Is IPTV technology all it’s supposed to be, or is it just another example of technology hype? Here are 10 very important facts and advantages related to IPTV. Maybe this information can help you decide if you are ready for the IPTV revolution.
1. Internet Protocol Television, or IPTV, is an increasingly popular technology for transporting audio and video (AV) and data information over an IP-based digital network. This could include Ethernet, WAN, LAN, or the Internet. Add a set-top box (STB) to the equation and AV information can be streamed over existing networks to PCs or TVs. It is also possible that IPTV is one to one (Unicast) or one to many (Multicast).
2. According to new research results, currently 15.5 million people subscribe to IPTV services, 8.4 million of these subscribers are from Europe.
3. Due to the high bandwidth demands of digital video, IPTV requires broadband Internet connectivity. Theoretically, connecting to this high-speed Internet would allow IPTV users additional control over their television programming and the ability to tailor it to their personal preferences.
4. It is crucial that IPTV systems avoid disruption of critical networks by employing a separate video LAN (Local Area Network).
5. All free view channels are delivered without SAT or terrestrial receivers.
6. It has been forecast that, compared to the current 3.3 million subscribers in the US, there will be approximately 12.7 million IPTV users by 2012.
7. Local content, movies and sports can be added as supplemental revenue at hotels or provided free of charge to a student campus.
8. AV sources can be streamed over existing networks to PCs or TVs with the addition of set-top boxes (STBs).
9. All TV shows can be retrieved later from IPTV network due to its storage facility.
10. IPTV-based networks are practically immune to interference, ghost images, harmonics, reflections, cross-modulation, etc., problems that are common in analog systems. Digital transmission over coaxial networks means that some of these problems have been solved; however, they still suffer from some of the above.
An interesting use of IPTV technology
A classic illustration of how IPTV technology is being employed in an ever more ingenious number of products is with a luxury IP-enabled bathroom TV. These televisions are the ultimate in bathroom opulence, allowing the viewer to safely watch television while soaking in a bubble-filled tub or even taking a shower.
These products provide a convenient and simple solution to hotels around the world that are adopting the installation of digital IPTV networks in their properties. No longer will they have to hide an STB in the void behind the bathroom or shower wall and install a separate IR receiver, but simply connect an ethernet cable to the back of the screen to deliver TV, radio, VOD and any additional services that the hotel chooses to provide.
Now that is luxury!