What Is IPTV and What Does an IPTV Player Do?

What is IPTV? In short, it is television that reaches you over the internet instead of through a satellite dish, a cable or an aerial. The name says it: Internet Protocol Television. Some people write it as "IP TV", with a space; it means the same thing. This article explains how IPTV works and what an IPTV player does in the process.

How does IPTV work?

With traditional broadcasting, channels arrive via a dish, a cable or an aerial. With IPTV, the stream travels over your internet connection in small pieces of data. That is why any device that can go online can show IPTV with a suitable app: a smart TV, a TV box, a phone, a tablet or a computer.

Three parties are involved:

1. The IPTV provider: the company offering the streaming service. It gives you the channel list and your login details, and it is responsible for the content of its streams.
2. Your internet connection: the road the stream travels on. You need enough speed for smooth playback.
3. The player: the app that opens the provider's list and shows channels, the TV guide, films and series in a tidy interface.

What does an IPTV player do?

What your provider hands you is, in its raw form, an address or a few pieces of information. The player turns that into television you can actually use:

• It sorts channels into categories and lets you browse with a remote, by touch or with a mouse.
• It shows the TV guide (EPG): what is on now and next, the day's schedule, and reminders for later programmes.
• It presents the film and series catalogue with posters, continues where you left off and starts the next episode by itself.
• It handles the small but vital things: audio tracks, subtitles, favourites and search.

An IPTV player does not supply channels, films or series. It only opens what you get from your own provider. Premium Player is exactly that kind of player: it hosts and sells no content, it is free, and it does not ask you to create an account.

What are Xtream Codes and M3U?

Providers usually give you your list in one of two forms:

• Xtream Codes: three pieces of information: a server address, a username and a password. The player connects to the provider with them and fetches the channels, films, series and often the guide by itself.
• M3U: a simple list file holding things like channel name, address and category, usually handed out as a link. See how to open an M3U playlist for details.

Sometimes a separate XMLTV address is given for the guide. If you have one, you enter it separately; if not, leave it empty. Setup steps are in IPTV setup with Xtream Codes.

On which devices can you watch IPTV?

When choosing a player, what matters is that it runs on every device you want to watch on. Premium Player is available on:

• TV: Android TV, Google TV and Fire TV, plus TV boxes such as Mi Box, Mi TV Stick, Nvidia Shield and Chromecast with Google TV. Apps for Samsung and LG TVs are planned and not out yet.
• Phones and tablets: Android and iPhone and iPad. The App Store version for iPhone is in preparation; today it works in Safari through the web player.
• Computers: Windows, Mac and Linux.
• Browser: the online IPTV player, with nothing to install.

Everything is on the download page.

What do you need to start watching IPTV?

1. Xtream Codes details or an M3U link from your own IPTV provider.
2. A device and a player.
3. Enough internet speed.

When you open Premium Player, you choose Add Xtream Codes or Add M3U playlist, enter the details and save. If you do not have a list yet, Take a look first opens a demo list of made-up channels, films and series so you can see the interface.

Premium Player does not tell you where to find lists and does not recommend content. You get your list only from your own IPTV provider.

What to look for in a good IPTV player

• Xtream Codes and M3U support, and the ability to add several lists.
• A TV guide (EPG), guide time-shift correction and reminders.
• Continue watching for films and series.
• Search across everything, and favourites.
• Audio and subtitle selection, a parental lock.
• An interface that suits your device's remote, touch screen or mouse and keyboard.
• Updates: the app should tell you when a new version is out.

Frequently asked questions

What is IPTV, in short?

It is watching television over the internet. The stream comes from your provider to your device over your internet connection.

Are IP TV and IPTV the same thing?

Yes. Both describe the same technology; it is only a difference in spelling.

Does an IPTV player provide channels?

No. A player only opens the list your provider gives you. Premium Player contains and sells no channels, films or series.

Is Premium Player free?

Yes, it is free and needs no account. What you pay your provider for the streaming service is between you and the provider.

Can I watch IPTV without installing anything?

Yes. The online IPTV player opens in the browser and works in current versions of Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox.