| IP Television (IPTV) is not literally TV that is broadcast | | | | Mostly employ by telecom operators to deliver value |
| over the Internet. While the "IP" in its name stands for | | | | added service to their customers, the main channel of |
| Internet Protocol, it does not imply that people will sign | | | | delivery is the landline network of the telecom operator |
| on to their favorite Web page to access television | | | | which houses the broadband technology. The TV |
| programming. | | | | contents are packaged in packets and encoded, then |
| According to Jeremy Allaire - IPTV is generally funded | | | | transmitted in this medium. |
| and supported by large telecom providers who have | | | | These packets are reassembled into TV programming |
| undertaken the mission of creating a competitive | | | | by software in the set-top box of the consumer. This |
| replacement product for digital cable and satellite | | | | box is connected between the operator's broadband |
| services." | | | | modem and customer's TV. The digital audio and video |
| The IP refers to a method of sending information over | | | | quality couple with its interactive features is far better |
| a secure, tightly managed network that result in a | | | | compare with the traditional analog TV as it allows |
| superior entertainment experience. Internet Protocol | | | | viewers to look up a player's history while watching a |
| Television is digital television delivered on your television | | | | game. |
| and not PC through high speed Internet or broadband | | | | Subscribers can also schedule a recording of their |
| connection. | | | | favorite programme when they are not home. With a |
| In this service, channels are encoded in IP format and | | | | feature of video on demand, they can browse an |
| delivered to the TV through a set top box. IPTV | | | | online movie catalogue and watch the movies instantly. |
| service also includes video on demand, which is similar | | | | It is both cost effective for the operators and their |
| to watching video CDs/DVDs using a VCD/DVD | | | | consumers as IPTV uses standard networking |
| player. | | | | protocols that are easy to implements and requires no |
| IPTV works by converting television signals into small | | | | high expensive switching equipment to set up. |
| packets of computer data like any other form of online | | | | It therefore reduces costs of setup and maintenance |
| traffic such as email or a web page. However | | | | and also lower prices for their customers. Again using |
| because IPTV is based on internet protocol, it is | | | | set-top boxes with broadband Internet connections, |
| sensitive to packet loss and delays if the IPTV | | | | video can be streamed to households more efficiently |
| connection is not fast enough. | | | | than cable. |