The impact of Digital Media Platforms on

our daily lives

Since the evolution of the Internet, our society has undergone a huge
transformation. Every facet of our lives has been influenced by rapid digitalization
and the ever-evolving Digital Media Platforms. From Communication to Travel,
and from Work to Leisure, the omnipresence of ‘Digital’ has been the story of our
success.

For instance, the humble television, which was meant to keep us informed and
entertained, has also gone through a Digital transformation to what we know as
IPTV. While many of us may not be aware of it, chances are we might already be
using it without knowing.

What is IPTV and how it works?

Essentially, it is the combination of TV and Web, and is perhaps, a trendier way of

watching Television. The “IP” stands for Internet Protocol and uses a similar
technology like VoIP (Voice over IP). It means the technology enables TV
programs to be ‘communicated’ using the Internet. IPTV has been growing
rapidly, and could soon become one of the most preferred Digital Media
Platforms. This is because, it has many advantages over the traditional cable or
satellite TV platforms.

As a Cable TV viewer, you can only watch what‘s being broadcasted. It’s because
your TV is just a receiver of signals that are sent out by the broadcasters. So, if
you want to watch your favorite TV show, then you have to tune in at the time it’s
broadcasted. If you miss it, then you’d have to wait for a re-telecast, which may or
may not happen, as it completely depends on the broadcaster.

On the other hand, IPTV uses video on demand (VOD). Using this technology, IPTV
transmits TV shows and movies through the standard internet connection in the
form of time-shifted media. It means, the TV shows and movies are made
available in the regular video-format through a web or mobile app, and can be
watched by the users whenever they want.

While IPTV uses complicated network architecture to convert traditional signals to

digital media, it is quite simple for end-users in terms of usability. All you have to
do is to click on the video you want to watch. If you can’t find it in the app, then
you can request the broadcasters, who will send it across immediately. The
bottom-line is that you can watch your desired TV shows whenever you want and
on whichever device you want, making life much easier.
If you’re using a TV that is not equipped for IPTV, then you can always use a set-
top box to convert the IPTV content into a format that can be displayed by your
TV. But, with a computer, you don’t need anything extra to watch IPTV. However,
you would still need to sign up for a service and then stream content of your
choice in the IPTV formats.

Types of IPTV

IPTV can be broadly categorized into three different flavors.

 Video on demand (VOD) is one of the most popular kinds of IPTV, which
allows you to access videos through an online website. All you have to do is
to subscribe to the service and select a TV program or movie you want to
watch. You’ll probably have a wide range of options to choose from, and
you can stream them on your device after paying a nominal subscription
fee. The fee could be per video or charged for a fixed duration, say for a
week or a month, during which you are allowed to stream a given number
of videos per day.
 Time-shifted IPTV is another popular form of IPTV. This option allows you to
access IPTV using a web-based video-streaming player. It is being offered by
many popular TV broadcasters, who make their last week's programs
available online using a web-based video- streaming player. It’s known as
time-shifted IPTV because you can watch scheduled broadcasts as per your
convenience.
 Live IPTV is the third type of IPTV, and as the name suggests, it involves
broadcasting live TV programs across the Internet. When it comes to live
telecasts, IPTV is almost similar to your cable or satellite TV, as you can
easily stream the event on your phone. Sporting events are some of the
common live events that can be streamed live, allowing you to watch your
favorite games on the go.

Each of these formats can be accessed using an ordinary web browser. For better
quality, you can also use a set-top box with your digital TV and can enjoy watching
your favorite TV shows, movies, soaps or sports events, all at your convenience.