Is The Internet Changing Television Broadcasting

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

The Internet is changing the field of television broadcasting in much the same way it has changed and is changing other fields. Operating environments are opening up, access to the field is becoming easier, new business models are being born and old ones disappearing, services are becoming more globalized, and the customers’ position and freedom of action are improving. On the other hand, for the customer this signifies an increase in the data security risks related to television and a sense of uncontrollability and chaos – creating a counterpoint to the shared media experiences that used to bring the nation together.

The transfer of moving images in IP protocol-based networks has gradually become more common. Nowadays, video material of differing quality is available on the Internet and that material’s quality and usability in consumers’ terminal devices is dependent on the load placed on the transmission equipment and network, consumers’ connection speeds and the used terminal device’s capacity.

IPTV is basically a fusion of voice, video, and data service. It is not a new idea or, rather, development, but it is a result of high bandwidth and high speed Internet access. In earlier days, the speed of the Internet did not suit the concept and, as a result, it affected the voice and video services. In recent times, the speed of Internet and bandwidth has increased considerably, making IPTV prevail and become reasonably successful.

1.1 Definition

Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) is a system by which internet television services are delivered using the Internet Protocol Suite over a packet-switched network infrastructure, e.g., the Internet and broadband Internet access networks, instead of being delivered through traditional radio frequency broadcast, satellite signal, and cable television (CATV) formats. We can also call it a process of sending television signals over IP data networks. These IP networks can be managed for example Digital Subscriber loop or they can be unmanaged example Broadband Internet. If the television signal is in analog the video and audio signals are first converted to a digital form. Packet routing information is then added to the digital video and voice signals so they can be routed through the Internet or data network

1.2 What is not an IPTV?

IPTV sometime confuses people and subscribers with Internet TV. Internet TV simply allows users to watch videos, like movie previews and web-cams, over the Internet in a best effort fashion with no end-to-end service management and quality of service considerations. Watching TV on your PC, Video streaming and Best Efforts services are not an IPTV.

1.3 Why IPTV?

Subscribers always demand more and high quality video and audio contend. Most of TV is analog or digital with one way data transmission and limited channel. IPTV provides all digital, two ways connected, unlimited channels, integrated and personalized TV.

Simple

IPTV allows easy navigation, quick program in formations, Picture in Picture and Pay Per view capabilities.

Personalized

You can personalize your view, profile, events, parental controls, and television and account settings. You can also attach your TV ,Digital cam and other devices together .

Advanced

It provide live notifications such as email, SMS etc. while you watching TV. IPTV also provides following advanced features:

Program search Features

Integrated Broadcast, VOD and DVR

Fast scrolling & navigation

Live picture-in- picture and channel slide show

Channel slide show

Multimedia Program Guide

Software-based tuning

Advanced Video Applications with multiple PIP(Picture-In-Picture)

Instant channel changing with richer navigation

Quick and Responsive EPG for HDTV and SDTV

Integrate Web based services

Cross device applications and services

1.3 IPTV’S IMPACT

IPTV impact can be categorized into three areas:

Content – IPTV promises to make more content available, easy to access programs and content and it also provide portability.

Convergence –IP network allow applications to be run over multiple end-user devices, all over a single service delivery network.

Interactivity – IP network gives two ways interactivity between subscribers, content providers and service providers.

1.4 Outline

The material in this report is organised into 8 chapters and appendices. The chapters deal with the following topics:

Chapter 2 Working of IPTV

Chapter 3 Architecture, Implementation and IPTV Protocols

Chapter 4 Viewing IPTV and Quality of Service

Chapter 5 Difference between IPTV and Other Conventional systems

Chapter 6 Advantages of IPTV

Chapter 7 IPTV applications and services

Chapter 8 Discuss the results of all experiments and draws conclusions. The chapter also provides some recommendations and suggestions for any future work.

Appendix A.

2. WORKING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF IPTV

Before we get into the internal details of the way the IPTV network is configured to provide transmission of television signals, we see what are the various steps followed to convert the audio and video feed signals into a suitable form to be transmitted in the form of IP (Internet Protocol) packets, which forms the basis of the whole concept of IPTV and how they are received on the other side as television signals.

2.1 Digitization Process

Digitization is the conversion of analog audio and voice signal into digital signal and then compressing the digitized information into a more efficient form. This is the first step in Providing Internet Protocol Television service. Digitization can be performed by following given steps.

2.1.1 Sampling

Sampling is the conversion or reduction of continuous wave signal to a discrete value signal. A sample refers to a value or set of values at a point in time and/or space.

Figure 1 Sampling

2.1.2 Quantization

Quantization is the process of mapping a large set of input values to a smaller set of values.

Figure 2 Quantized Signal

2.1.3 Encoding

Analog signals are converted into digital signals because they are more resistant to noise or distortion and they are easier to manipulate than analog signals. Because digital signals can only have two levels, the signal can be regenerated and during this regeneration. Process, the noise is removed. Television signal digitization involves digitization of both the audio and video signals.

Figure 2: Audio digitization

Figure 3: Video digitization

2.2 Digital Media Compression

Using digital media compression we convert the high-speed digital signals that represent the actual signal shape into lower-speed digital signals. This process allows IP television service to have lower data transmission rates than standard digital video signals while providing for good quality video and audio.

2.3 Sending Packets

Sending packets through the Internet involves routing them through the network and managing the loss of packets when they can't reach their destination. Packet routing involves the transmission of packets through routers that analyze the destination address of the packet and determine a path that will help the packet travel toward its destination.

2.4 Gateways Connect the Internet to Standard Televisions

A television gateway is a communications device that transforms audio and video that is received from a television media server or IP television signal source into a format that can be used by a viewer or different network.

Figure 4: IP Television Gateways

This diagram shows that the gateway must convert audio, video and control signals into a format that can be sent through the Internet.

2.5 Types of Transmission

IP television channel transmission may be exclusively sent directly to specific viewer called unicast or it may be copied and sent to multiple viewers at the same time multicast.

2.5.1 Unicast

Unicast transmission is the delivery of data to only one client within a network.

 In unicast users connect to the streaming server which sends completely separated streams to every user. Diagram below shows the traditional unicast technology there is the same data stream on different parts of the network. It uses more network resources such as bandwidth, nodes and loads the servers heavily.

Figure 7: IPTV Unicast Transmission

2.5.2 Multicast

Multicasting provides the data transfer and communication between user created groups. It is a one-to-many media delivery process that sends a single message to many users who are the part of the group. It Require less bandwidth and other network resources

Figure8 Multicast Transmission

3. IPTV Architecture and Protocols

The IPTV architecture consists of the following functional components-: 

Content Sources: Its function is to receive video content from producers and other sources. And then these contents are encoded and store in acquisition database for VoD.

Service Nodes: It receives video streams in different formats. Service Nodes communicate with the customer premises equipment (CPE); for the subscriber, session and digital rights management, service nodes communicate with the IPTV service. 

Wide Area Distribution Networks: It is made up of distribution capability, capacity, and quality of service. It also consists of other capabilities, such as multicast, which is necessary for the reliable and timely distribution of IPTV data streams from the service nodes to the customer premises. It is located at the central office or remote distribution points. 

Customer Access Links: This is the last mile link between the customer premises and Wide Area Distribution network. It can be a High speed DSL technology such as VDSL AND ADSL. This also can be a fiber link to provide FTTH( Fiber to Home Access).

Customer Premises Equipment (CPE): CPE is present at customer location. This provides the broadband network termination (B-NT) functionality. It integrates the routing gateway, set-top box, or home networking.

IPTV Client: The IPTV client is a functional unit which terminates the IPTV traffic at the customer premises. This is only a device, such as a set-top box, which performs the functional processing.

Figure 10: Generic IPTV System Architecture

3.2 Other IPTV Components:

Video Head End

This is the point in the network at which linear broadcast TV and on-demand (e.g., movies content is captured and formatted for distribution over the IP network. Typically, the head end ingests national feeds of linear programming via satellite either directly from the broadcaster or programmer, or via an aggregator. Some programming may also be ingested via a terrestrial fiber-based network. A head end takes each individual channel and encodes it into a digital video format, like MPEG-2 which remains the most prevalent encoding standard for digital video on a worldwide basis. Broadband service providers are also beginning to use MPEG-4- based encoding, which has lower bit-rate requirements for encoding television signals. After encoding, each channel is encapsulated into IP and sent out over the network. These channels are typically IP multicast streams, however, they may be IP unicast streams as well. IP multicast has several perceived advantages because it enables the service provider to propagate one IP stream per broadcast channel from the video head end to the service provider access network. This is beneficial when multiple users want to tune in to the same broadcast channel at the same time (e.g., thousands of viewers tuning in to a sporting event).

Video Server

Video servers are computer-based devices connected to large storage systems. Video content, previously encoded, is stored either on disk or in large banks of RAM. Video servers stream video and audio content via unicast or multicast to STBs. Typical storage systems range from 5 terabit (Tb) to 20 Tb. Video servers are mostly used for VoD; however, they are also used for NPVR, which allows subscribers to record shows remotely on a device at the operator site. The key technical attributes of video servers are scalability in terms of storage and number of streams, management software, and variety of interfaces.

Figure 11: Components of IPTV

The Service Provider Core/Edge Network

The grouping of encoded video streams, representing the channel line up, is transported over the service provider’s IP network. Each of these networks is unique to the service provider and usually includes equipment from multiple vendors. These networks can be a mix of well-engineered existing IP networks and purpose-built IP networks for video transport. At the network edge, the IP network connects to the access network.

Middleware: The IPTV enabler

Middleware is the software and hardware infrastructure that connects the components of an IPTV solution. It is a distributed operating system that runs both on servers at the Telco location and on the STBs. Among other things, it performs end-to-end configuration, provisions the video servers, links the electronic program guide (EPG) with the content, acts as a boot server for the STB and ensures that all STBs run compatible software. The key technical attributes of a middleware are reliability, scalability, and ability to interface with other systems.

Set Top Box (STB)/Terminal

An IP set top box is an electronic device that adapts IP television data into a format that is accessible by the end user. The output of an IP set top box can be a television RF channel (e.g. channel 3), video and audio signals or digital video signals. IP set top boxes are commonly located in a customer's home to allow the reception of IP video signals on a television or computer for live TV and VoD, the STB supports an EPG that allows the users to navigate through the programming. The STB transforms a scrambled digital compressed signal into a signal that is sent to the TV. The STB hosts the middleware and is poised to become the center of the communications infrastructure within the home.

3.3 IPTV PROTOCOLS

IPTV can live TV as well as stored video (Video on Demand VOD). The playback of IPTV requires either a personal computer or a set-top box connected to a TV

In standards-based IPTV systems, the primary underlying protocols used are:

Live TV ( multicasting) uses IGMP version 2 or IGMP version 3 for IPv4 for connecting to a multicast stream (TV channel) and for changing from one multicast stream to another (TV channel change).

VOD is using the Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP).

N-PVR (Network-based Personal Video Recorder) is also using the Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP).

Network Personal Video Recording is a consumer service where real-time broadcast television is captured in the network on a server allowing the end user to access the recorded programs on the schedule of their choice, rather than being tied to the broadcast schedule.

Subscribers can choose from the programs available in the network-based library, when they want, without needing yet another device or remote control. However, many people would still prefer to have their own PVR device, as it would allow them to choose exactly what they want to record. This bypasses the strict copyright and licensing regulations, as well as other limitations, that often prevent the network itself

4. VIEWING IPTV AND QUALITY OF SERVICE

4.1 IPTV viewing devices allow the subscriber or customers to view and to use content from Internet TV system. The Internet TV viewing devices include standard televisions that use set top boxes, multimedia computers, multimedia mobile telephones, and web televisions etc.

4.1.1 Multimedia Computer

A multimedia computer is a data processing device that is capable of using and processing multiple forms of media such as audio, data and video. Because computers are already Internet and multimedia ready it is often to use them to watch IP television by the help of media player. The media player must be able to find and connect to IP television media servers, process compressed media signals, maintain a connection, and process television control features.

4.1.2 Analog Television Adapters (ATVA)

Analog television adapters convert digital broadband signals into analog television formats (e.g. NTSC or PAL). Using ATVAs, it is possible to use standard televisions for viewing television channels that are sent over data network such as the Internet. Analog television adapters are commonly called "IP Set top boxes."

Figure 12: IPTV Viewing Devices

4.1.3 IP Television (IPTV)

IP televisions are television display devices that are specifically designed to receive and decode television channels through the Internet without the need for adapter boxes or media gateways. IP televisions contain embedded software that allows them to initiate and receive television through the Internet using multimedia session protocols such as SIP. An IP television has a data connection instead of a television tuner. IP televisions also include the necessary software and hardware to convert and control IP television signals into a format that can be displayed on the IP television (e.g. picture tube or plasma display.

4.1.4 Mobile Telephone Television

Mobile telephones with multimedia capabilities that are capable of receiving and displaying digital media such as digital video and digital audio. Mobile telephones have limited information processing power, limited displays, and may have restricted access to Internet services. Multimedia mobile telephones contain embedded software that allows them to initiate and receive multimedia communication sessions through the Internet. Because of the limited bandwidth and higher cost of bandwidth for mobile telephones, mobile telephone media players may use compression and protocols that are more efficient than those used by standard IP television systems.

 .

4.2 IPTV-QUALITY OF SERVICE

Television networks provide a fairly high level of quality of service (QoS) to television viewers and to be successful, IP television service should have similar quality as standard television systems.

4.2.1Audio Quality

Audio Quality is the ability of the system to recreate the key characteristics of an original audio signal. Audio Quality can be affected by many factors such as the type of audio codecs (audio compression), transmission system and bandwidth limits.

Generally, the more you compress the audio, the lower the audio quality. Recently, innovations in audio compression technology provide similar quality audio signals using a much lower data communication (connection) speed.

The symptoms of a poor transmission system include audio distortion which is caused by packet loss and/or packet corruption. Packet loss is the inability of the network to deliver a packet to its destination within a specified period of time. Packet loss can result from a variety of events such as network congestion or equipment failures. The effect of packet loss on audio distortion is to temporarily mute or distort the audio signal. Packet losses are rare as systems normally resend a data packet if it gets a reply from the destination that the original data packet failed to reach within a specified time.

Packet corruption is the modification of packet data during its transmission. Packet corruption can occur due to various reasons such as poor communication line quality or momentary line loss from electrical spikes. As IPTV systems use audio compression, the packet data represents a sound that will be recreated rather than a specific portion of the actual audio signal. As a result, if corrupted data is used, this can create a very different audio sound (Warble) then expected.

4.2.2 Video Quality

Video quality is the ability of a display or video transfer system to recreate the key characteristics of an original video signal. Similar to Audio quality, some of these factors that affect video quality include the video codecs, transmission type and bandwidth limitations. The types of distortion on analog video systems include blurriness and edge noise. Digital video and transmission system impairments include tiling, error blocks, smearing, jerkiness, edge busyness and object retention. Tiling is the changing of a digital video image into square tiles that are located in positions other than their original positions on the screen. Error blocks are groups of a block of pixels that do not represent error signals rather than the original image bits that were supposed to be in that image block. Jerkiness is stalling or skipping of video image frames or fields. Object retention is the retention of a portion of a frame when the image has changed.

5. IPTV VS. CONVENTIONAL TV TRANSMISSION TECHNIQUES

5.1 Satellite TV

In satellite TV also known as DTH signals are received using a dish antenna which is present at the subscriber site. Each dish antenna may have different specification according to broadcaster. Signals from the dish antenna received in encrypted form from the satellite and this antenna should be in direct alignment with the satellite location. An STB is placed at the customer side. The coaxial cable connects the STB to the antenna for signal reception. The STB works only after a certain amount of signal quality and strength has been acquired, which is fine-tuned by using the signal meter during installation of the dish antenna.

5.2 Digital Cable TV

Digital Cable TV or simply cable TV was one of the earliest systems to provide TV channels worldwide against the conventional terrestrial system. Previously it was started as analogue system but now a day it is all digitized with the help of set top box and it started with the analogue system. Signals from satellites were received at the multisystem operator end through multiple high-end dish antennae. These received signals were then multiplexed at the MSO end and finally transmitted to homes via coaxial cables.

5.3 IPTV VS DTH, CABLE TV

IPTV is based on a two way protocol; it gives user greater interactivity with content and medium. By this provider can meet the wishes of subscribers. In current terrestrial broadcast system same content is broadcast to the all consumer’s homes, IPTV removes the fixed television schedule and provide consumers freedom of what to watch, when to watch and also give rewind , forward and pause features. In this way each house hold can create its custom content and viewing schedule

Figure below shows that opposed to traditional broadcast television where every home receives the same programming, IPTV allows each consumer to customize their viewing schedule.

Figure 13 Traditional TV broadcast and IPTV comparison

Feature

Conventional Distribution

 IPTV Distribution

 Cabling

 Needs dedicated coax cabling

 Runs on the IT network - no dedicated cabling

 Displays

 Can only use TV displays

 PC and Mac desktops, any displays or projectors

 High Definition

 Limited HD support, if any

 HD fully supported

 Widescreen

 Manual selection, if any

 Automatic widescreen switching

 User control

 None

 Full control of user access to IPTV channels

 Management

 None

 Remote system management via the network

 Multi-site

 Requires costly dedicated links

 Uses company network links

Scalability

 Requires additional cabling

 Easy because IPTV is on the IT network

Integration

 None

 Links with other IT connected devices and services

Table 1 Operational and Performance comparison

5.4 IPTV in comparison to Internet TV and Internet Video

IPTV is the representation of a profile of a closed, proprietary TV system. This is somewhat similar to the present day cable service providers. But, unlike IPTV, it is delivered via IP-based secure channels. As a result, it sharply increases the control of content distribution. 

Internet Television is an open evolving framework where a huge number of small and medium-sized video producers contribute. Such a service provides highly innovative content, where the contributors are very much comfortable. This is due to the opening of different traditional channels which are either retail and for wide distribution.

A comparison of IPTV, Internet TV, and Internet Video

IPTV

Internet TV

Internet Video

Examples of Operators

U-verse (AT&T)

Opzioni TV (Fastweb)

Orange TV (France Telecom)

Imagenio (Telefonica)

Now TV (PCCW)

Joost

Zattoo

Babelgum

Youtube

Metacafe

Users

Subscribers only; closed network

Free, ad-based service

Free, ad-based service

Services

Live TV

VOD

Interactive services

VOD and/or live TV and Internet in multi-task environment

Video clips only

Network

IP-based platform; Managed network

Public Internet; Peer-to-Peer

Public Internet

Video Production

Professional video only

Professional video only

Amateur/user-generated video only

Video Quality

Managed QoS

MPEG 2 to MPEG 4, MSVCI

Managed QoS

High – MPEG 4

Unmanaged QoS

Low, but improving

Receiver device

STB with TV or PC

PC

PC

Resolution

Full TV display

Near full TV display

QCIF/CIF

Copyright

Content is protected through DRM

Content is protected through DRM

No copyright protections

Status of roll-out

Deployed in limited geographic areas in various countries

Trial stages only

Fully accessible

Table 1 Comparison of IPTV with Internet TV and Internet Video

6. Advantages and Limitations.

6.1.1 Advantages

Distributes live or prerecorded TV and video/audio over existing data network

Unlimited distribution to every network connected TV / PC

Capacity for hundreds of TV and video sources

Digital quality consistent across all viewing points

Managerial control over individual viewing

Flexible, controllable signage and corporate branding

No additional hardware, cabling or power required at PC viewing points

Office moves and changes become simple, quick and non technical

No distance limitations on viewing points

Dispenses with Free view Set Top Boxes and video recorders

Manageable bandwidth requirements

Does not compromise network security

Industry standards based

Highly modular and readily expandable at any stage

Space saving professional equipment installation

Facility for live or scheduled recording of live TV provides the functionality of a video recorder with hard disk storage (Personal Video Recorder)

Costs, space and energy are saved by dispensing with Free view Set Top Boxes, video recorders and even TVs where PC viewing is adopted

Distribute channels over WAN links for viewing at remote sites

Create your own Video On Demand library for training and reference

High Definition TV (HDTV) support

6.1.2 Limitations

Because IPTV is based on internet protocol, it is sensitive to packet loss and delays if the IPTV connection is not fast enough.

7. IPTV-Applications and Services

7.1 Applications and services

IPTV services are the providing of multimedia services (e.g. television) to customers by a common carrier, administration, or private operating agency using voice, data, and/or video technologies. There are numerous applications of IPTV which are described below.

7.1.1 Video on Demand (VoD)

These applications enable service providers to begin offering the triple play video, voice and data. Additional video applications, which can be enabled after the

IPTV infrastructure is in place.

The video-on-demand application provides individual subscribers the ability to

Choose or select a video content and view it at their convenience. This enables the service provider to offer additional revenue-generating services, such as:

• Movies on demand

• Stored programming content, such as sports events, television shows and

newscasts, which can be viewed at a later time.

7.1.2 Digital Broadcast TV

The advent of higher-speed DSL technology such as ADSL2, ADSL2+ and

VDSL enables IPTV as a compelling and competitive alternative. Currently IPTV delivers those channels which are being viewed by the subscriber and has a potential to offer practically an ‘unlimited’ number of channels.

7.1.3 Enterprise (Company) Television

Enterprise programming is media that is created and managed for viewing by a company or for visitors it authorizes to view its programming content. Company television may be produced for the public and/or for internal communication purposes. Public company television channels may provide information about products, services or applications of the products or services that are of interest to the public. Internal ("in-house") company television programs may be used to provide employees with educational and company specific information (such as the location of a company meeting or party). Employees, vendors or others who are provided with access may distribute company television programs to monitors within company buildings or for distribution to multimedia computers that are only accessible by company employees.

7.1.4 Gaming

Gaming is an experience or actions of a person that are taken on a skill testing or entertainment application with the objective of winning or achieving a measurable level of success. Gaming services provided by IPTV systems may include game program distribution (downloading games), online gaming service, multi-user network gaming or gambling.

7.1.5 Security Monitoring

Security systems are monitoring and alerting systems that are configured to provide surveillance and information recording for protection from burglary, fire, water hazard, and other types of losses. Video surveillance is the capturing of video for the observation of an area or location at another location. Traditional (legacy) security systems use proprietary sensing and transmission equipment, have limited control processing capabilities, and have interconnections that are limited to local geographic areas. The use of IPTV systems connected through standard data networks allows for the sending of media (such as digital video), powerful security system processing in a server, and wide area connectivity (such as through the Internet).

7.1.6 Advertising

Advertising is the communication of a message or media content to one or more potential customers. One of the most complicated areas for IPTV can be the management of advertising services. Advertising management is the process of creating, presenting, managing, purchasing and reporting of advertising programs. Because advertising services on IPTV systems can range from broadcast advertising to customized addressable advertising (custom ads for specific viewers), advertising management can be a complex but yet a very profitable process.

Figure 16 IPTV advertising messages

7.1.7 Television Commerce (T-Commerce)

Television commerce (t-commerce) is a shopping medium that uses a television network to present products and process orders. The processes that used in t-commerce include advanced product offering catalogs (video catalogs), order processing, exchanging of order information between companies in near real-time and the ability to offer multiple forms of payments that may be collected by different companies. Key issues for IPTV t-commerce billing include transferring accounting records through multiple systems that transfer between multiple companies that allow for presentation, processing and payment of orders. Figure below shows how a television program can use mixed media to provide product offers to qualified consumers at specific times in a display location that is noticeable but not intrusive.

Figure17 IPTV Television Commerce

7.1.8 Anywhere Television Service

Anywhere Television Service uses television extensions, which are the viewing devices that can be connected to the system of a television distribution. There are two options in this regard: (1) these connections may be shared, for example, by several televisions on the same line or (2) they may be controlled independently, such as the case of a private television system.

Conventionally, television extensions have a fixed wire or a connection line. This is because: (1) it allows a television viewing device to either share (i.e., directly connect to) another communication line or (2) it allows an independent connection it to a switching point (such as a private company television system).

In IPTV, when an IP television viewer is connected to a data connection for the first time, it sends the request to an assignment of a temporary Internet address from the data network. After its connection to the Internet, it uses the said Internet address to get registered with the Internet Television Service Provider (ITVSP). The reason is that the ITVSP is always aware of the current Internet address, which is assigned to the IP television each time it has been connected to the Internet. This also allows IP televisions to operate at any connection point that is willing to provide it broadband access to the Internet. In real meaning, this allows an IP television to operate like a television extension, which can be plugged in anywhere in the world.

7.1.9 Global Television Channels

As the name indicates, global television channels are TV channels which can be viewed globally. IP television channels are beamed through the Internet and, as it offers broadband data access, it can thus be typically viewed in any part of the globe. The IP television system is capable of providing video service outside the purview of their local, often regulated, areas. This ability makes IP television a very competitive tool around the world. The typical cost for viewing global television channels is the content media access costs, for example, the cost or fee for watching a movie. Moreover, the cost includes the broadband data access cost, which is a monthly charge for broadband access.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Conclusions

IPTV can change the way people receive video programming and revolutionize content creation. With the expansion of broadband access and the Growth of computing and video production equipment, industry analysts believe IPTV is realizing its potential as a viable programming platform that can compete with cable, satellite and other traditional video mediums.

Consumers can benefit greatly from IPTV services by enjoying greater flexibility in their video —experience" by obtaining the content of their choosing. With on-demand IPTV services, the content comes to the consumer. Interactive applications will empower the viewer to use online video not only as an entertainment option but as a learning tool. IP video can be harnessed and used in many different forms that would aid society. It can provide road maps on screens installed in ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars enabling them to —read" a situation before arriving on the scene. It can aid doctors by sending images across the nation or world and enabling them to discuss the data face to face in real time through a video link.

IPTV is also seen by providers and industry watchers as a gateway for new content providers. IPTV is not simply offering traditional television programming through another device or connection. The low costs of creating content allows just about anyone to produce a —television show. "IPTV providers are already offering content from sports leagues to home cooking shows and more. The video content is making the web experience more robust for consumers, presenting information in compelling formats that greatly interests existing and new audiences. This new programming vehicle, allowing organizations and individuals to transmit their messages to an audience of their choice, could be the —killer application" that expert agrees is needed to catapult IPTV to equal footing with traditional television. Although IPTV is still in the early stages, the growth in the number of providers and Users has demonstrated too many experts that the technology is now an important factor in the video marketplace. In the near term, it will be important to watch how IPTV Providers offer new services and attract customers. The continued realization of online video‘s potential will be of great interest to the people even though it might now be on a computer.

Recommendations

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