IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) is a way of watching live TV and on-demand content through your internet connection — instead of a satellite dish, aerial, or cable. Same channels, far lower cost.
How Traditional TV Works vs IPTV
For decades, UK households received television through one of three methods: a rooftop aerial picking up terrestrial broadcast signals, a satellite dish receiving signals from space, or a physical cable connection from a local provider.
All three methods require significant physical infrastructure — and that infrastructure cost is passed on to you in the form of expensive monthly bills.
📡 Traditional TV
- Requires satellite dish or aerial
- Fixed channel packages
- Physical hardware installation
- Long contracts (12–24 months)
- Fixed broadcast schedule
- High monthly costs
🌐 IPTV
- Uses your existing broadband
- 50,000+ channels on demand
- Works on devices you already own
- No long-term contracts
- Watch anything, anytime, anywhere
- Fraction of the cost
How it Works and What is IPTV?
When you watch IPTV, your provider sends compressed video data over the internet directly to your device. A small app or media player on your device receives this data, decodes it, and plays it back in real time. This process happens fast enough that what you see is seamless, live television.
Live channels and on-demand content are compressed into efficient video streams using modern codecs (H.264, H.265).
The stream travels through the internet to your home broadband connection — the same way a YouTube video or video call works.
A compatible app or device receives the stream and plays it. Works on smart TVs, phones, tablets, streaming sticks, and computers.
Modern IPTV services support HD, Full HD, and 4K resolutions — often better picture quality than traditional broadcast.
What Can You Watch on what is iptv?
A good UK IPTV subscription gives you access to a far wider range of content than any traditional TV package. IPTVSelect, for example, provides over 50,000 live channels and a vast library of on-demand content.
Live Sports
Football, rugby, cricket, F1, boxing & more
Films
Thousands of titles — new releases to classics
UK Channels
All major UK free-to-air and subscription channels
International
Channels from 80+ countries in native languages
Kids TV
Dedicated children's channels, all day every day
Entertainment
Reality, drama, documentaries, lifestyle & more
What Do You Need to Use what is iptv?
Getting started with IPTV requires very little — you almost certainly already have everything you need.
A standard UK broadband connection (minimum 10Mbps for HD, 25Mbps for 4K) is sufficient. Most UK homes already meet this requirement.
Any smart TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Android TV box, smartphone, tablet, or laptop will work. No special hardware purchase required.
For the best experience on a large screen TV, a dedicated streaming stick or Android box (from around £25) delivers smooth, reliable playback.
what is iptv vs Other TV Options — Cost Comparison
The cost difference between IPTV and traditional TV packages is significant. Here's how a typical UK household's monthly costs compare:
| Option | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Channels | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Satellite TV (full package) | £60–£100+ | £720–£1,200+ | ~300 | 12–24 months |
| Cable TV (full bundle) | £55–£85+ | £660–£1,020+ | ~250 | 18–24 months |
| IPTVSelect | From £2.49/mo | From £29.99/yr | 50,000+ | No contract |