Setting up IPTV for the first time can feel like reading a manual written in another language. The provider sends an "M3U link", the app asks for a "portal URL", the guide is called an "EPG" and someone on a forum tells you to "check your bitrate". None of it is difficult once you know what the words mean.

This glossary explains the terms UK viewers meet most often, grouped by where you will come across them. Each entry is short. Where a topic needs more space, we link to a full guide.

Basic IPTV terms

IPTV

Internet Protocol Television. TV channels and programmes delivered over an internet connection instead of an aerial, satellite dish or cable. Our full explainer, What is IPTV?, covers how it works.

IPTV subscription

A paid plan that gives you access to a provider's live channels and on-demand library for a set period. With King of Stream, you pay once for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months, and the plan simply ends when the period is over.

Provider

The company that supplies the channels and your login. A good provider names its business, publishes its terms and explains how it holds the rights to what it shows.

Player app

The app you install on your TV, stick or phone to watch. It shows the channel list, programme guide and on-demand library. The provider supplies the content; the player app displays it. Our guide to IPTV player apps compares the popular ones.

Live TV

Channels you watch as they are broadcast, in a schedule, as you would on Freeview. In the UK, watching live TV on any service needs a TV Licence.

VOD (video on demand)

Films and series you start whenever you like, rather than at a scheduled time. Most IPTV apps show VOD in separate "Movies" and "Series" sections.

Catch-up

The ability to go back through the programme guide and watch something that was shown earlier, usually within the last few days. It is available on selected channels only.

Screen (or connection)

One stream playing at a time. A two-screen plan lets two things play at once, on any two of your devices. It is not the same as the number of devices you can install the app on. See how many devices an IPTV subscription covers.

Login and setup terms

A web address that points to a playlist of channels. You paste it into your player app and the channel list loads. It is the most widely supported login type, but some apps load the programme guide separately.

Xtream Codes

A login made of three parts: a server address, a username and a password. Most modern apps accept it, and it usually loads live channels, the guide and the on-demand library in one go. Our article on M3U, Xtream Codes and MAC logins explains which to choose.

MAC address

A unique code that identifies a device on a network, written like 00:1A:79:12:34:56. Some apps and set-top boxes use it as the login: you send the MAC address to the provider, who activates it, and nothing needs typing in.

Device key

A short code that some apps show alongside the MAC address. The provider needs both to activate the app.

Portal URL

The server address that a MAG box or similar device connects to. You enter it once in the box's settings. Our MAG box guide shows where.

Activation

The moment your login starts working. With King of Stream, your plan length and the 7-day money-back period are both counted from activation, not from the day you order.

Sideloading

Installing an app from outside the device's official app store. Some Android-based devices allow it. Only install apps from sources you trust, because unofficial files can carry malware.

Programme guide terms

EPG (electronic programme guide)

The on-screen TV guide that shows what is on now and next on each channel. If your guide is blank or shows the wrong times, see our guide to fixing login and EPG errors.

EPG URL

A separate web address some apps need in order to load guide data, usually supplied with an M3U link.

Time shift

A setting in the player app that moves guide times forward or back, used when a channel lists times in a different time zone from the UK.

Favourites

A shortlist of channels you watch most, saved in the player app so you do not have to scroll the full list.

Picture and sound terms

Resolution

The number of pixels in the picture. Standard definition (SD) is the lowest, HD is 720p or 1080p, and 4K (Ultra HD) is 2160p.

HDR (high dynamic range)

A picture format with brighter highlights and deeper shadows. You need an HDR-capable TV and device, and the content itself must be in HDR. Our picture quality guide explains HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision.

Frame rate

How many pictures are shown each second, shown as fps. Live sport is often broadcast at 50fps in the UK, which makes fast movement look smoother.

Bitrate

How much data a stream uses each second, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Higher bitrates usually mean a clearer picture and more broadband use. Our article on how much data IPTV uses turns bitrate into gigabytes per hour.

Codec

The method used to compress video so it can travel over the internet. Common ones are H.264, H.265 (also called HEVC) and AV1. Newer codecs give the same picture at a lower bitrate, if your device supports them.

Upscaling

When a TV stretches a lower-resolution picture to fill a higher-resolution screen. Good upscaling makes HD look sharp on a 4K TV.

ARC and eARC

Audio Return Channel. An HDMI feature that sends sound from the TV to a soundbar or amplifier through the same HDMI cable. eARC is the newer version and carries higher-quality audio formats.

Network and broadband terms

Mbps

Megabits per second, the unit broadband speed is sold in. Around 5 Mbps is enough for one HD stream; 4K needs 15 to 25 Mbps. Our broadband speed guide helps you work out your household's needs.

Latency

The delay between something happening and it reaching your screen. Streams are always a few seconds behind the live broadcast, which matters most during live sport.

Buffering

When the picture pauses while the app waits for more data to arrive. It usually points to a weak Wi-Fi signal or a busy connection. Our buffering guide lists nine fixes.

Router

The box from your broadband provider that connects your home to the internet and creates your Wi-Fi network.

2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

The two main Wi-Fi bands. 2.4 GHz reaches further but is slower and more crowded. 5 GHz is faster over shorter distances and usually better for streaming.

Ethernet

A network cable from the router to your TV or streaming device. It gives the steadiest connection for IPTV.

Powerline adapter

A pair of plugs that carry your internet connection through the home's electrical wiring, so you can get a wired connection in a room far from the router.

Mesh Wi-Fi

A set of two or more units placed around the home that work together as one Wi-Fi network, so the signal stays strong in every room.

FTTP and FTTC

Full fibre (fibre to the premises) and part fibre (fibre to the cabinet). Full fibre is faster and steadier in the evening; part fibre speeds depend on your distance from the street cabinet.

ISP

Internet service provider: the company that supplies your broadband, such as BT, Sky, Virgin Media or a full-fibre network.

Device terms

Streaming stick

A small device that plugs into a TV's HDMI port and runs apps, such as an Amazon Fire TV Stick or a Google TV stick. It is the easiest way to add IPTV to an older TV.

Android TV and Google TV

Google's TV operating systems, used on many smart TVs and streaming boxes. They have the widest choice of IPTV player apps.

Set-top box

A box that sits by the TV and connects to it. MAG and Formuler boxes are set-top boxes designed for IPTV.

Smart TV

A TV with apps built in. Whether it can run IPTV depends on the apps in its store; our Samsung and LG guide explains what to check.

Distribution rights

The permission a service needs from broadcasters and rights holders to show their channels. Any legitimate TV service, IPTV included, needs them.

Unlicensed IPTV

A service that streams channels without the rights to do so. Selling or supplying it is illegal in the UK, and paying for it puts your money and data at risk. Read Is IPTV legal in the UK? and how to spot an IPTV scam.

TV Licence

The licence you need in the UK to watch or record live TV on any channel or service, or to use BBC iPlayer. It is separate from any subscription. See Do you need a TV Licence for IPTV?

Chargeback

A way to ask your card provider to reverse a payment when a service is not provided. It is one reason to pay for subscriptions by card rather than bank transfer.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between IPTV and streaming apps like Netflix?

Streaming apps mainly offer on-demand programmes from one company. IPTV usually combines live TV channels in a schedule with an on-demand library, in a player app of your choice.

Which login type is easiest for beginners?

Xtream Codes is usually the easiest, because one login loads channels, the guide and on-demand content together. If your app uses a MAC address, there is nothing to type at all.

Do I need to understand all of these terms to use IPTV?

No. Most people only ever need four: their login type, their player app, the number of screens on their plan, and their broadband speed. The rest are here for when something needs fixing.

Ready to try it? See our plans and prices, or contact us if a term on this page still does not make sense for your setup.