Since the growing evolution of streaming, there are more and more ways to view content. And it is that in addition to all the services offered by official channels and platforms such as Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video, Disney +, and company, operators have been using another way of being able to reproduce their content for some time: IPTV. Find out the best info about Meilleur Abonnement IPTV.
In this article, we wanted to focus on explaining what IPTV is, how it works, and the difference between the streaming platforms on the Internet. In addition, we will also mention what IPTV lists are, an alternative method to see the content that companies broadcast.
What is IPTV?
IPTV, the acronym Internet Protocol TV, relies on streaming technology to offer its content. It is usually used by operators, who can access this content through their television packages and a decoder. In this way, if we pay a monthly fee for any television services offered by companies such as Movistar, Orange, or Vodafone, among others, we are accessing this content through IPTV.
IPTV uses the bandwidth of our Internet connection to offer content life and on demand. To access these services, we communicate with a private server of the company through our decoder and router, hardware in charge of receiving the signal, decoding it, and compressing it so that we can see the content.
To watch traditional television channels, we have generally always needed an antenna, satellite, or cable to manage the content. However, with abonnement, IPTV, you must have the decoder connected to the router and the television through an HDMI cable or another compatible means to transmit the audio and video signal.
In addition to the content offered through IPTV, we can also have additional functions of the decoder, such as recording television content or rewinding a program.
What is the difference between IPTV and OTTs?
The services that work through IPTV differ from those that companies offer us with their OTT (Over the Top). Here the content is provided through the Internet and streaming, as is the case with Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video, Disney +, and the company. The main difference is that the services offered through OTTs are visible to the public as long as one registers on the platform in question, while IPTV is only accessible by the client of the company that has contracted. These services.
About OTTs, some companies offer this type of service. An obvious example is that of Movistar+ Lite, since to access the content, you only need to be subscribed and have the app on mobile devices, consoles, and televisions, or access through the web. Here the offer is somewhat more limited, and we do not have the unique functions of the decoder, but we are not tied to the hardware.
Another critical issue about OTTs is that they are not assigned a fixed bandwidth on our network, but the streaming quality will be linked to the free bandwidth on our network. On the other hand, IPTV does have a specific bandwidth assigned, making the quality of the content more stable.
In short, IPTV is the mechanism companies use to offer us their live and on-demand television content, with a decoder and Internet connection as the primary requirement. However, there is another way to access the operators’ content that circulates on the Internet: IPTV lists.
What are IPTV lists?
These IPTV lists are usually found in .m3u, .m3u8, or w3u format and are a collection of streaming channels that can be accessed through programs such as Kodi, VLC, or any application that can decode these lists. Most of the lists that circulate on the Internet are compilations of free national channels. However, there are also paid lists (illegal) that depend on the user who has contracted the IPTV services of their operator to re-encode and retransmit their signal over the Internet, communicating with this list using an IP address linked to the equipment.
IPTV lists for Smart TVs
If we want to access these lists through our television, on Android TV, or Fire TV OS, we have Kodi, VLC, and many other alternatives. Still, for Smart TVs with a closed operating system such as Tizen or webOS, we must resort to other apps found in our television’s application store. For other applications, we also have the option of using a USB stick to install them.
Some examples of these free apps are OttPlayer, SSIPTV, and Smart IPTV, among others. To add IPTV lists, enter the IP address of these lists into the application, and the channels will be automatically added to the list. We can also choose to add the URL of these lists or upload the corresponding M3U file to the application.
The main disadvantage of IPTV lists is their low security since many of them can be a gateway to compromise the security and privacy of our network. And it is that being hosted on a website of dubious origin; there is the possibility that our computer will be infected with some type of malware.
Read also: Tunes Download Sites – Why Is A Site Legal Or Unlawful?