IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) is television delivered over an internet connection instead of through a cable, satellite dish or antenna. You watch live channels and on-demand content in an app on a smart TV, streaming stick, phone or computer, and the video arrives as data over your home broadband.
IPTV in one minute
- What it is: live TV channels and on-demand movies and series, streamed over the internet.
- What you need: a compatible device, an internet connection and an IPTV subscription.
- How you watch: in an IPTV app, with a TV guide (EPG) that shows what's on now and next.
- What it replaces: cable boxes, satellite dishes and aerials, though many people use IPTV alongside them.
How IPTV is different from cable and satellite
Cable and satellite TV broadcast every channel at the same time down a cable or from a satellite, and your box tunes in to one. IPTV works more like the web: your app requests the channel you pick, and the server sends that stream to your device.
That difference brings some practical advantages:
- No installation. There's no dish to mount or box to rent. If you have broadband, you already have the "wire".
- Any screen. The same subscription works on a TV, phone, tablet or laptop.
- Live and on demand together. Live channels and a movie and series library sit in the same app.
The trade-off is that picture quality and stability depend on your internet connection. We cover that in how to fix IPTV buffering.
IPTV vs streaming apps like Netflix
Subscription streaming apps mainly offer on-demand libraries from one company. An IPTV service centers on live channels with a program guide, usually alongside a large on-demand library. For example, XCodes IPTV's premium service includes 20,000+ live channels and 40,000+ movies and TV shows in one subscription.
What do you need to watch IPTV?
- A device. Popular choices are the Amazon Fire TV Stick, Android TV and Google TV devices, smart TVs, iPhones and Android phones, and computers. See which devices support XCodes IPTV.
- An app. Some services have their own app; others work with general IPTV player apps. Our guide to IPTV apps explains the difference.
- An internet connection. As a rough guide, allow about 10 Mbps for an HD stream and 25 Mbps or more for 4K.
- A subscription. This gives you the login details that unlock the channels and library.
Live TV, VOD and EPG: the terms you'll see
- Live TV: channels playing in real time, just like traditional TV.
- VOD (video on demand): movies and series you start whenever you like.
- EPG (electronic program guide): the on-screen TV guide. Read What is IPTV EPG?
- Connections: how many devices can stream at the same time on one subscription.
Is IPTV legal?
IPTV is simply a delivery technology, and many broadcasters and telecom companies use it. What matters is the service you use and the rules where you live. For example, in the UK you need a TV Licence to watch live TV as it's broadcast, whatever the device. Check your local rules, and choose a service that is transparent about what it offers.
Getting started
If you're ready to try IPTV, the simplest route is a streaming stick plus a short plan. A 1-month plan lets you test the service on your own TV and internet before committing. Compare XCodes IPTV subscription plans, or first read how IPTV works under the hood.