IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television: TV channels delivered over an internet connection instead of a cable, satellite dish or antenna. If you've ever watched a live channel in an app, you've already used a form of it.
How IPTV works
A provider takes licensed TV channels, encodes them into video streams and serves them from its servers. Your player app requests a stream when you pick a channel and plays it as it arrives. A separate program guide (EPG) tells the app what's showing and when.
To find the channels, the app uses either a playlist (an M3U file listing every stream) or a login to the provider's API, such as Xtream Codes. We compare the two in M3U vs Xtream Codes.
IPTV vs cable and satellite
- No dish, no coax, no installer. You need a broadband connection and a compatible device.
- Set up on more than one device. The same subscription can be set up on a TV, phone or laptop, but only one device can stream at a time.
- Quality depends on your network. Cable and satellite use dedicated signals. IPTV shares your home internet, so Wi-Fi quality matters.
IPTV vs on-demand streaming apps
Services built around on-demand libraries let you start a show whenever you like. IPTV is mainly about live linear channels that broadcast to a schedule, as traditional TV does. Some IPTV services also add catch-up or on-demand features.
What you need
- A stable broadband connection. Wired Ethernet or 5 GHz Wi-Fi is best.
- A device that runs an IPTV player app: a smart TV, streaming stick, phone, tablet or computer.
- A subscription from a provider that's licensed to distribute the channels it offers.