IPTV promises video on demand

IPTV is one of the newest technologies to hit the market. But just what is IPTV?

IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television. It is a digital signal that uses a high speed internet connection (broadband) to deliver the signal to your television – not your computer.

The encoded transmission comes through a set top box that serves as the decoder of the signal.

One of the strong promises held by IPTV is that it allows video on demand. Consumers will be able to use the IPTV like they would a DVD player. The video quality is also much higher than the traditional analog TV.

Another promising feature is that IPTV can easily be upgraded to become interactive. Viewers can research information (like the history of a director, player, or actor) while continuing to watch a program.

There are limits to the IPTV. Because it is based on internet service, it also suffers the same problems that come with the service (interruptions, signal loss, etc). The IPTV service is also sensitive to packet loss and delays if the internet connection is not fast enough.

Although it is still relatively new, IPTV holds great promise for programmers and consumers. Because it uses standard networks that are already in place, the costs will be lower. IPTV should also be a much more efficient delivery system for the video stream.

IPTV has been around since 1994 when ABC’s World News Now first broadcast over the internet.