What is IPTV and how does it work?
IPTV delivers television over the internet instead of an aerial, dish or cable. How it works, what you need and how to tell legal services apart.
- By IPTV Europa Editorial Team
- Published
- Updated
- 3 min read
Photo: Wonderlane · CC BY 2.0
IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television: television delivered as data over an internet connection rather than through an aerial, a satellite dish or a cable network. If you watch a live channel in an app on your Smart TV or phone, you are already using IPTV.
How IPTV works
A broadcaster or provider encodes each channel into a compressed video stream and makes it available on its servers. Your device requests the stream, receives it in small segments a few seconds long, and plays them back in order. Because the segments exist in several quality levels, the player can switch between them when your connection speeds up or slows down. This is called adaptive bitrate streaming, and the most common formats are HLS and MPEG-DASH.
Three types of content are usually offered:
- Live TV – channels shown as they are broadcast.
- Catch-up and time-shift – restart a running programme or watch one from the past days.
- Video on demand (VOD) – films and series you start whenever you like.
What you need
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Internet connection | Roughly 5 Mbit/s per HD stream and 25 Mbit/s per 4K stream is a common rule of thumb. A wired connection is more stable than Wi-Fi. |
| A device | Smart TV, Android TV or Google TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, phone, tablet or computer. |
| A player app | Either the provider's own app or a general player. See our guide to choosing the best IPTV player. |
| A subscription | Access details from a provider, often as an M3U playlist or Xtream Codes login. |
Managed IPTV and open-internet IPTV
Telecom operators deliver managed IPTV over their own network with reserved bandwidth, typically through a set-top box that comes with your broadband contract. Open-internet services (often called OTT) work on any connection and any compatible device, which makes them more flexible but dependent on the quality of your line.
Is IPTV legal?
The technology is entirely legal. Whether a particular service is legal depends on one thing: whether the provider has licensed the channels it distributes. Operators' TV packages and broadcasters' own apps are licensed. Services that sell thousands of premium channels for a few pounds a month generally are not, and using them can expose you to legal and security risks. Our guide to IPTV in the UK explains how to check.
IPTV compared with aerial, satellite and cable
| IPTV | Aerial (terrestrial) | Satellite | Cable | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delivered by | Broadband connection | Rooftop or indoor aerial | Dish | Cable network |
| Installation | An app or a small box | Aerial and cabling | Dish, alignment, cabling | Wall socket from the operator |
| Works away from home | Yes, where rights allow | No | No | No |
| Catch-up and on demand | Built in | Needs a connected TV | Needs a connected box | Depends on the operator |
| Affected by | Internet speed and Wi-Fi | Signal coverage | Heavy rain or snow | Network faults |
The main advantage of IPTV is flexibility: any screen with an internet connection can be a television. The main dependency is your broadband. If the line fails, so does the picture.
IPTV terms worth knowing
- EPG – electronic programme guide, the on-screen schedule.
- VOD – video on demand: films and series you start yourself.
- Catch-up – watching a programme after it was broadcast.
- Time-shift – pausing or restarting a live programme.
- Bitrate – the amount of data per second; higher means a better picture and more bandwidth.
- Buffering – the pause while the player waits for data.
- OTT – "over the top": services delivered over the open internet.
- M3U and Xtream Codes – the two common ways a player receives your channel list.
Regulators such as Ofcom in the UK publish research on how viewing is moving from broadcast to internet delivery.
Where to go next
If you are choosing a service, start with what to look for in an IPTV subscription. If you already have one, pick a player and set it up.
Frequently asked questions
Is IPTV the same as streaming?
IPTV is a form of streaming. The term usually refers to live television channels and catch-up delivered over IP, whereas 'streaming service' is more often used for on-demand libraries.
Do I need a special box for IPTV?
No. A Smart TV, streaming stick, phone or computer with a player app is enough. A dedicated box is only useful when your TV has no suitable app.
Sources
- Ofcom– ofcom.org.uk
About this article
IPTV Europa Editorial Team
Researched and written by the IPTV Europa editorial team from official documentation and publicly available sources. The services and apps named here have not been tested hands-on by our team.
Last reviewed: Our editorial standards