Internet Protocol television (IPTV), sometimes known as TV over broadband, is the transmission of television using Internet Protocol (IP) networks. It is typically sold and operated by a telecom provider and consists of broadcast live television that is streamed over the Internet (multicast), as opposed to traditional terrestrial, satellite, and cable transmission formats, as well as video on demand services for watching or replaying content (unicast).

Definition and Core Concept

A true IPTV service frequently runs on a regulated network, as opposed to streaming a video from the public web.Historically, several various definitions of IPTV have emerged, including basic streams over IP networks, MPEG transport streams over IP networks, and a variety of proprietary systems. The International Telecommunication Union focus group on IPTV (ITU-T FG IPTV) has established an official definition as follows:

IPTV is described as multimedia services supplied via IP-based networks that meet the needed levels of service and experience, security, interactivity, and dependability.

Another definition of IPTV in the telecoms business is supplied by the Alliance for telecoms business Solutions (ATIS) IPTV Exploratory Group in 2005.

IPTV is defined as the secure and reliable delivery to subscribers of entertainment video and related services. These services may include, for example, Live TV, Video On Demand (VOD) and Interactive TV (iTV). These services are delivered across an access agnostic, packet switched network that employs the IP protocol to transport the audio, video and control signals.

How IPTV Works

IPTV is a video-streaming technology that delivers television programs over the internet. IPTV provides television content using the internet protocol suite instead of being delivered through traditional terrestrial, satellite signal, or cable television formats.

IP-based television allows for a more customized experience for users. It also enables service providers to offer more features such as video on demand (VOD), interactive applications, and games. In addition, IPTV can be integrated with other types of broadband services, such as internet telephony and data over cable service (DOCSIS).

Also called “TV over IP,” IPTV refers to streaming scheduled and video-on-demand (VOD) TV programs using the IP protocol. Beginning in the 1990s, IPTV was offered by several companies, but the content did not necessarily stream from the Internet. Telephone companies offered IPTV over DSL lines.

ALSO SEE: IPTV LISTA

IPTV vs Traditional Television

IP-based TV is delivered like a Web page. When a subscriber wants to view an IPTV channel, that channel is routed to the user’s set-top box just like a Web browser retrieves a specific Web page. In contrast, traditional cable TV and satellite services transmit hundreds of channels simultaneously, and the set-top box/receiver connected to the TV allows the user to extract (tune in) one channel at a time.

With cable or satellite TV, broadcasters send out signals and viewers receive them—you’re only able to watch what’s being broadcasted. IPTV is different. Instead of transmitting content via light pulses in fiber-optic cable or radio waves from a satellite, IPTV sends shows and movies through your standard internet connection.

Historical Development

Up until the early 1990s, it was not thought possible that a television programme could be squeezed into the limited telecommunication bandwidth of a copper telephone cable to provide a video-on-demand (VOD) television service of acceptable quality, as the required bandwidth of a digital television signal was around 200 Mbit/s, which was 2,000 times greater than the bandwidth of a speech signal over a copper telephone wire. VOD services were only made possible as a result of two major technological developments: motion-compensated DCT video compression and asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) data transmission.

The term IPTV first appeared in 1995 with the founding of Precept Software by Judith Estrin and Bill Carrico. Precept developed an Internet video product named IP/TV. IP/TV was an Mbone compatible Windows and Unix-based application that transmitted single and multi-source audio and video traffic, ranging from low to DVD quality, using both unicast and IP multicast Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) and Real time control protocol (RTCP).

Telecommunications company US West (later Qwest) launched an IPTV service called TeleChoice in Phoenix, Arizona in 1998 using VDSL technology, becoming the first company in the United States to provide digital television over telephone lines.

Read More: IPTV LIST

Benefits of IPTV Services

An IPTV service provides various advantages for individuals wishing to enhance their home. The most obvious application is to get television channels without using a satellite dish or cable box. This might save you time and money by eliminating the need to pay installation or equipment rental costs.

Furthermore, because IPTV uses your home’s current broadband internet connection, it typically produces a sharper picture than traditional cable or satellite. This also means you may watch TV on any network-connected device, such as cellphones, tablets, and computers.

Access to a Wide Variety of Content

IPTV offers thousands of live TV channels, movies, and series from around the world, covering genres like sports, news, entertainment, and international channels.

On-Demand Viewing

IPTV allows you to watch content whenever you want, rather than following a fixed broadcast schedule, making it a flexible option for busy viewers.

High-Quality Streaming

IPTV services often provide high-quality streams in HD or even 4K, ensuring a superior viewing experience without interruptions or poor quality.

Multi-Device Compatibility

IPTV works on smart TVs, computers, tablets, and smartphones, giving you the freedom to watch on multiple devices, even when on the go.

Cost-Effective Alternative to Cable

IPTV is typically more affordable than traditional cable or satellite services, offering extensive content options at a lower price.

Technical Infrastructure

IPTV normally requires the use of a set-top box, which receives the encoded television content in the MPEG transport stream via IP multicast, and converts the packets to be watched on a TV set or other kind of display. It is distinct from over-the-top (OTT) services, which are based on a direct one-to-one transmission mechanism.

IP Enables the “Triple Play” – All website and email traffic travels in IP packets, and voice has become almost all IP based (see VoIP). By adding TV over IP, a data-voice-video “triple play” service can be offered over the same network infrastructure.

Market Adoption

IPTV broadcasts started gaining usage during the 2000s alongside the rising use of broadband-based internet connections. It is often provided bundled with internet access services by ISPs to subscribers and runs in a closed network.

IPTV has found success in some regions: for example in Western Europe in 2015, pay IPTV users overtook pay satellite TV users. IPTV is also used for media delivery around corporate and private networks.

References Used

1. Wikipedia – Internet Protocol Television

URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Protocol_television

2. PCMag Encyclopedia – IPTV Definition

URL: https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/iptv

3. Simple English Wikipedia – IPTV

URL: https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPTV

4. Broadband TV News – IPTV Industry News

URL: https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/