IPTV (Internet Protocol television) is a
service that provides television programming and other video content using the
TCP/IP protocol suite as opposed to conventional cable or satellite signals.
Free IPTV content is frequently delivered
over a maintained or devoted network. Compared to the public internet, a
private network offers network operators more control over the video traffic as
well as, by extension, the ability to ensure quality of service uptime as well
as reliability.
Although IPTV utilizes the Internet protocol it is not
limited to television streamed from the Internet, (Internet television). IPTV
is extensively deployed in subscriber-based telecommunications networks with
high-speed access channels into end-user premises via set-top boxes or other
customer-premises equipment. IPTV Streaming is also utilized for media delivery around commercial as well as
private networks. IPTV in the telecommunications arena is noteworthy for its
ongoing standardisation process (e.g., European Telecommunications Standards
Institute).
IPTV head-end: where live TV channels as
well as AV sources are encoded, encrypted and delivered in the form of IP
multicast streams.
Video on Demand (VOD) platform: where on-demand video assets are stored and served
as IP unicast streams while a user makes a request. The VOD platform may
sometimes be situated with, as well as considered part of, the IPTV headend.
Interactive portal: ensures the user to
navigate within the diverse IPTV services, such as the VOD catalogue.
Delivery network: the packet switched
network that bring IP packets (unicast and multicast).
Endpoints: User equipment that may request,
decode and deliver IPTV streams for display to the user. This can include
computers as well as mobile devices as well as set-top boxes.
Home TV gateway: the piece of apparatus at
a residential IPTV user's home that terminates the access link from the
delivery network.
User set-top box: the piece of endpoint
equipment that decodes as well as decrypts TV and VOD streams for show on the
TV screen.
IPTV is described as multimedia services
such as television video, audio, text, graphics, data delivered over IP based
networks managed to provide the required level of quality of service and
experience, security, interactivity as well as reliability.
Cost saving consumers want more value for
their entertainment dollars, and with more options available than ever before,
they're willing to shop around. Operators are responding to increasing
competition from over-the-air television as well as on-demand services by
offering TV everywhere, where subscribers have exclusive access to their
favorite programming and premium content through any internet-connected device.
IPTV
server technology makes this possible.
IPTV server technology has developed in
popularity because of higher consumer expectations. Today's consumers want to
be connected to the Internet around the clock with their smartphones,
tablets, and laptops. They don't desire to be tethered to a television, however
they want to view their favourite programming and premium content with media
streaming software. And they expect finest, flawless performance of any content
they access, regardless of size, on any device.
The
technology was hindered by low broadband penetration as well as by the
relatively high cost of installing wiring competent of transporting IPTV
content dependably in the customer's home. However, residential IPTV was
expected to grow was broadband was obtainable to more than 200 million
households worldwide in 2005.