IPTV services may be classified into three main groups: live television, time-shifted programming, and video on demand(VOD). It is distinguished from general Internet-based or web-based multimedia services by its on-going standardization process (e.g., European Telecommunications Standards Institute) and preferential deployment scenarios in subscriber-based telecommunications networks with high-speed access channels into end-user premises via set-top boxes or other customer-premises equipment.
Definition
Historically, many different definitions of IPTV have appeared, including elementary streams over IP networks, transport streams over IP networks and a number of proprietary systems.
The official definition approved by the International Telecommunication Union focus group on IPTV (ITU-T FG IPTV) is as follows:
"IPTV is defined as multimedia services such as television/video/audio/text/graphics/data delivered over IP based networks managed to provide the required level of quality of service and experience, security, interactivity and reliability."
Another official and more detailed definition of IPTV is the one given by Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) IPTV Exploratory Group on 2005:
"IPTV is defined as the secure and reliable delivery to subscribers of entertainment video and related services. These services may include, for example, Live TV, Video On Demand (VOD) and Interactive TV (iTV). These services are delivered across an access agnostic, packet switched network that employs the IP protocol to transport
References: 1. ^ ITU-T Newslog, 2006 2 18. ^ Eggerton, John (2009-12-14). "Broadcasters Squeezed by Convergence Push". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 19. ^ IPTV Global Forecast (2008-2013) International Television Expert Group 20 25. ^ "Salad days," Chris Dziadul, Broadband TV News, May 2, 2008 26 29. ^ "BabyFirst launches on BesTV in China," Indiantelevision.com Team, May 2, 2008. 50. ^ HbbTV Consortium (August 27, 2009). "New European initiative merges television with the power of the Internet". Press release. 51. ^ IPTV Americas (January 13, 2009). "IPTV Americas Launches First IPTV Satellite Distribution Platform for Latin America and The Caribbean via SES NEW SKIES’ NSS-806". Press release. 52. ^ International Datacasting Corporation "Why IP Over Satellite?". Accessed January 18, 2009. Company factsheet 53 62. ^ Newtec Productions NV "TP200 Sat3Play Broadband Terminal" (Version R2/01.2008). Satellite Internet Modem factsheet 63 66. ^ TV or Not TV ▪ Securing Converged IP Networks, Tyson Macaulay, Auerbach 2006 (ISBN 0849375800)