The Knowhow
IpTV (Internet Protocol Television) transmits audio and visual to your screen through an internet connection. This means you can watch a television show from the internet on your computer, TV or mobile device.
When you watch a standard TV you're restricted to the programming schedule of the main five terrestrial channels and the digital channels you receive via a digital receiver, i.e. Freeview, Freesat, Sky or Virgin. With ipTV you have access to a worldwide selection of channels that can be streamed to your TV through your internet connection.
- Film lover? VOD (Video on Demand) services such as LoveFilm, Blinkbox or Ace trax can provide you instant access to thousands of movies with a monthly or pay-per-view subscription. Once you join them, you can watch movies on your big-screen TV 24/7.
- Missed a show and have the time to watch it now? With the internet on your TV, you can find the show on a catch-up website and start streaming it directly to your screen
- You can also find specific channels that can't be found on box-tops; where people have set up their own personal TV shows only accessible from the internet
To enjoy ipTV you'll need an internet TV, Blu-ray player or media player and have a fast internet connection (companies recommend a minimum internet connection of 2 - 2.5Mbps).
Some gaming consoles such as the PS3 or Nintendo Wii allow you access to the internet to use some of the above services. For example, through the Playstation Network on the PS3 you can access LoveFilm.
The latest internet TVs are called SMART TVs which give you access to the internet on your TV via a selection of screen apps. You can even enjoying video calls on some models. For more information check out our article on, What is a Smart TV?
