Explainer
What Is IPTV?
What the term means, how the technology actually works, and what it does and does not change about watching television.
The short answer
IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television. It means television delivered as internet data rather than as a broadcast signal. The picture arrives down the same line as your email and your web browsing, instead of from a satellite dish or a coaxial cable.
How it differs from broadcast television
A broadcast signal is sent out to everyone at once, whether anyone is watching or not. Your equipment tunes in to the part of it you want. IPTV works the other way round: your player asks for a specific stream and the server sends that one stream to you.
That difference explains most of the practical consequences. It is why an on-demand library is possible at all, why picture quality depends on your connection rather than the weather, and why a weak Wi-Fi signal shows up as stuttering rather than static.
What you need
- A broadband connection with enough headroom for the quality you want.
- A device that can run a compatible player app — a smart TV, a streaming stick, a phone, a tablet or a computer.
- A subscription, which supplies the connection details the player needs.
How much speed, realistically
As a general guide, allow around 5 Mbps for standard definition, 10 Mbps for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K, per stream. Those are per stream, so a household watching two different things at once needs roughly double.
Stability matters more than the headline figure on your bill. A steady 30 Mbps over Ethernet is better for streaming than an intermittent 200 Mbps over weak Wi-Fi at the other end of the house.
What it does not change
The programmes still have to be licensed to whoever is providing them, and what any given subscription includes varies. IPTV is a delivery method, not a way round the rights that attach to content. If you want something specific, ask whether it is included before you pay for anything.
Where to go next
If this is all new, the beginner’s guide walks through it more slowly. If you already know what you want, check which devices are compatible and then compare the subscription plans.
Related questions
While you are here
A few more things people ask at this stage.
What is Catchon TV?
Catchon TV is a subscription streaming service delivered over your internet connection. Instead of a satellite dish or a cable box, you sign in on a device you already own — a smart TV, a streaming stick, a phone, a tablet or a computer — and watch through a compatible player app.
How does an IPTV subscription work?
IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television. Video is sent to your device as internet data rather than as a broadcast signal. When your subscription is set up you receive the details your player app needs, you enter them once, and your channels and library load over your existing broadband or Wi-Fi connection.
Which devices can I use?
The service is designed for common streaming hardware: smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV devices, Android TV and Google TV boxes, Apple TV, Android phones and tablets, iPhone and iPad, and Windows or Mac computers. Each device needs a compatible IPTV player app — see the installation guide for the steps that match your hardware.
How do I install a compatible IPTV player?
Install the player app from your device’s own app store, open it, and enter the connection details supplied with your subscription. Our installation guide walks through each supported device in order, with the screens you will see along the way. If a step does not match your device, message the team and we will talk you through it.
Ready to explore Catchon TV?
Browse the available subscription options, or contact the team for help choosing a plan and setting up your device.