IPTV- HOW IT WORKS

"IPTV" is a recent buzzword emerged only a few years ago. In a nutshell, it means the delivery of television over Internet Protocol networks. But for the telecommunication industry, IPTV means much more. IPTV is an "entirely new multimedia experience" extending the borders of conventional "broadcast" television; it is an integrated, 'all-embracing' media platform offering a bundle of diverse content and communication services from a single provider over a single network to a single user device – all with a single payment.


Regardless of the service provider, IPTV is a vertically organized and closely controlled system. It is invariably managed by a single service provider that controls all elements of the value chain: content provision, content packaging, distribution, reception, relationship with the user and payments. The service provider is responsible for the end-to-end quality of the services. It often makes use of proprietary technology solutions. Several broadcasters, telcos and consumer-electronics manufacturers have joined forces in order to explore possible synergies between IPTV and DTT (Direct Terrestrial Television).

Three areas of possible synergies may be considered: complementary coverage, common sets of services and common set-top boxes. Whereas DTT is generally designed to cover the whole national territory, it is probably not viable to implement BTV services over a whole territory, as the number of DSLAMs required would be very large (and therefore expensive). On the other hand, reception of DTT services indoors without external aerials may require excessive transmission power. In such cases, BTV could help and provide the same channels (plus any value-added services), so that both television platforms can be considered complementary.
A common set-top box for both DTT and IPTV has been developed by several manufacturers in order to enable this “synergetic” scenario to materialize. It would be advantageous if both DTT and BTV would provide similar television services of comparable service quality.


This figure shows the how IPTV systems are composed of content providers, distribution networks, viewing devices, and IPTV service operators-
The content providers include existing television networks, on demand content providers (content aggregators), and independent content provider companies. This example shows a distribution networks that uses many types of systems to transfer IP video packets from the content source to the viewing devices.
IPTV viewing devices include standard televisions (with adapters), multimedia computers, and multimedia mobile devices.
The IPTV system operator manages how customers can connect to the system which services they can receive.

The viewing devices or adapters convert digital television signals into a form that can be controlled and viewed by users. Broadband access providers supply the high-speed data connection that can transfer the digital video television signals. Service providers identify and control the connections between the viewing devices and the content providers (media sources). Media content providers create information that people want to view or obtain.
Media Content Providers
IPTV content sources can range from live TV networks (such as CNN) to niche on-demand content from micro-producers. IPTV systems can delivery an unlimited number of channels as each television set only require one TV channel connection which can be linked to any other TV source the IPTV operator can provide.
IPTV Service Providers
IPTV service providers obtain the rights to transmit media programming to their customers. While IPTV service providers may focus on provide TV services in geographic areas (such as where they own or control TV distribution rights), IPTV service providers can technically provide programming anywhere in the world they can reach customers through a broadband data connection.
IP Distribution Systems
IP distribution systems transfer media programs from the content sources to viewing devices. There are many types of systems that can distribute IP data packets which include telecom, wireless, cable TV systems, power companies (data over power line), and competitive access providers (such as new optical networks).
IPTV Viewing Devices
IPTV viewing devices can receive media in IP form and convert it into media that can be viewed by the user. IP viewing devices range from standard televisions that use IP set top boxes to convert IP video signals into a format that can be viewed on a standard television to mobile telephones with digital video viewing capabilities