IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television. It means TV that reaches your screen over an internet connection instead of through a rooftop aerial, a satellite dish or a cable TV line. If you have watched a live channel in a broadcaster's app on a smart TV, you have already used it.
This guide explains how IPTV works, how it compares with the other ways of watching TV in the UK, and what you need to get started.
How IPTV gets a channel to your TV
Traditional broadcast TV sends every channel out at once, and your aerial or dish picks up whichever one you tune to. IPTV works the other way round. Nothing is sent until you ask for it.
- You choose a channel in a player app on your TV, streaming stick or phone.
- The app requests that channel's stream from a server.
- The server sends the stream to your device as a continuous flow of small data packets.
- Your app stores a few seconds of video in a buffer, then decodes it into pictures and sound.
The buffer is what lets IPTV cope with small dips in your connection. If your broadband slows down for a moment, the app plays from what it has stored while it catches up. If the connection stays too slow for too long, the buffer runs out and the picture pauses. That pause is what people mean by buffering.
The three ways to watch on IPTV
Most IPTV services combine three kinds of viewing in one app.
Live TV
Channels play as they are broadcast, with an electronic programme guide (EPG) that shows what is on now and next. The guide data usually comes from a separate listings feed, which is why it occasionally needs refreshing on its own.
Video on demand
A library of films and series you can start, pause and resume whenever you like. This works in the same way as subscription streaming apps.
Catch-up
On channels that support it, you can scroll back through the programme guide and play something that was broadcast earlier, often up to several days before.
IPTV compared with other ways of watching TV
| How it reaches you | What you need | |
|---|---|---|
| Freeview | Rooftop aerial | An aerial and a TV with a Freeview tuner |
| Satellite | Satellite dish | A dish, cabling and a set-top box |
| Cable | Cable line into the home | A provider's line and box |
| IPTV | Your broadband connection | Broadband, a device and a player app |
Because IPTV only needs broadband, you can watch in any room with a decent connection, and moving to a new TV usually means signing in again rather than booking an installer.
IPTV and streaming apps: what is the difference?
The terms overlap. "Streaming" or "OTT" (over the top) apps usually means on-demand services you open and browse, such as film and box set apps. "IPTV" is more often used for services built around live channels and a programme guide, closer to traditional TV, delivered over the internet. Many services now offer both.
What you need to watch IPTV in the UK
- A broadband connection. Steadiness matters as much as speed. Our guide to broadband speed for IPTV explains how much you need.
- A compatible device. Fire TV, Android TV and Google TV devices, most recent smart TVs, phones, tablets and computers all work with the right app.
- A player app. Your subscription login goes into an app such as IPTV Smarters Pro, TiviMate or IBO Player. See M3U, Xtream Codes or MAC address for how logins work.
- A TV Licence for live TV. TV Licensing (opens in a new tab) says you need one to watch or record programmes as they are shown live, on any channel or service and any device, and to use BBC iPlayer.
Is IPTV legal?
The technology is completely legal, and many licensed UK broadcasters use it. Whether a particular subscription is legal depends on whether the provider holds the rights to the channels it streams. We explain how to check in how to spot an IPTV scam, and set out our own position on Is King of Stream legal?.
Common myths about IPTV
"IPTV is illegal"
The technology is legal and widely used, including by licensed UK broadcasters and broadband providers. What can be illegal is an individual service that streams channels without the rights to do so.
"You need special equipment"
Most homes already have what they need: a smart TV, a streaming stick, a phone or a computer. A dedicated IPTV box is optional.
"IPTV always buffers"
On a steady connection, IPTV plays smoothly. Most buffering comes from weak Wi-Fi to the TV or a busy connection, and both can be fixed. Our buffering guide explains how.
"IPTV means you do not need a TV Licence"
You need a TV Licence to watch live TV on any service, including IPTV. See Do you need a TV Licence for IPTV?
"IPTV is only for sport"
Sport is popular, but an IPTV subscription usually includes entertainment, films, box sets, news, kids' channels, documentaries and channels in other languages. See our channel categories.
Getting started
If IPTV sounds right for your home, the steps are short:
- Check your broadband with our speed guide.
- Choose a device and player app; our IPTV glossary explains the terms you will see.
- Pick a plan length and the number of screens on our prices page.
- Follow the setup guide for your device.
How IPTV picture quality works
The picture you see depends on four things working together:
- The stream itself. Each channel is sent at a set resolution and bitrate. Most live channels are HD; selected content is available in 4K.
- Your broadband. The stream needs a steady supply of data. Around 5 Mbps per HD screen and 15 to 25 Mbps per 4K screen.
- Your device. A 4K streaming stick or a recent smart TV can decode and display 4K and HDR; older devices may top out at HD.
- Your TV's settings. Picture modes, motion smoothing and upscaling all change how the picture looks.
If one link in that chain is weak, the picture suffers. Our picture quality guide explains how to get the best from each.
Who uses IPTV technology in the UK
IPTV is not a niche technology. Many familiar services deliver TV over broadband using the same principles:
- broadcasters' own streaming apps, such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX, which stream live channels as well as catch-up
- broadband-based pay TV services from the large UK providers, including Sky's broadband-delivered products
- subscription services such as King of Stream, which bring live channels, a programme guide and an on-demand library together in a player app of your choice
What these have in common is that the TV arrives over your internet connection rather than an aerial, dish or cable network.
Key terms in brief
You will meet a few words straight away: M3U and Xtream Codes (login formats), EPG (the programme guide), VOD (on-demand films and series), and screens (how many streams can play at once). Our IPTV glossary explains 44 terms in plain English.
Live TV, on demand and catch-up compared
| Live TV | On demand | Catch-up | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Channels shown in a schedule, as they are broadcast | Films and series you start whenever you like | Programmes already shown, within a set period |
| How you find it | The channel list and programme guide | The Movies and Series sections of your app | Going back through the programme guide |
| Pause and rewind | Depends on the app and channel | Yes | Yes |
| TV Licence needed | Yes | Not for most services, but yes for BBC iPlayer | Yes for BBC iPlayer; check the rules for other services |
| Best for | News, sport and live events | Box sets and films | Programmes you missed earlier in the week |
Most people use all three: live TV for sport and news, on demand for evening box sets, and catch-up for the programme they missed on Tuesday. Our article on the programme guide, catch-up and recording explains how catch-up works in practice.
Frequently asked questions
What does IPTV stand for?
Internet Protocol Television: TV delivered over an internet connection rather than an aerial, satellite dish or cable.
Is IPTV the same as streaming?
IPTV is a form of streaming. The term usually means live TV channels with a programme guide, often alongside on-demand films and series.
Do I need fast broadband for IPTV?
Around 5 Mbps per HD screen, steady through the evening, is enough for most homes. 4K needs more.
