IPTV is a technology for transmitting television signals via Internet connection channels (via IP protocol), used by digital television operators and Internet service providers to deliver television channels through high-speed Internet access.
In simple terms, IPTV is a method of broadcasting television programs through Internet channels (global or local). Currently, the most common options for delivering video streams are UDP or HTTP protocols (OTT TV).
IPTV is also called IP Television, Interactive Television or Internet TV.
On these sites of IPTV providers, you can get a free trial of the service and purchase an IPTV subscription for 60 euros per month or less, depending on the composition of the packages and additional services.
- WawinTV – Over 27,000 channels, 1-day trial, prices starting at €118.99 per month, monthly payment available, multiroom for 3 devices.
- GalyTV – 15,000+ channels, 1-day free trial, price starting from €49.99 per 6 months, annual payment available.
- Aero TV – Over 22,000 channels, 1-day trial, prices starting at €19.99 per month.
- Hamster IPTV – More than 20,000 channels, 1 day trial, price €19.99 per month.
- Dezor IPTV – More than 27,500 channels, 1-day trial, prices from €12.98 per month, multiroom for 3 devices.
How to watch TV channels via the Internet:
To watch IPTV on a television, TV decoder or computer:
- Install an IPTV player (emulator): Download and install an IPTV player compatible with your Smart TV / Android TV or PC.
- Download Free IPTV Playlist: Search and download free IPTV playlist containing available free-to-air channels.
- Buy a stable playlist subscription from an IPTV provider: Subscribe to an IPTV provider to get a stable playlist and additional channels, often for a monthly fee.
Internet television
IPTV basically consists of two components:
- Internet Protocol (IP): It defines the shape of packets and the methods of their addressing. In most networks, IP is combined with a higher-level protocol (TCP or UDP). Depending on the vendor's solution, the most common protocols are usually UDP (User Datagram Protocol) or HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol).
- Television: Television determines the mode of communication, which is done through the transmission of images and sounds.
IP is a standard method of formatting and addressing packets in a large multi-functional network, such as the Internet. IP establishes the mechanism for directing packets of information between devices connected to the network.
To use the IPTV service, it is not necessary to have an antenna or run cables. All you need to watch IPTV is a stable and high-speed internet connection, as well as a computer, smartphone, tablet or television with Smart TV function.
If there is no Smart TV function on your TV, you can watch IPTV using a IPTV box or a media player. For personal computers and mobile devices, there are also common IPTV emulators.
There are several types of IPTV:
- Classic IPTV — provided by Internet Service Providers as aggregated data streams via the UDP (IGMP Multicast) protocol.
- Internet TV — provided by free or paid IPTV services as playlists for set-top boxes or emulators.
- OTT (Over the Top) — provided by terrestrial TV broadcasters or VoD libraries via their own applications.
- Online TV — provided as a player (compatible with major browsers) for websites broadcasting TV channels.
Although industry professionals distinguish between the concepts of IPTV, Internet TV and OTT, on this site we will use the long-established general definition: IPTV refers to television via IP networks (Internet), while the others are details.
What is IPTV?
IPTV allows you to watch a greater number of television channels than those received by terrestrial (antenna), cable or satellite television, offering superior image and sound quality, as well as features such as reading archives of broadcasts from recent days, electronic television program guides or the possibility of watching certain films or television shows for an additional cost (video on demand).
Service providers want to offer multiple services in a single network and often choose IP technology because it allows them to provide IPTV in addition to high-speed Internet access and VoIP telephony. This service is called Triple-Play (three-in-one).
In recent decades, mobile network operators have joined the data transmission market and offer the Quadruple-Play service (Triple-Play + Mobile), adding a mobile telephony service to their offering.
Advantages of IPTV
One of the main advantages of IPTV over traditional digital television is the ability to watch many TV channels in high definition not only on computers, but also on other home devices with a screen: tablets, smartphones, TVs with Smart TV or STB set-top boxes.
A distinctive feature of IPTV is its additional interactive features, such as choosing the language of broadcasting, access to live information (TV programs, reviews, opinions), as well as the ability to access paid services with high image quality compared to other video content streaming options or integration of additional services.
Differences between IPTV and digital television
Unlike IPTV, where the encoded TV signal (usually in MPEG) is transmitted over IP networks, digital television transmits the encoded TV signal through terrestrial broadcast antennas.
As of the end of 2019, all terrestrial television channels are broadcast in the DVB-T2 digital standard. This is "digital television", which does not use the IP protocol for data transmission, but the signal itself is transmitted digitally.
Differences between IPTV and OTT
The differences between IPTV and OTT services include:
- Image quality : With OTT, picture quality can often deteriorate if the internet connection slows down. In contrast, IPTV ensures consistent picture quality even with bandwidth fluctuations.
- Using private networks : OTT transmits data over public networks without traffic prioritization (QoS), while IPTV operates over local networks of Internet service providers, which helps minimize delays and ensure better quality of service.
- Additional equipment : OTT streams are delivered over a standard internet connection without requiring any additional equipment, unlike IPTV which may require set-top boxes or other specialized equipment.
Cost: The cost of IPTV subscription from an Internet Service Provider is usually higher than that of OTT services, but the quality of service is also superior.
How IPTV works
Unlike traditional terrestrial or cable television broadcasting, IPTV uses the IP protocol as a transport medium and requires an IPTV decoder to decode images in real time. When the user changes channels or selects a program, a new stream of content is sent directly from the operator's server to the client's device.
In service provider networks, IPTV primarily uses Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) for live broadcasts and Real-Time Streaming Protocol for on-demand services.
Supported video compression standards : H.264, Windows Media Video 9 and VC-1, DivX, XviD, Ogg Theora, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4
IPTV digital television is based on a compression and coding scheme called MPEG-2, which allows receiving high-quality images with reasonable bandwidth. For each frame, the MPEG-2 program records the complete image without showing what is missing.
In the next frame, the program only saves the changes made to the image, leaving the rest of the image as it was in the previous frame. MPEG-2 video compression technology reduces the data size by about 55:1.
MPEG-2 is already an industry standard for DVD video and is part of satellite television broadcasting systems. The compression process reduces the image quality compared to what a digital camera sees in a studio.
However, MPEG-2 does a good job of removing image details that the human eye ignores anyway. The picture quality is very good and far superior to that of analog television.
IPTV usually works over a private network, rather than over the Internet. In a private network for IPTV, the provider can guarantee the quality of service. This network has a higher traffic speed than a regular IP network.
In IPTV network, TV signal has higher priority than other services, which allows instant TV service, without waiting time for loading.
QoS (Quality of Service) is a technology that allows different levels of priority to be assigned to different types of traffic in networks. In computing, the term also refers to the probability that the network will honor a specific traffic agreement, or, in some cases, the informal indication of the probability that a packet will traverse the network between two points. – Wikipedia.
Main IPTV Protocols
IPTV works in IP networks using the following protocols:
- HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) — used to organize interactive services.
- RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) — for managing broadcast streams.
- RTP (Real-Time Transport Protocol) — for streaming video.
- IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) — for managing multicast streams.
For IPTV, an Internet connection with a bandwidth of at least 2.5 Mbit/s (for MPEG-4) or 5.5 Mbit/s (for MPEG-2) is required.
How to watch IPTV on computer
To watch IPTV on a computer, you need to download one of the following popular IPTV players:
Perfect Player
Perfect Player is a popular IPTV player with a high user rating on specialized forums. The player has all the necessary features, supports plugins and offers a pleasant design. Playlists are automatically updated every time the application is launched
OTT Player
OTT Player is a very versatile IPTV player with a variety of online features. For example, you can download a playlist once and play it on multiple devices without any additional configuration. If you are busy during your favorite show or a match of your team, you can simply record the channel and watch it later.
How to Watch IPTV on Smart TV
An IPTV player for TV is a specialized program for watching IPTV on a Smart TV without using a decoder or set-top box (hardware media players). You can check our list of best IPTV players for Smart TV to choose the best player for your needs.
Ibo Player Pro
Ibo Player Pro stands out as an ideal solution for Android Smart TVs, thanks to its user-friendly interface and ability to quickly load playlists. Whether you are passionate about movies, series or live channels, this media player adapts to all your needs.
Lazy IPTV
Lazy IPTV is an IPTV application with minimal performance requirements for Smart TVs. It only requires a few megabytes of free space for its installation. The simplicity of installation and configuration makes Lazy IPTV the most popular player for low-performance consumer Smart TV models.
How to Watch IPTV on Android and iOS
In the Google Play and App Store app stores, there are many applications for IPTV:
IPTV Smarters Pro
Among the best IPTV apps, IPTV Smarters Pro takes the first place. The app is available on Android and iOS.
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