Broadband Guide

Broadband TV

Internet Protocol TV (IPTV), or TV over broadband as it’s commonly known, has taken the UK by storm, changing the way we see TV forever. With providers, broadcasters and websites all getting in on the action, isn’t it time you tried internet television?

What is IPTV?

Pioneered by HomeChoice - now Tiscali (www.Tiscali.co.uk) - as a revolutionary way of receiving content, web streaming to your TV allows subscribers to watch digital television programmes and films in real time, or as “catch-ups”. But take-up was initially slow and with less than expected subscribers the service was limited to London. It is only in the past two years that sales have increased and IPTV has begun to spread out of the capital.

Broadband TV also takes the form of programmes actually watched on your home computer. Popular services such as the BBC iPlayer and Channel 4’s 4oD offer a free catch-up service from the last seven days to download to your computer, or stream and watch there and then.

Why is it growing?

Broadband speed is key when it comes to accessing broadband TV products. While most people in the UK have an up to 8Mb internet package, this is not what they’re actually achieving. The average speed from 462,000 speed tests on BroadbandChoices.co.uk was only 3.59Mb, but things are getting better, enabling TV over broadband to become a reality.

Install our free broadband speed tester to see how your provider performs.

Also, with the Government’s switchover to digital television beginning in 2008, and BT Broadband's (www.BT.com) upgrade to the faster 21st Century Network (21CN) - which will offer speeds of up to 24Mb via all ADSL providers - there has never been a better time for IPTV to really take off.

Taking broadband even further, Virgin Media (www.VirginMedia.com) will launch the UK’s first residential 50Mb broadband package late in 2008.

Can I get broadband TV now?

In 2008 BT launched BT Vision, a similar service to that of Tiscali TV, providing high-speed broadband, telephone calls and real-time digital television through the phone line - the ultimate in bundling. BT Vision is essentially a free digital TV service for BT Total Broadband customers, though you can add month-by-month packages - including Premiership football and pay-per-view movies - from as little as £3 a month.

Tiscali on the other hand, offers standard digital TV packages via your broadband connection - including Sky’s basic channels so you can keep up with Lost and 24 on Sky One. Tiscali offers free line rental to customers in its local loop unbundled (LLU) area offering by far the cheapest triple play bundle with 8Mb broadband, a home phone, line rental and TV over broadband for only £19.99 a month.

As well as ISPs helping to expand the IPTV market, broadcasters have also seen how popular this technology is set to become. Since its full launch on Christmas Day 2007, there have been over 180 million requests to download or stream missed programmes. Channel 4’s 4oD and Sky Broadband's (www.Sky.com) SkyPlayer have also proved a hit.

The BBC iPlayer is also available direct to your TV for Virgin Media customers offering instant access, no delay or buffering and all on your widescreen TV.

And of course - websites like YouTube - with its user generated IPTV, have also helped to boost internet television’s popularity.

Is broadband TV really the future?

As BTs 21CN expands across the UK people will be achieving much faster internet speeds, enabling them to expand the horizons of their broadband use, almost guaranteeing further broadband television growth. Microsoft has even integrated IPTV technology into its XBox 360 and each new development like this makes it ever clearer that the technology is here to stay.

Use our broadband comparison calculator to find out if your provider offers IPTV in your area. If not you can still use programmes like the BBC iPlayer that download missed shows to your PC rather than your TV.

Visit DigitalChoices.co.uk to find out more about IPTV.