One of the main talking points at this year’s show was the growing popularity of IPTV, or ‘television on the basis of Internet protocol’. It refers to new forms of television services that offer genuine in interactivity including video on demand and individual access to programmes.
IPTV offers a new way of watching television without being restricted by the time sequence of programme schedules. Instead, viewers can access programmes of interest from the Internet, irrespective of the schedules drawn up by broadcasting networks
The technology is based on the latest generation of broadband DSL Internet connections. These include ADSL2+ with speeds up to 16 megabits per second and the even faster VSDL, which can use speeds of up to 50 megabits per second. IPTV is also available using digital cable networks with return channel capability.
IPTV services not only include traditional programmes, which are also distributed by cable or satellite, but also pay-TV packages such as sports events and download services providing films and other forms of entertainment – including high-definition video.
IPTV services are a commercial reality in some places but distribution is still relatively modest, although it is expected to grow rapidly in the next few years.
Media experts are predicting that in the next 10-15 years, all programmes that currently appear on television will migrate to the Internet and be fully interactive. Throughout the world there are around 7,000 broadcasting stations offering IPTV transmissions and the number is growing almost daily.
Interestingly, there is a great deal of special interest programmes being broadcast by niche companies instead of leading media broadcasters. In the future this could eventually include content broadcast by viewers themselves – a bit like YouTube.
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