There’s a high chance you’ve never heard about IPTV unless you work in the media industry. However, you might be been using it for a long time. And you’re probably going to use it a lot more in the upcoming years. IPTV is rapidly expanding, with new service providers and solutions appearing alongside conventional TV providers that are expanding their IPTV offers.
According to Mordor Intelligence, the IPTV market accounted for 72.24 billion USD in 2020 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 17.89% and reach 194.21 billion USD by 2026.
When compared to conventional cable TV, the versatility of time-shifted entertainment has boosted the number of viewers watching IPTV, which has enabled IPTV to generate more money. Telecom network administrators and Internet providers supply the majority of IPTV services as they have the network capacity and infrastructure to do so.
What is IPTV?
Let’s begin with the fundamentals. The term IPTV or Internet Protocol Television is the process of transmitting television content through the internet.
To grasp what this means, you must first the working of non-IPTV. With satellite TV, transmitters send out signals in real-time, which viewers receive. You can only see what is being aired live. You don’t choose what is on when, unless you have a video recorder. You simply tune in whenever you want and see what is available.
Rather than airing a variety of programmes on a set schedule, most of the IPTVs utilise time-shifted media or video on demand (VOD). IPTV is distinct. It transmits movies and shows via your normal internet connection, rather than using light pulses in the fibre-optic cables or radio waves out of a satellite. It’s the same concept as using a streaming platform like Netflix, but with Television instead of syndicated series or movies.
How does it work?
IPTV is available in three distinct forms. Let’s have a look at them separately.
- Video on Demand
In VOD streaming, you receive video on your demand. Video on Demand services are mostly movie-streaming websites. Whatever you can see has no time restriction.
You inform the provider what you would like to see, and they transmit it to you over the internet. Simple! It’s analogous to OTT platforms that use recurring billing solutions to provide services to subscribers on a periodic manner.
OTT video streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, etc. are prominent examples.
- Time-shifted multimedia
Many television networks nowadays allow viewers to catch up on programs they missed whenever they want.
The main distinction between VOD and time-shifted multimedia is that the sharing of content has a finite lifespan. You can’t view an episode you missed a few years back.
The BBC’s iPlayer is one of the most widely used platforms for time-shifted content.
- Live IPTV
IPTV, like broadcast Television, allows you to view live shows. Many people use this to enjoy athletic events; it’s simple to broadcast a game on the phone on the go.
Aside from being transmitted via the internet rather than through classic cable TV medium, live IPTV is quite similar to normal television.
Live IPTV is available via CBS Sports HQ, FOX Sports Go, Sling TV, and Hulu Live TV.
Future of IPTV-enabled Broadband
It’s impossible to say how many individuals are currently using IPTV. There’re tons of aspects to keep a record of with the vast range of providers, multiple formats, and a significant volume of stolen content available.
IPTV, on the other hand, will undoubtedly grow in popularity. Users are more likely to shift towards IPTV-enabled broadband rather than a traditional one. The number and diversity of IPTV alternatives will rapidly expand so that anyone may easily build their personal channels to broadcast the content. There will be a surge in demand for broadband billing software that supports IPTV. Viewers will no longer be confined to what the broadcasters provide; they will be able to share everything from workout videos to consumer-specific movies with one another.
