IPTV in one minute
Traditional TV reaches you through an aerial (Freeview), a satellite dish (Sky, Freesat) or a cable (Virgin Media). IPTV sends the same kind of TV as data over your broadband, and you watch it through an app on a smart TV, streaming stick, phone or computer.
You already use IPTV if you watch BBC iPlayer live, Sky Stream, or the Freely channels built into newer TVs. “IPTV services” are subscriptions that deliver live channels and on-demand content to player apps in the same way.
How IPTV works
- Capture and encode. Channels are converted into compressed digital video.
- Distribute. Servers and content delivery networks send the streams across the internet.
- Deliver to your home. The stream travels over your broadband, like any other internet traffic.
- Play. A player app decodes the stream and shows the TV guide, channels and on-demand library.
More technical detail is in how IPTV streaming servers work.
IPTV vs Freeview, satellite and cable
| IPTV | Freeview (aerial) | Satellite | Cable | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Needs | Broadband and an app | Aerial | Dish | Cable connection |
| Installation | None, just install an app | Aerial fitting if needed | Dish fitting | Engineer visit |
| Works on phones and laptops | Yes | Not directly | Via provider apps | Via provider apps |
| Affected by broadband | Yes | No | No | Partly |
| Affected by weather | Rarely | Sometimes | Heavy rain or snow | Rarely |
Freely, the free IPTV platform from the UK’s public broadcasters, sits between these worlds. See Freely and Freeview vs IPTV.
What internet speed do you need?
- HD: about 10 Mbps per stream
- 4K: about 25 Mbps per stream
- Several screens: add the figures together, plus headroom for everything else
A wired connection or strong Wi-Fi matters as much as the headline speed. See buffering fixes and 4K and HD.
Legal and illegal IPTV
The technology is legal. What matters is whether a service holds the rights to the channels it streams. Read Is IPTV legal in the UK?, and why “free IPTV” and “fully loaded” boxes are risky.
Getting started
Choose a device, pick a player app, then compare plans.