A simple definition
IPTV is a way of carrying television: instead of arriving by radio wave, satellite dish or coaxial cable, the picture and sound are cut into data packets and sent over an IP network, the same one that carries your web pages and messages. Your box, smart TV, phone or computer receives these packets, reassembles them and displays the channel.
In practice the term covers two different realities, which are often confused: operator IPTV and OTT television (“over the top”).
Operator IPTV and OTT: the difference
- Operator IPTV is the television supplied with your internet subscription: your provider’s TV box receives the channels over a network managed by the operator, with guaranteed quality. This is IPTV in the strict sense, often delivered by multicast (a single stream sent to all subscribers watching the channel).
- OTT runs over the public internet, with no bandwidth guarantee: channel apps, streaming platforms, online TV services. Each viewer receives their own stream (unicast), adapted to their connection.
When people talk today about an “IPTV subscription” or an “IPTV app”, they are almost always talking about OTT: a service accessible from any connection, played by an app.
How an IPTV stream works
- Encoding: the channel is compressed with a video codec (H.264, HEVC or AV1) to reduce its size. See video codecs.
- Packaging: the stream is sent continuously (MPEG-TS) or cut into small segments of a few seconds (HLS, DASH). See HLS, MPEG-TS and DASH.
- Distribution: servers, often a content delivery network (CDN), send these segments to the viewer.
- Playback: the app buffers a few seconds then decodes the picture. If the network weakens, the picture freezes: this is buffering.
What IPTV allows
| Use | Description |
|---|---|
| Live | Channels in real time, as on traditional television |
| Replay (catch-up) | Watch a programme that has already aired, for a limited time |
| Video on demand | Films and series started whenever you want |
| Programme guide | The EPG shows “now” and “next”; see the EPG |
| Multi-screen | The same service on television, phone, tablet and computer |
Formats: M3U and Xtream Codes
An OTT service is played in an app thanks to two common formats:
- the M3U playlist, a simple text file that lists the channels and their addresses (the M3U format explained);
- the Xtream Codes API, access through a server address, username and password, which also provides categories, VOD and the guide (the Xtream Codes API).
A player such as AICKO IPTV accepts both formats on Android, Android TV, Fire TV, iPhone, Samsung Tizen and Windows.
What do you need?
- A connection: about 5 Mbit/s for HD and 25 Mbit/s for 4K, see the bandwidth required.
- A device: smart TV, Android TV box, Fire TV stick, phone or PC.
- A player: the app that plays the stream. It supplies no channels.
- A content source: your operator’s offer, an official platform or a playlist of free channels broadcast legally.
Is IPTV legal?
The technology is perfectly legal: your operator’s box uses it every day. What matters is the offer: only services authorised by the rights holders are lawful. An offer of thousands of pay channels for a few euros a month is almost always illegal. Read legal or illegal IPTV and how to spot a legal offer.
In short
- IPTV carries television over the internet protocol instead of an aerial or satellite.
- Operator IPTV runs over a managed network; OTT runs over the public internet.
- It provides live TV, replay, VOD and a programme guide on every screen.
- The technology is legal; all that matters is the legality of the offer you watch.
Frequently asked questions
What does IPTV stand for?
IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television, meaning television over the internet protocol: channels are carried as data packets over an IP network.
What is the difference between IPTV and streaming?
Streaming means any continuous playback over the internet. IPTV is a form of it organised around live channels, with a programme guide, often supplemented by replay and VOD.
Do I need a box for IPTV?
No. A smart TV, a Fire TV stick, a phone or a computer is enough, as long as you install a playback app.
What bandwidth do I need to watch IPTV?
Allow about 5 Mbit/s per HD stream and 25 Mbit/s for 4K, with a stable connection, preferably over Ethernet.
Is IPTV legal?
Yes, the technology is legal. Only offers authorised by the rights holders are; subscriptions that resell pay channels without rights are illegal.
