IPTV Technology Peek

IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) is a broadcasting system via television in which the delivery of programming is done by a video stream encoded as a series of IP packets. IPTV is distributed by service providers and can be free or paid for either live TV broadcasts or stored videos. The iptv canada can be combined with other Internet Protocol services, including VoIP and high-speed Internet access.

Internet protocol television is delivered using the Internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network such as a LAN or WiFi network instead of using or via satellite signals or cable tv. Unlike media downloads, IPTV offers the ability to stream media in smaller batches, straight from the source. As a result, the client media player may start playing data (such as a movie) before the entire file has been sent. This is known as streaming media.

So if we define it in a simpler way, IPTV can be interpreted as a digital tv service where the signal is transmitted via the Internet Protocol. With this technology, it is hoped that it will be cheaper and more efficient than the current broadcast technology (using coaxial cable and/or satellite tv) because it is no longer necessary to build new infrastructure. IPTV services can be classified into three main groups:

Live television : Broadcast shows with or without interactivity related to the current TV program;
Time-shifted television: Recorded broadcast programming to storage media for viewing or listening after the live broadcast;
Video on demand (VOD): an interactive television system that allows audiences to control or choose their own selection of video programs and clips that they want to watch. The VOD function is like a rental video, where customers can choose the program or show when they want to be broadcast.

In broadcasting, IPTV uses multicasting broadcasting via Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) version 2 for live television and Real Time Streaming Protocol for Video on demand (VOD) programs.