IPTV Streaming 

IPTV Streaming can be considered a science of its own. Everyone has heard of it, but not too many people know how it actually works. Naturally, a lot of questions can arise.

• What is IPTV? (check the basics here)
• What makes it run smoothly?
• Why are some streams awesome, and why are others poor?
• Does it depend on the Internet connection?
• Does it depend on the device I use?

Although a decent Internet connection is a requirement, it’s not necessary to have an extremely fast connection. On the other hand, the device used for watching IPTV shouldn’t make any difference. After all, IPTV is made to be used on all home and on-the-go devices. It’s TV everywhere!

“So, how do you do it?” I hear you ask. In short, it is done by using adaptive bitrates. 

Streaming Types

There are two basic streaming types. Imagine putting them in a boxing ring.
In one corner you have an experienced veteran and a former champion called Progressive Streaming. In the other corner, you have a young, skilled professional in his prime. Adaptive Streaming is the name. The crowd is going crazy. The anticipation is rising. However, before the match, let’s assess the fighters.

Progressive IPTV Streaming

It is based on a single video file being streamed over the Internet. In case IPTV was watched on a single device, using nothing but the fastest of Internet connections, Progressive Streaming would still be the champion. The game has, however, changed dramatically. With people watching IPTV on more devices than ever, using their fiber, WiFi, and Mobile Network connections, no one can expect one video file to fit all the requirements. The video file can be stretched to fit different screen sizes of course. However, streaming a mobile-optimized video on a TV set would result in poor picture quality. Likewise, a video file optimized for watching at home would result in long buffering times if watched on a mobile phone.

Adaptive IPTV Streaming

With Adaptive Bitrate Streaming, two main issues are resolved: quality and buffering time.

This is done by putting the same single video file through transcoders, where it is processed and output at multiple bitrates. Therefore, the video is ready to be streamed on any device (screen size). Moreover, the video is being transcoded into multiple frame rates. This means that it can be downloaded quickly even when using slower connections. What’s more, it is adapting automatically to the device and connection, ensuring the video runs smoothly at all times.

The Match

And now, ladies and gentlemen, let’s get ready to rumble!
Unfortunately, all the anticipation lead to a T.K.O in the first round.
When it comes to modern-day IPTV streaming, Adaptive Bitrate Streaming is an absolute champion. It is one of the main factors that influence the smoothness and the awesomeness of an IPTV stream. As mentioned in the assessment, it is ready to adapt and always provide the best possible quality for a particular screen size and Internet connection.

Do not waste another second with progressive streaming. Contact us here, and let us help you switch your IPTV streaming service to adaptive streaming today. Your customers will love it!