What Is IPTV and How Does It Work?
By the Zorba IPTV team · Updated
Quick answer
IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) delivers TV channels and videos over an internet connection instead of a cable, satellite dish or antenna. You watch it through a player app on a smart TV, streaming stick, phone or computer, signing in with the details your IPTV provider gives you.
How IPTV differs from cable and satellite
Traditional TV broadcasts every channel at once over a cable, satellite or antenna signal, and your receiver tunes in to one. IPTV works more like a website: your device requests the channel or video you choose, and the provider's servers stream it to you over the internet.
Because it only needs an internet connection, IPTV works on almost any screen with a suitable app, and you don't need a dish, a cable line or a technician visit.
The three kinds of IPTV content
Most IPTV services combine some or all of these:
- Live TV: channels streamed as they broadcast, usually with an electronic programme guide (EPG).
- Video on demand (VOD): films and series you can start whenever you like.
- Catch-up or time-shift: recently broadcast programmes you can watch later.
What you need to watch IPTV
Getting started takes four things:
- A compatible device, such as an Android TV or Google TV device, Amazon Fire TV, a Samsung or LG smart TV, a phone, tablet or computer.
- A player app installed on that device.
- Login details from your provider, usually a username, password and server URL (often called an Xtream Codes login) or a playlist link (an M3U URL).
- A stable internet connection.
How fast does your internet need to be?
Speed matters more than anything else for smooth playback. As a general guide, plan for at least 10 Mbps for one HD stream and around 25 Mbps for a 4K stream, and add that again for every extra screen watching at the same time.
A wired Ethernet connection or 5 GHz Wi-Fi is usually more reliable than 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, especially for TVs far from the router.
Is IPTV legal?
IPTV is a delivery technology, and the technology itself is legal: many broadcasters and telecom companies use it. Whether a particular service is legal depends on whether the provider has the rights to distribute what it offers in your country. Check that before you subscribe, and follow the laws where you live.