diff --git a/apps/epg/tasks.py b/apps/epg/tasks.py
index 66ec444e..0f2af709 100644
--- a/apps/epg/tasks.py
+++ b/apps/epg/tasks.py
@@ -875,15 +875,17 @@ def parse_channels_only(source):
             if process:
                 logger.debug(f"[parse_channels_only] Memory after opening file: {process.memory_info().rss / 1024 / 1024:.2f} MB")
 
-            # Change iterparse to look for both channel and programme elements
+            # Use iterparse to find the <tv> element
             logger.debug(f"Creating iterparse context for channels and programmes")
-            channel_parser = etree.iterparse(source_file, events=('end',), tag=('channel', 'programme'), remove_blank_text=True, recover=True)
+            tv_finder = etree.iterparse(source_file, events=('start',), tag='tv', remove_blank_text=True, recover=True)
+            _, tv_root = next(tv_finder)
             if process:
                 logger.debug(f"[parse_channels_only] Memory after creating iterparse: {process.memory_info().rss / 1024 / 1024:.2f} MB")
 
             channel_count = 0
             total_elements_processed = 0  # Track total elements processed, not just channels
-            for _, elem in channel_parser:
+
+            for elem in tv_root.iter('channel', 'programme'):
                 total_elements_processed += 1
                 # Only process channel elements
                 if elem.tag == 'channel':