People like to watch TV on a number of devices these days. The medium is changing very fast in today’s high-tech world. Two methods that people use to watch videos online are Internet Protocol Television and over-the-top. Even though IPTV and OTT have some common grounds, there are also certain differences. First, let’s define what IPTV and over-the-top are so we can discuss similarities and differences in this post.
So, what exactly is IPTV?
Internet Protocol Television, commonly known in its abbreviated form as IPTV, is a traditional TV service that brings TV channels inside your house through the Internet. Not all that dissimilar from today’s model is a system of getting an Indian IPTV box or set-top box from a provider and hooking it up to your TV via an HDMI cable. Then, after logging in, you can see any of the live programming on any connected devices in your home. An IPTV provider coordinates a closed network that carries the programming.
What is over-the-top?
Over-the-top means the service provides video content to users through the internet in digital form. Most OTT content, by most accounts, is delivered through a streaming device such as smartphones, tablets, or smart TVs. OTT does not require a set-top box or even a provider-managed private network, unlike IPTV. Rather, consumers can stream live TV, VOD, and catch-up TV content from anywhere in the world since it is distributed via the open internet. Some good examples are Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and Netflix.
A key difference between IPTV and OTT
The major difference that exists between IPTV and OTT is within their means of distribution. While OTT uses the open internet to deliver content that is viewable from any location, like Netflix, IPTV relies on a private network that is under the control of the service provider, such as an ISP.
Also Read: How to Choose the Right Indian TV Box in Australia for Your Home?
Conclusion
The same IP network carrying email and web traffic also carries over-the-top content. Unlike IPTV, there is no need for a special set-top box to receive OTT content, which is viewed on a wide range of devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and smart TV, most often through apps or websites. While OTT has geographical limitations in terms of content delivery, IPTV has no such restrictions and provides content at a fraction of the cost compared to OTT.
