IPTV is an abbreviation of Internet Protocol Television. In basic terms, that means watching television over the Internet. It is an increasingly popular alternative to more traditional forms of receiving television such as over the air, satellite and cable.
In this article, I will be looking at how we can watch television over the Internet and what kind of services are available.
How can I access IPTV?
There are three main ways to watch television over the Internet.
1. Smart Television
The vast majority of televisions released in the last five years will be a smart television. A smart tv will likely come with applications such as Netflix.
Even if your television isn’t smart or is smart but doesn’t offer the application or service you want to use, you can connect your television with a streaming device which I will be discussing next.
2. Streaming devices
A streaming device is a device that you can plug into television and access streaming services that allow you to watch television over the Internet. Companies such as Google, Roku and Amazon make and sell streaming devices. I have written a review of the Amazon Fire Television cube.
3. A computer or mobile device
Lastly, we have computers or mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. These devices can stream television over the Internet using many different streaming applications. You can find out more in our article on watching television on a windows computer.
What can I watch on IPTV?
IPTV services can be divided into three different categories, broadcast television, which is television that is broadcast with a set schedule like your standard television channels. Catch up television services allow you to catch up with television programmes that have recently been broadcast. Last but not least, we have on-demand television programming and films that are available to watch when you want to watch them.
The following list gives an indication of some of the IPTV streaming services available.
- Netflix. A film and television streaming service. You can read our Netflix review
- Amazon Prime Video. A film, television, and live sports streaming service. Free to Amazon prime subscribers.
- Disney +. A film and television streaming service. Home to Disney, Star Wars and Marvel content.
- BBC Iplayer. The catch-up and tv streaming series from the BBC. Requires a TV licence to view.
- ITV Hub. ITV catch up service.
- All 4. Channel 4 catch up service.
- My5. Channel 5 catch up service.
- Now TV. A streaming service that allows non Sky customers to access Sky programming, including sports and films. You can read my Now TV review.
- Brit Box. A streaming service providing classic British programming,
- BT Sport. A streaming service for BT Sport programming.
- Sky Go. A streaming service for sky customers. Due to trees impacting my satellite feed, I had to use this service at times as a sky customer.
- Plex. Allows you to stream broadcast and on-demand television. We have published a number of articles on Plex which can be accessed via our Plex homepage
Conclusion
Today we learnt that IPTV means watching the television via the Internet. I then looked at the various ways you could stream television over the Internet and finally listed some available services.