# How IPTV Channel Logos Are Specified and Hosted in the Free-TV/IPTV Project > Learn how IPTV channel logos are specified and hosted in the Free TV IPTV project. Discover how tvg-logo attributes in M3U8 files link to external HTTPS URLs for lightweight repository management and direct client fetching. - Repository: [Free TV/IPTV](https://github.com/Free-TV/IPTV) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-06-26 --- **In the Free-TV/IPTV repository, channel logos are specified via external HTTPS URLs in the `tvg-logo` attribute of M3U8 playlist files, keeping the repository lightweight while allowing IPTV clients to fetch icons directly from hosts like Imgur.** The Free-TV/IPTV project maintains curated playlists of streaming channels using the standard **M3U8/EXTM3U** format. Instead of bundling image assets directly in the repository, **IPTV channel logos** are referenced through externally hosted URLs, ensuring the codebase remains lean and easy to maintain. ## Understanding the M3U8 Logo Specification The repository follows the industry-standard **M3U8/EXTM3U** playlist specification, where channel metadata is declared on `#EXTINF` lines preceding each stream URL. Among the standard attributes like `tvg-name`, `tvg-id`, and `group-title`, the **`tvg-logo`** attribute specifically handles the visual representation of the channel. ### The tvg-logo Attribute Format Each `#EXTINF` line in the playlist files includes `tvg-logo="https://..."` followed by a full HTTPS URL pointing to the logo image. IPTV clients that parse these playlists use this URL to download and display the icon alongside the channel name. ```m3u8 #EXTINF:-1 tvg-name="Sportitalia LIVE24" \ tvg-logo="https://i.imgur.com/hu56Ya5.png" \ tvg-id="Sportitalia24.it" \ tvg-chno="1" \ group-title="VOD Italy",Sportitalia LIVE24 https://di-g7ij0rwh.vo.lswcdn.net/sportitalia/silive24.smil/playlist.m3u8 ``` In this example from `playlists/playlist_zz_vod_it.m3u8`, the `tvg-logo` attribute points to an Imgur-hosted PNG file. The client application fetches this image at runtime rather than loading it from the local filesystem. ## Repository Structure and File Locations Channel logos are not stored as binary files within the repository. Instead, all logo references reside in the playlist files located in the `playlists/` directory at the repository root. ### Key Playlist Files The project organizes channels by region and category into separate M3U8 files: - **`playlists/playlist_zz_vod_it.m3u8`**: Contains Italian VOD channels using Imgur-hosted logos - **`playlists/playlist_usa.m3u8`**: US-focused channels with similar external logo references Every `#EXTINF` entry across these files follows the same pattern, utilizing the `tvg-logo` attribute to link to third-party image hosting services. ```m3u8 #EXTINF:-1 tvg-name="BBC Doctor Who" \ tvg-logo="https://i.imgur.com/J2B9FjO.jpg" \ tvg-chno="4160" \ group-title="VOD Italy",BBC Doctor Who https://bbceu-doctorwho-1-it.samsung.wurl.tv/playlist.m3u8 ``` This entry demonstrates how JPEG files are referenced using the same URL-based approach found in `playlists/playlist_zz_vod_it.m3u8`. ## External Hosting Strategy By referencing **externally hosted images** rather than including them in the repository, the Free-TV/IPTV project avoids the maintenance burden and storage overhead of binary assets. This architecture simplifies updates and reduces repository size. ### Updating Channel Logos To change a channel's logo, maintainers edit only the URL string within the `tvg-logo` attribute of the corresponding `#EXTINF` line. No file uploads or directory restructuring are required. The repository primarily uses **Imgur** (`https://i.imgur.com/...`) for reliable image hosting, though any publicly accessible HTTPS URL would function correctly. ```m3u8 #EXTINF:-1 tvg-name="Sport2U" \ tvg-logo="https://i.imgur.com/WW0lNk1.png" \ tvg-chno="3" \ group-title="VOD Italy",Sport2U https://stream9.xdevel.com/video0s976916-1685/stream/playlist_dvr.m3u8 ``` When an IPTV client loads this entry from `playlists/playlist_zz_vod_it.m3u8`, it retrieves the PNG directly from Imgur's CDN. ## Summary - **IPTV channel logos** in the Free-TV/IPTV project are specified via the `tvg-logo` attribute in M3U8 playlist files. - Logo files are **not stored locally**; instead, the repository contains HTTPS URLs pointing to external hosting services like Imgur. - Playlist files in the `playlists/` directory (such as `playlists/playlist_zz_vod_it.m3u8` and `playlists/playlist_usa.m3u8`) contain these references within `#EXTINF` metadata lines. - Updating a logo requires modifying only the URL string in the playlist file, keeping the repository lightweight and manageable. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the tvg-logo attribute in M3U8 files? The `tvg-logo` attribute is a standard EXTM3U metadata tag that specifies the URL of a channel's logo image. IPTV clients read this attribute during playlist parsing to display the appropriate icon alongside the channel name in their user interface. ### Where are channel logos stored in the Free-TV/IPTV repository? Channel logos are **not stored within the repository itself**. The `playlists/` directory contains only M3U8 text files with URLs pointing to externally hosted images, typically on Imgur. This design prevents binary bloat and keeps the repository focused on playlist curation. ### How do I update a channel logo in this IPTV project? To update a logo, locate the channel's `#EXTINF` line in the relevant playlist file (such as `playlists/playlist_usa.m3u8` or `playlists/playlist_zz_vod_it.m3u8`) and modify the `tvg-logo` value to point to the new image URL. Since the images are hosted externally, no git commits for binary files are necessary—only the text URL needs changing. ### Which external hosting services are used for IPTV channel logos? The project primarily uses **Imgur** (`https://i.imgur.com/...`) for hosting channel logos, as evidenced by the HTTPS URLs throughout the playlist files. Any reliable image hosting service that provides direct HTTPS links would work, provided the URL remains accessible to end users' IPTV clients.