what is iptv?
IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) is a system where a digital television
service is delivered using Internet Protocol over a network infrastructure,
which may include delivery by a broadband connection.
A general definition of IPTV is television content that, instead of being
delivered through traditional broadcast and cable formats, is received by
the viewer through the technologies used for computer networks. For
residential users, IPTV is often provided in conjunction with Video on
Demand and may be bundled with Internet services such as Web access
and VoIP.
The commercial bundling of IPTV, VoIP and Internet access is
referred to as "Triple Play" service (when these three are offered with mobility,
the service is referred to as "Quadruple Play"). IPTV is typically supplied by
a service provider using a closed network infrastructure.
This closed network
approach is in competition with the delivery of TV content over the public
Internet, called Internet Television. In businesses, IPTV may be used to
deliver television content over corporate LANs.
What Are The Advantages of IP TV?
Advantages of IPTV include two-way capability lacked by traditional TV
distribution technologies, as well as point-to-point distribution allowing
each viewer to view individual broadcasts. This enables stream control
(pause, wind/rewind etc.) and a free selection of programming much like
its narrowband cousin, the web.
IPTV covers both live TV (multicasting) as well as stored video (Video on
Demand VOD). The playback of IPTV requires either a personal computer
or a "set-top box" connected to a TV. Video content is typically MPEG2TS
delivered via IP Multicast, a method in which information can be sent to
multiple computers at the same time, with the newly released H.264 format
thought to replace the older MPEG-2