Internet Protocol television (IPTV)

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Internet Protocol television (IPTV)
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What is IPTV

Internet Protocol television (IPTV) is a digital television service that uses the internet to deliver television programming. Instead of receiving television programming through traditional satellite or cable signals, you can access it through your internet connection.

  1. Television content is encoded into a digital format and transmitted to a server.
  2. The server, often located in a data center, stores the television content and makes it available to subscribers through the internet.
  3. Subscribers access the content through a set-top box (STB) or other device that is connected to their internet router.
  4. The set-top box decodes the digital signal and displays the television programming on the subscriber’s television.

Benefits to using IPTV

  1. Flexibility: Because IPTV uses the internet, it can be accessed on a wide range of devices, including smart TVs, computers, smartphones, and tablets. This means you can watch your favorite shows and movies on any device, at any time.
  2. Customization: IPTV allows you to choose the channels and programs you want to watch, rather than being tied to a predetermined package of channels.
  3. Interactive features: Some IPTV providers offer interactive features such as the ability to pause and rewind live TV, as well as access to on-demand content.
  4. High-definition (HD) quality: IPTV allows for the delivery of HD content, providing a more immersive viewing experience.

Content Delivery

There are a few different ways that IPTV providers can deliver content to subscribers:

  1. Live TV: This is similar to traditional television, where subscribers can watch live programming as it is broadcasted.
  2. Video on demand (VOD): This allows subscribers to select and watch pre-recorded shows and movies at their convenience.
  3. Time-shifted TV: This allows subscribers to watch programming that has already aired, similar to a DVR service.
  4. Catch-up TV: This allows subscribers to watch programming from the past few days, typically up to a week.

To use IPTV, you will need a high-speed internet connection and a device that is capable of receiving and displaying the digital signal. This could be a smart TV, a set-top box, a computer, or a mobile device.

Some popular IPTV providers include AT&T TV, Dish Network, and Verizon Fios.

Drawbacks to using IPTV

There are a few potential drawbacks to using IPTV:

  1. Dependence on internet connection: Because IPTV relies on an internet connection, a weak or unstable connection can affect the quality of the service.
  2. Limited availability: IPTV may not be available in all areas, and the selection of channels and programming may vary by region.
  3. Competition with streaming services: IPTV faces competition from streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu, which offer a wide selection of movies and TV shows on demand.

Overall, IPTV is a convenient and flexible way to access television programming, offering a range of benefits such as customization, interactive features, and HD quality. It is an increasingly popular alternative to traditional cable and satellite services.

There are lot of free IPTV available in the Market, Here is the Collection of publicly available IPTV (Internet Protocol television) channels from all over the world.

Here is a GitHub Repo which list all the available IPTVs Github