IPTV refers to Internet-based Protocol Television where the Internet is used to deliver TV programs & Videos that are either live or on demand. So, in simple terms, we can say that IPTV is a system where digital television service is delivered to the subscriber through Internet protocol technology. You watch your TV shows via the Internet.
So, is it the same as video streaming apps like Netflix? No, there is a slight difference.
IPTV is slightly different from digital video that is accessed by millions of users on sites or apps like YouTube or Netflix because it lets you watch live TV shows on different channels. So, it is not limited to one particular platform.
But it has similarities too. It shares quite a bit of the same ubiquitous, pervasive nature. Also unlike standard cable or satellite connection, in IPTV multiple TV sets can use a single subscription within a home.
Also, it has many advantages over traditional TV. Like, an IPTV subscription gives the viewers the added advantage and convenience of being able to pick the program they want to watch whenever and wherever they feel like watching it. So, apart from tuning into any Live TV shows that are being aired currently, they can even watch the content that has been aired previously.
IPTV is much more similar to browsing the internet than traditional channel surfing. It merely uses IP (Internet Protocol), a transport protocol that is a delivery mechanism to deliver the videos to the viewer. When the viewer clicks on any TV program or requests the video, video from different sources (servers) is divided into data packets and sent over the internet. Video servers transmit programs through fiber-optic cable to existing households via an internet connection and requests are sent out and shows are sent back.
Let’s take a look at the IPTV architecture to better understand how IPTV works.
An IPTV Box is a type of set-top box that can convert internet protocol signals into a format that can be read and interpreted by your TV. It is important because your TV does not have any built-in system to interpret the signals received via the Internet. Thus, these IPTV Boxes play a crucial role in this process, as they act as a bridge between your TV and the internet.
They connect to your TV through HDMI or AV Cables. In recent years, some IPTV boxes have got the capability to connect over the wifi. So, if you have a smart or connected TV that can connect through wifi, you won’t need anything else to connect to your IPTV box.
Now, what if you don’t want to buy an IPTV box? You can still use your PC to stream IPTV content. Because PCs are already built to detect and interpret internet signals, you can use them to watch IPTV content, and if you want, you can screencast the content running on your PC to your TV.
Depending on the network architecture of the service provider, there are two main types of IPTV architecture that can be considered for IPTV deployment: centralized and distributed.
The centralized architecture model is a relatively simple and easy-to-manage solution. Because all media content is stored on centralized servers, it does not require a comprehensive content distribution system. Centralized architecture is generally good for a network that provides relatively small VOD service deployment, has an adequate core and edge bandwidth, and has an efficient content delivery network (CDN).
Distributed architecture is just as scalable as the centralized model, however, it has bandwidth usage advantages and inherent system management features that are essential for managing a larger server network. Operators who plan to deploy a relatively large system should, therefore, consider implementing a distributed architecture model right from the start. Distributed architecture requires intelligent and sophisticated content distribution technologies to augment the effective delivery of multimedia content over the service provider’s network.
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