⚡Quick verdict
IPTV (internet protocol television) is live TV and on-demand video sent over a broadband connection rather than through an aerial, satellite dish or cable. You watch it in an app on a smart TV, streaming stick, phone or computer. BBC iPlayer, Sky Stream and NOW all use it; so do independent subscription services.
- You need broadband, a device that runs a player app, and a log-in.
- IPTV describes the delivery method, not whether a service is licensed.
- A TV licence is still needed to watch live TV this way.
How the picture reaches your screen
A traditional channel is broadcast: one signal leaves a transmitter or satellite and every aerial or dish in range picks it up at the same moment. IPTV works differently. Each programme is cut into small chunks of video, stored on servers, and sent to your device on request over your broadband line, just as a web page is.
That has two practical effects. First, you can watch anywhere the internet reaches, with no aerial or dish. Second, the quality depends on your connection. If your broadband slows down, the app either lowers the picture quality or pauses to catch up, which is the buffering people complain about.
The three parts of any IPTV set-up
| Part | What it does | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Supplies the channels and films | BBC iPlayer, NOW, a subscription such as ours |
| Player app | Shows the guide and plays the streams | TiviMate, IPTV Smarters Pro, IBO Player, VLC |
| Device | Runs the app and connects to the TV | Fire TV Stick, Samsung or LG TV, Apple TV, phone |
Big brands bundle all three: Sky makes the service, the app and the box. Independent services usually supply only the first part. You choose the player app yourself and sign in with a username, password and server address, or with a playlist link. Our player app guides compare the main ones.
Live channels, catch-up and on demand
Most IPTV services offer three kinds of viewing:
- Live channels, arranged in a TV guide (known as the EPG, or electronic programme guide).
- Catch-up, which lets you go back a few days on some channels.
- On demand, a library of films and series you start whenever you like.
Legal and illegal IPTV
The word says nothing about whether a service has the right to show what it shows. iPlayer is IPTV and fully licensed. Someone reselling Sky Sports without permission is also IPTV, and that is where the legal trouble starts. We cover the law, the cases and the real risks in Is IPTV legal in the UK?
What you need to start
- Broadband of about 10 Mbps for each HD stream playing at once.
- A device that runs a player app. Not sure? Try the device matcher.
- A log-in from a service. Ours comes with a free trial so you can test the first two before paying.
From £5.42 a month
Borrow a full log-in for 24 hours before paying a penny. No card, no contract, no silent renewals.