Advantages of IPTV

Now, let us have a look at the various advantages of IPTV. It has already been established that IPTV system conserves bandwidth. But there are many more advantages beyond this.

In IPTV, a new level of interactivity among Internet, voice, and video can be established. This enables new types of services which were previously unavailable over stacked networks. For example, in traditional cable TV networks, video transmission is beamed over MPEG streams on an explicit portion of the bandwidth. On the other hand, high-speed data products, such as cable- and modem-based Internet service, are delivered over an IP based network. It is separate from the broadcast TV network that uses MPEG transmission. In this case, both services were delivered via an IP network then, in such a situation, overlapping products are possible. Interactive TV is a good example which often relies on data-centric applications. Today, the delivery of such applications is quite complex due to the separation of IP packets from MPEG streams. These would be missing if such IP packets delivered all video and data.

Another very distinctive advantage of IPTV is that numerous channels can be beamed to the viewer. The operator has a very meager choice in regards to the traditional network. Due to the scarcity of choices and space available, the operator chooses the networks which are later beamed. This doesn't allow for market segmentation, and ultimately the highest levels of satisfaction are missing. In contrast, in the case of IPTV, the "switching" is carried out in the network which is just the right fit for services such as VoD. Another distinctive feature is that IPTV delivery consists of a return path, which ensures the facilitation of advanced products.

IPTV can be very helpful in providing web-based training to courses. If we take a case of large size courses, they contain many sections and instructors that can easily share video materials. Therefore, if you own an instructional video which

needs to cover ten sections of a course, IPTV can greatly extend its service. The video can be put on IPTV and then all the ten sections could be viewed at one time, or each instructor will have the freedom to schedule a broadcast time for their concerned section. As a result, this removes the scheduling conflicts, if any. Moreover, appearances of any valuable guest lecturers can be recorded and kept for future use. The recording can be used for multiple courses and can be viewed semester after semester. In addition, different orientations, which are given to a large group of people on a regular basis, can be recorded and stored. The recording can be viewed through IPTV, which is possible as long as you have rights from the publishing company to do so.

The point to remember is that video broadcasts made through IPTV is automatically archived in Real Media format, which is stored on a real server. This facility allows the students, who could not view the broadcast or watch the same video, to view it later, either on or off campus. However, Real Media is not a multicast system and therefore has a limited bandwidth capacity.

IPTV can report detailed levels of usage and viewership which can allow the operator to report statistics of programs/channels/adverts watched as well as be able to bill using various methods of bundled or a-la-carte content….billed by the second, minute, month or par per view.