Embodiments of the invention are directed to transmitting and receiving electronic service guide ('ESG') fragments. In the transmission of ESG fragments, the identifier ('ID'), version, and/or uniform resource identifier ('URI') values associated with the ESG fragments for transmission are processed and compared. The ESG fragments are encapsulated in a service guide delivery unit ('SGDU') based on the processing and comparison of the values. Likewise, an SGDU can be received at a receiver, data pertaining to the ID, version, and/or URJ values of the SGDU and associated ESG fragments may be extracted and compared to previously stored values. The SGDU and ESG fragments may then be processed in accordance with the comparison results.