diff --git a/apps/epg/api_views.py b/apps/epg/api_views.py
index 547be152..58ab0334 100644
--- a/apps/epg/api_views.py
+++ b/apps/epg/api_views.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class EPGSourceViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
         try:
             return [perm() for perm in permission_classes_by_action[self.action]]
         except KeyError:
-            if self.action in ('sd_lineups', 'sd_lineups_search'):
+            if self.action in ('sd_lineups', 'sd_lineups_search', 'sd_countries'):
                 if self.request.method == 'GET':
                     return [IsStandardUser()]
                 return [IsAdmin()]
@@ -390,6 +390,31 @@ class EPGSourceViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
                     status=status.HTTP_502_BAD_GATEWAY
                 )
 
+    @action(detail=True, methods=["get"], url_path="sd-countries")
+    def sd_countries(self, request, pk=None):
+        """Proxy /available/countries from the SD API to avoid browser CORS restrictions."""
+        import requests as http_requests
+        from apps.epg.tasks import SD_BASE_URL
+
+        source = self.get_object()
+        if source.source_type != 'schedules_direct':
+            return Response(
+                {"error": "This action is only available for Schedules Direct sources."},
+                status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
+            )
+        try:
+            resp = http_requests.get(
+                f"{SD_BASE_URL}/available/countries",
+                timeout=15,
+            )
+            resp.raise_for_status()
+            return Response(resp.json())
+        except http_requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
+            return Response(
+                {"error": f"Failed to fetch countries: {str(e)}"},
+                status=status.HTTP_502_BAD_GATEWAY,
+            )
+
     @action(detail=True, methods=["post"], url_path="sd-lineups/search")
     def sd_lineups_search(self, request, pk=None):
         """
diff --git a/frontend/src/api.js b/frontend/src/api.js
index 1c826465..445e7e82 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api.js
+++ b/frontend/src/api.js
@@ -3889,6 +3889,14 @@ export default class API {
     }
   }
 
+  static async getSDCountries(sourceId) {
+    try {
+      return await request(`${host}/api/epg/sources/${sourceId}/sd-countries/`);
+    } catch (e) {
+      return null;
+    }
+  }
+
   static async getSDLineups(sourceId) {
     try {
       const response = await request(
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/forms/EPG.jsx b/frontend/src/components/forms/EPG.jsx
index f7e6ec92..ebfea46b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/forms/EPG.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/forms/EPG.jsx
@@ -325,18 +325,16 @@ const SDLineupManager = ({ sourceId }) => {
   useEffect(() => {
     if (sourceId) {
       fetchActiveLineups();
-      // Fetch country list from SD API per their recommendation to not hardcode
-      fetch('https://json.schedulesdirect.org/20141201/available/countries')
-        .then((r) => r.json())
-        .then((data) => {
-          const all = Object.values(data).flat();
-          const mapped = all
-            .filter((c) => c.shortName && c.fullName)
-            .map((c) => ({ value: c.shortName, label: c.fullName }))
-            .sort((a, b) => a.label.localeCompare(b.label));
-          if (mapped.length > 0) setCountries(mapped);
-        })
-        .catch(() => {}); // fallback list remains if fetch fails
+      // Fetch country list via backend proxy to avoid browser CORS restrictions
+      API.getSDCountries(sourceId).then((data) => {
+        if (!data) return;
+        const all = Object.values(data).flat();
+        const mapped = all
+          .filter((c) => c.shortName && c.fullName)
+          .map((c) => ({ value: c.shortName, label: c.fullName }))
+          .sort((a, b) => a.label.localeCompare(b.label));
+        if (mapped.length > 0) setCountries(mapped);
+      });
     }
   }, [sourceId, fetchActiveLineups]);
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/forms/__tests__/EPG.test.jsx b/frontend/src/components/forms/__tests__/EPG.test.jsx
index 1e64a563..66ead589 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/forms/__tests__/EPG.test.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/forms/__tests__/EPG.test.jsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ global.fetch = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
 
 vi.mock('../../../api.js', () => ({
   default: {
+    getSDCountries: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({}),
     getSDLineups: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([]),
     addSDLineup: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ success: true }),
     deleteSDLineup: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ success: true }),