IPTV Questions IPTV basics
What is IPTV?
What does IPTV stand for?
IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television. "Internet Protocol" is the basic set of rules every device uses to send data across the internet, the same system that carries web pages, video calls and email. IPTV uses it to carry TV.
That is the whole difference from older TV. Cable TV sends channels down a coaxial cable from your cable company. Satellite TV beams them from space to a dish on your roof. Antenna TV picks up free broadcast signals from a nearby tower. IPTV sends the same kind of channels through your internet connection, so the "cable" is the internet you already pay for.
What do you actually see with IPTV?
On screen, IPTV looks a lot like cable. You open an app and get:
- Live channels sorted into groups such as sports, news, kids, French and international.
- A TV guide (EPG) that shows what is on now and later, just like a cable guide.
- Video on demand: a library of movies and series you can start any time.
- Catch-up on some channels, so you can replay a show that aired earlier.
With IPTV Nord, for example, one plan brings 25,000+ live channels and 120,000+ movies and series in HD and 4K. You change channels with your remote, and the app remembers your favourites. Our page on how the IPTV TV guide works shows what the guide looks like.
IPTV vs cable, satellite and streaming apps
People often mix up IPTV with Netflix-style streaming. The difference is live TV: IPTV gives you channels that play on a schedule, while apps like Netflix only have shows you pick from a library.
| How it reaches you | Live channels | Needs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IPTV | Your home internet | Yes, with a TV guide | Internet, an app, a login |
| Cable TV | A coaxial cable from the cable company | Yes | Cable line, rented box, contract |
| Satellite TV | A dish on the roof | Yes | Dish, receiver, clear view of the sky |
| Streaming apps (Netflix, Crave) | Your home internet | Few or none | Internet, an app, a monthly fee each |
| Antenna | Free over-the-air signal | Local channels only | Antenna, a TV tower in range |
Many Canadian households now combine them: an IPTV plan for live channels and sports, plus one or two streaming apps for their favourite series. See whether IPTV is better than cable for a closer comparison.
What do you need to watch IPTV?
Three things, and you probably have two of them already:
- Home internet. About 10 Mbps for each screen in Full HD, 25 Mbps for 4K. Most Canadian cable and fibre plans are much faster than that.
- A screen with an app store. A Smart TV, an Amazon Fire TV Stick, an Android TV box, an Apple TV, a phone or a computer.
- An IPTV subscription. The provider gives you a login (a username, a password and a server address) that you type into an IPTV player app.
No dish, no technician and no cable box. Setup usually takes about 10 minutes with our installation guides. If you want the step-by-step version, read how to get IPTV.
Is IPTV legal?
IPTV is a technology, and the technology itself is legal: Bell Fibe TV and TELUS Optik TV are both IPTV services. What matters is whether a service has the rights to the channels it offers. We explain the rules in plain English in Is IPTV legal in Canada? and which IPTV services are legal.
Related questions people ask
Is IPTV the same as Netflix?
No. Netflix is video on demand: you choose a show from a library. IPTV is mainly live TV, with channels that play on a schedule and a TV guide, like cable. Most IPTV services also include a movie and series library, but they do not include Netflix itself. You still need a separate Netflix account for Netflix shows.
Is IPTV the same as an Android box?
No. An Android box is a device, and IPTV is the service you watch on it. You can watch IPTV on an Android box, but also on a Fire TV Stick, a Smart TV, an Apple TV or a phone. The box does nothing on its own until you install an IPTV app and add a subscription.
Does IPTV need a fast internet connection?
It needs a steady one more than a very fast one. Plan for about 10 Mbps for each screen watching in Full HD and 25 Mbps for each screen in 4K. A TV connected to the router with an Ethernet cable is more stable than one on weak Wi-Fi. Test your own connection during the free trial.
Want to see how IPTV works in your home?
Start with a free 24-hour trial on your own TV. If it suits you, plans start at $19 CAD, paid by Interac e-Transfer.