes up to 7 days. To use it: press the right arrow on your remote to open the TV Guide, find a program marked with a yellow dot, highlight it, and press OK to play it back.

Catch-up is one of the most useful features on a MAG set-top box, because it removes the need to plan your evening around a live broadcast schedule. Instead of missing a match or an episode, you open the guide, scroll back, and watch it whenever you’re free. This guide covers exactly how catch-up works on MAG devices, how it differs from time-shifting, how to check which channels support it, and how to fix the most common problems — including details most other guides skip, like archive depth, date navigation, and portal-side troubleshooting.

What Is Catch-Up on MAG?

The general concept, sometimes called catch-up TV, refers to watching a broadcast program on demand after it has already aired, rather than at its scheduled time. On MAG boxes specifically, catch-up is a server-side recording feature, not something the MAG box itself does. When a channel supports catch-up, your provider records its broadcast and stores it on their servers for a fixed retention period — commonly called the archive depth. According to Infomir, the company that manufactures MAG boxes, typical archive depth on IPTV operator systems runs 3 to 4 days, though many providers extend or shorten this depending on server storage and subscription tier. You stream the recording on demand through the same Stalker/Ministra portal interface you already use for live TV and the EPG (electronic program guide).

Because catch-up lives on the provider’s server rather than on the box, two things follow: first, the MAG device has no local storage or DVR function of its own; second, if catch-up stops working, the fault is almost always on the portal or subscription side rather than the hardware.

Catch-Up vs. Time-Shift on MAG: What’s the Difference?

These two features get confused constantly because they’re accessed from the same TV Guide screen, but they solve different problems. The table below breaks down the difference clearly — something most competing guides gloss over.

In short: catch-up is for content that has already ended; time-shift is for jumping back to the start of something still airing right now. Both are configured by your provider and both appear inside the same TV Guide.

How to Identify Channels That Support Catch-Up

Not every channel in your lineup has catch-up enabled — it depends entirely on what your provider has licensed for recording. Before opening the TV Guide, check the channel list:

• Channels with catch-up support show a small clock icon next to the channel name or number in the channel list.
• No clock icon means no recordings exist for that channel — the provider hasn’t enabled catch-up there, and there’s nothing to browse back to.
• The clock icon is set by the provider’s portal configuration, not by any setting inside the MAG box itself.

If a channel you care about is missing the clock icon, contact your IPTV provider to ask whether it’s included in your plan — some providers reserve catch-up channels for higher-tier subscriptions.

Step-by-Step: Using Catch-Up on a MAG Box

These steps apply to any MAG device (MAG 250/254/256/322/324/351/420, etc.) running a standard Stalker or Ministra portal:

1. Navigate to the channel you want in your channel list and confirm it shows the clock icon.
2. Press the right arrow on your remote while the channel is playing. This opens the TV Guide (EPG) for that channel.
3. Browse backward in time using the up/down or left/right arrows depending on your portal skin. Past programs available for catch-up show a yellow dot next to the title.
4. Jump to a specific date if you need to go back further: on most portal skins, pressing the left arrow inside the guide opens a date list — scroll up or down to pick the day, then press OK to load that day’s schedule on the right.
5. Highlight the program you want using the up/down arrows.
6. Press OK. Playback of the recorded program starts immediately, with normal pause/rewind/fast-forward controls available during playback.

Programs without a yellow dot were either never recorded by your provider or have already aged out of the retention window — they can’t be played back. For a broader walkthrough of the MAG interface, see the RevoIPTV tutorials hub.

Tips for Getting the Most from Catch-Up

Know Your Retention Window

Most IPTV providers keep catch-up recordings for 24–72 hours, though some extend this to a full week. If a yellow dot you expected has disappeared, the recording has most likely expired rather than failed. Ask your provider for the exact retention period on your plan so you know how long you realistically have to catch up on a show.

Use Time-Shift for Live Programs

If your provider supports time-shift, pressing the right arrow while watching a live channel lets you restart the current program from the beginning — handy if you tune into a match or film partway through. Look for a rewind/restart prompt in the guide when a live program is highlighted.

The Portal Controls the Feature, Not the Box

Catch-up is delivered through the MAG portal, not stored locally. If catch-up disappears after a portal change or subscription renewal, the cause is almost always server-side. Restarting the MAG box clears cached portal data and resolves many temporary glitches.

Check the Date and Time Settings

An incorrect system clock on the MAG box can make the TV Guide display program times wrong, which makes past programs hard to find even when they’re still available. If the guide layout looks off, check the date and time settings on your MAG device before assuming catch-up itself is broken.

Troubleshooting Catch-Up on MAG

Yellow Dots Are Missing on a Catch-Up Channel

If the clock icon is present but no yellow dots show in the guide, common causes include: the provider’s recording server being temporarily down, the recording window for those programs having expired, or a stale portal session. Restart the box and check again; if it persists, contact your provider — see our MAG box problems guide for more fixes.

Catch-Up Starts Then Buffers or Stops

Catch-up streams from the provider’s server in real time, so stuttering usually points to your internet connection rather than the box. Test your connection speed and, where possible, connect via Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi for a steadier stream.

The TV Guide Won’t Open

The right arrow opens the guide from the live player view on most MAG remotes. If nothing happens, make sure you’re actually inside live playback first — select a channel, let it start, then press right arrow. Some portal skins remap this to a different button; check the key-mapping section of your portal’s settings menu.

Catch-Up Works on Some Channels But Not Others

This is expected behavior, not a fault. Catch-up availability is licensed per channel by your provider, so a clock icon on one channel and its absence on another simply reflects which recording rights the provider has secured — not a MAG box malfunction.

If you’re comparing MAG-compatible IPTV providers and want to test catch-up before committing, a free IPTV trial lets you try the feature firsthand. You can also compare subscription plans and see which apps and devices are supported on the IPTV applications page.

FAQ

What does the yellow dot mean in the MAG TV Guide?

The yellow dot marks a past program that’s available for catch-up playback. Programs without a yellow dot were not recorded by your provider, or the recording has already expired and can’t be accessed.

How far back can I watch catch-up on MAG?

It depends on your provider’s retention window. Most keep recordings for 24–72 hours, some extend to about a week (7 days), and typical operator-side archive depth is commonly configured around 3–4 days. Check your subscription details or ask your provider for the exact figure.

Is catch-up the same as time-shift on MAG?

No. Catch-up replays programs that have already finished airing, using recordings stored on the provider’s server. Time-shift restarts or rewinds a program that is still currently live. Both are accessed from the same TV Guide but apply to different content.

Why is catch-up not working on my MAG box?

Since catch-up is server-side, issues are usually caused by the provider’s portal, an expired recording window, or subscription status — not the box itself. Restart the MAG box to refresh the portal session, confirm your subscription is active, and contact your provider if the problem continues.

Can I record programs myself on a MAG box?

No. MAG boxes have no local storage or DVR capability. All catch-up content is recorded and stored on the IPTV provider’s servers, and you stream it on demand — you can’t create your own local recordings.

Do all IPTV channels support catch-up?

No. Catch-up is enabled per channel based on what your provider has licensed for recording. Only channels marked with the clock icon in your channel list support it; unmarked channels are live-only.