Snooker channels: categories, favourites and search
The quickest route to snooker on a large channel list is not scrolling — it is combining three tools that most IPTV apps already give you: categories, favourites and search. Get those three working together and you will reach the right channel in a few seconds, whether the app is TiviMate, IPTV Smarters Pro or the portal on a MAG box.
Start with categories, not the full list
A list of 50,000+ channels is not meant to be browsed from top to bottom. Categories slice that list into manageable groups — sports, news, entertainment and so on — and a sports category will typically bring the channel count down to something you can scan in a moment.
Open your app and look for a category or group panel, usually on the left side or along the top of the screen. Select the sports group. If a sub-category for UK sports or similar appears, go into that. You are looking for a shorter list, not necessarily the final destination yet.
Once you are inside a category, the layout is the same in most apps: channel names in a column or grid, with a preview pane alongside. That preview tells you immediately whether a channel is live and what it is carrying right now. Check: can you see a sports category with noticeably fewer channels than the master list? If yes, move on to building your favourites.
Build a favourites list before you need it
Favourites are worth setting up when you are not in a hurry, so that when snooker is on you are not hunting. In TiviMate, a long-press on a channel name brings up the option to add it to a favourites group; in IPTV Smarters Pro, the same action is usually a star icon or a context menu. The MAG portal has its own favourites screen, reached from the main menu.
Add the two or three snooker-carrying channels you have identified, then give the group a name you will recognise — 'Sport live' or simply 'Snooker' works. After that, your favourites list is the first place to open, not the full channel grid.
The same habit works for other interests. If you follow darts, the approach for PDC darts channels in the guide is very similar — build the favourites list once and rely on it. The same logic applies if you want to keep sci-fi channels easy to reach.
Check: do your chosen channels appear in a favourites group and load correctly from there?
Use search to confirm a channel name
Even with a favourites list in place, search is worth knowing. If a channel moves group, or you are on a different device, typing the first recognisable part of the channel name — four or five characters is usually enough — filters the full list immediately. Most apps place the search field at the top of the channel browser or behind a magnifying-glass icon on the main toolbar.
Search is also useful the first time you set up a new device. Rather than rebuilding favourites from memory, search for the channel names you know, confirm they are present, then add them directly from the search results.
Check: does a partial search return the channel you expect within a few results? If the list looks wrong, the category filter may still be active — clear it and search again from the full catalogue.
Getting the service set up
If you have not signed up yet, the process is straightforward. After payment, your login details arrive by email. Those credentials go into whichever app you are using — IPTV Smarters Pro, TiviMate, IBO Player or a MAG portal — and the channel list loads from there.
For a full picture of what is available, UK IPTV's plans page lays out the subscription options clearly.
Check: does the app show the channel list after you log in? If the list does not appear, confirm the server address and credentials are entered exactly as they arrived — no extra spaces, correct capitalisation.
Quick answers
- Why can I not see a sports category in my app?
Some apps load all channels into one list by default and only show categories once you tap a filter or group icon. Look for a sidebar toggle, a grid icon or a menu labelled 'Groups' — selecting that should reveal the category list.
- Can I have more than one favourites group?
Yes. Most apps, including TiviMate and IPTV Smarters Pro, let you create several named groups. Keeping snooker channels in their own group, separate from other sports, makes switching between interests faster.
- My search returns no results for a channel I can see in the list — why?
An active category filter can restrict what search looks at. Clear any active category first so search runs against the full channel list, then try again.
- Do my favourites carry over if I install the app on a second device?
That depends on the app. TiviMate stores favourites locally by default, so you would need to recreate them on a second device or restore from a backup if the app supports it. IPTV Smarters Pro ties the playlist to your account, so favourites may already be there when you log in.