What is IPTV?

IPTV in plain English

IPTV, short for internet protocol television, is TV delivered over an internet connection rather than through an aerial, a satellite dish or a cable TV network. The pictures you watch are sent as data, in the same way as a web page or a video call, and an app on your TV, streaming stick, phone or computer turns that data back into live channels and programmes.

It isn't a fringe technology. Many mainstream UK services now deliver some or all of their TV over broadband, including Sky Stream, EE TV and Freely, the free-to-air service built into newer smart TVs.

Internet TV in the UK: a short history

How IPTV works

Traditional broadcast TV sends every channel to every home at once, and your TV picks out the one you want. IPTV works the other way round: your device requests the channel you've chosen, and only that stream is sent to you.

1. Encoding. The channel or programme is compressed into a digital video format, commonly H.264 (AVC) or the more efficient H.265 (HEVC), which is used for most 4K video.
2. Delivery. The stream is split into small packets and sent from servers across the internet to your home, usually in a streaming format such as HLS or MPEG-TS.
3. Playback. A player app on your device collects the packets, holds a few seconds in a buffer to smooth out hiccups, and plays the result on screen.

Because everything travels over your broadband, the quality and stability of your connection matter as much as the service itself. That's why we explain broadband needs on our 4K Premium and HD Premium pages, and why most IPTV problems turn out to be network problems.

Live TV, catch-up and on demand

IPTV services can include three kinds of viewing. Live channels play as they're broadcast, with an on-screen TV guide (EPG) showing what's on. Catch-up lets you go back to programmes that have already aired, and video on demand (VOD) is a library of films and series you can start at any time. What's available depends on the provider and the rights it holds; our guide to catch-up and VOD explains how each works.

What you need to watch IPTV

• Broadband. A stable home connection. Wired Ethernet or strong 5 GHz Wi-Fi works best, especially for 4K.
• A device. A smart TV, streaming stick, Android TV box, Apple TV, computer, phone or tablet. See our guide to IPTV devices.
• A player app. IPTV player apps don't contain any channels themselves; they play the service you subscribe to. Our IPTV player guide covers the main options.
• Login details. Your provider gives you either an M3U playlist link or an Xtream Codes login (a server address, username and password), which you enter into the app.
• A subscription. With us, that's 4K Premium or HD Premium, for 1 to 36 months on up to four screens.

Our step-by-step guide to setting up IPTV walks you through putting these pieces together.

IPTV compared with Freeview, satellite and cable

Freeview arrives through a rooftop aerial, Freesat and older Sky boxes through a satellite dish, and Virgin Media's traditional TV through its cable network. IPTV needs none of that equipment, works anywhere with a good broadband connection and can follow you to any room or device. The trade-off is that it depends entirely on your internet, so homes with slow or unreliable broadband may still be better served by an aerial or dish. We compare the options in detail in IPTV vs Freeview and satellite.

Is IPTV legal?

IPTV as a technology is entirely legal; it's how much of the UK's TV is now delivered. What matters is whether the service has the rights to the content it provides. Our plain-English guide, is IPTV legal in the UK?, explains where the line is and how to check a provider.

Do you need a VPN for IPTV?

Not usually. A VPN can add privacy on public Wi-Fi, but it also adds delay and can reduce speed. Read IPTV and VPNs for when one helps and when it gets in the way.