Live TV, Video-on-Demand, and Time-Shifted TV are the most common IPTV formats.
IPTV offers many additional services and video formats beyond just watching traditional television broadcasts. There are three primary content formats most IPTV services offer:
Live TV
Live IPTV allows users to live stream television broadcasts in real time, similar to traditional TV. Live TV most often serves to broadcast live events like sports events, conferences, etc.
However, this model has the same downsides as dying cable TV. Users can’t choose when to watch content, and they don’t have the flexibility of watching it on the go.
Some examples of IPTV providers with this model include FOX Sports Go, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, and CBS Sports HQ.
Video on Demand (VOD)
VOD IPTV services work the same way as with most OTT providers — you pay a subscription fee and, in return, have access to a large library of videos you can request to watch whenever.
This model is particularly appealing to consumers because it offers incredible flexibility. More and more IPTV providers have been introducing on-demand services to combat the growing popularity of over-the-top streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
Time-Shifted TV
Time-shifted TV or catch-up TV is a service unique to IPTV that allows users to watch previously broadcasted TV shows later.
There’s one big difference between time-shifted TV and VOD, though. Time-shifted TV lets users rewatch old content only for a limited time. Most often, broadcasts will be available for a few days before disappearing. Anything older than that would be considered a VOD.
One of the most popular IPTV providers using this model is BBC’s iPlayer.