A channel logo identifies the station; programme artwork illustrates a particular airing or title. XMLTV and playlist sources can supply them separately, and a reader may support one but not the other. A familiar station logo appearing where a poster was expected does not necessarily mean that the guide is mapped incorrectly.
Name the image that is missing
A support request should distinguish the channel badge in the grid from the programme image in a details panel. Their URLs can come from different sources and use different caches. A blanket artwork reset can obscure that distinction.
Check source coverage
Not every airing includes an image. A reader may use a station logo or a placeholder as a fallback. Compare an entry known to contain programme artwork before deciding that the entire artwork feature is broken.
Keep artwork corrections factual
Use imagery that belongs to the actual station or programme and that you are permitted to use. A visually attractive but unrelated poster makes browsing less reliable. Metadata accuracy matters more than filling every empty rectangle.
A practical sequence
- Identify whether the missing image is a channel logo or programme artwork.
- Compare source metadata for a known illustrated entry.
- Refresh the relevant cache only if the reader supports it.
An example
A channel badge can remain visible all day while each film’s poster changes. Those images serve different navigation purposes and need not be downloaded from the same host.
Questions about this topic
Does a missing poster mean the channel is unavailable?
No. Artwork is separate from stream access.
Can a player display images absent from the source?
Only through an additional metadata source or fallback feature.
