IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) sends live TV channels and on-demand video to your TV over your home internet connection. You install a player app on a smart TV, streaming stick or box, sign in with a username and password from your provider, and the channels appear in a list with a TV guide, just like cable, but with no cable, no dish and no rented box.
What happens between the broadcast and your screen
It helps to follow one channel on its journey to your living room.
- The signal is captured. A TV channel's broadcast is received at a facility as a live video feed.
- It is encoded. The feed is compressed into a digital stream using a video format such as H.264 or HEVC, at one or more quality levels: HD, Full HD and sometimes 4K.
- It is placed on delivery servers. The stream sits on servers connected to the internet, ready to be requested.
- Your app asks for it. When you pick a channel, the app on your TV sends a request with your login. The server checks the account and starts sending the video as a series of small data packets.
- Your device plays it. The app buffers a few seconds of video, decodes it and shows the picture. The whole round trip usually takes a second or two.
That is the same basic process Netflix, YouTube and the broadcasters' own apps use. The difference with IPTV is that it is organised around live channels with a programme guide, not just a catalogue of shows.
IPTV, cable and satellite compared
| IPTV | Cable / fibre TV | Satellite TV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it arrives | Over your internet connection | Dedicated TV service from your carrier | Dish on the roof |
| Equipment | The TV, stick or box you own | Rented receiver per TV | Dish plus receiver |
| Installation | Install an app, about 5 minutes | Often a technician visit | Technician and dish alignment |
| Channel count | Thousands, often tens of thousands | Typically 150 to 250 | Typically 200 to 400 |
| Weather | Not affected | Not affected | Heavy snow and rain can cut it |
| Moving house | Take it with you | New installation | Re-install the dish |
| Contract | Often none | Commonly 24 months | Commonly 24 months |
The big practical difference is flexibility. Cable and satellite tie the service to an address and a box. IPTV ties it to a login, so it works on any compatible device, anywhere you have internet. For a deeper look at the money side, read IPTV vs cable: the real yearly cost and IPTV vs satellite in Canada.
What you actually need
An internet connection
About 25 Mbps for one HD stream gives comfortable headroom; 50 Mbps is a good figure for 4K. If two or three TVs will play at once, add roughly the same again for each. Fibre and cable internet are ideal, but fixed wireless and Starlink also work well in rural Canada. A wired ethernet connection to the TV is the single best upgrade for smooth playback.
A device you probably already own
Any of these will do: a Samsung, LG, VIDAA, Android or Google TV smart TV; an Amazon Fire TV Stick; Chromecast with Google TV; Apple TV; NVIDIA SHIELD; a Formuler, BuzzTV or MAG box; a Windows or Mac computer; or an iPhone, iPad or Android phone. The installation guide has step-by-step instructions for each.
A player app and a subscription
The app is the remote-control-friendly interface: IPTV Smarters Pro, TiviMate, IBO Player and others. The subscription is what fills the app with channels. Wave IPTV is an IPTV Canada service; you choose a plan, pay by Interac e-Transfer, and we email the login.
M3U and Xtream Codes, explained
Providers deliver your channel list in one of two formats, and most send both.
M3U playlist
A single web link that contains every channel in your lineup as a long text list. Nearly every app accepts it, including VLC on a computer. The downside is that a large M3U can be slow to load, and the TV guide usually needs to be added separately.
Xtream Codes login
A username, password and server address. The app talks to the server directly, loading live TV, movies and series as separate sections with the guide included. It is faster and tidier, which is why we recommend it whenever the app supports it.
More detail in Xtream Codes or M3U: which should you use?
Live TV, catch-up and on demand
IPTV services usually offer three kinds of viewing in one app. Live TV works exactly like cable: the channel plays what is on now, with a guide showing what is next. Catch-up, on channels that support it, lets you go back in the guide and watch something that aired earlier, which is handy when a game starts while you are still driving home. On demand is a library of films and series you can start at any time, like a built-in Netflix. Our guide to the TV guide and catch-up shows how to use them.
What can go wrong, honestly
IPTV depends on your internet connection, so anything that disrupts the connection can disrupt the picture: weak Wi-Fi behind the TV, a busy household network at 8 p.m., or an older streaming stick running out of memory. Almost all of it is fixable in minutes. The most common fixes are a cable instead of Wi-Fi, restarting the app, and refreshing the playlist. Our buffering guide and help centre cover the rest.
Common questions about IPTV
What does IPTV stand for?
Internet Protocol Television. "Internet Protocol" is simply the set of rules every device on the internet uses to send data. IPTV means television delivered using those same rules, over a normal internet connection.
Is IPTV the same as streaming?
Close cousins. Netflix and Crave are streaming services for on-demand shows. IPTV usually refers to live TV channels delivered over the internet, often with an on-demand library on top. The technology underneath is very similar.
Do I need a special box for IPTV?
No. Most smart TVs, streaming sticks such as the Fire TV Stick or Chromecast with Google TV, Apple TV, Android boxes, computers and phones can run an IPTV app. Dedicated IPTV boxes such as Formuler or BuzzTV exist and work well, but they are optional.
How much internet speed does IPTV need?
Around 25 Mbps for one HD stream with headroom, and about 50 Mbps for 4K. Each additional TV watching at the same time adds roughly the same again. Stability in the evening matters more than the headline number; see our speed guide.
Does IPTV use a lot of data?
Roughly 1 to 3 GB per hour for HD and about 7 GB per hour for 4K. Most Canadian home internet plans are unlimited; if yours has a cap, keep an eye on it.
Is IPTV legal in Canada?
The technology is legal; it is how Canada's major carriers deliver their own TV products. Whether a particular service is legal depends on whether its content is licensed. Our legal guide explains the Canadian rules in plain English.
Can I watch IPTV on more than one TV?
Yes. You can install the app on every TV in the house. How many can play at the same time depends on your plan; Wave IPTV offers 1 to 5 simultaneous screens.
Now you know how it works. Try it.
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How IPTV works, in depth
Is IPTV the best choice?
Installation guide