IPTV decoded

Thoughts

Hopefully this whirlwind tour around the world of IPTV will encourage you to go and download some software and try watching a few shows. Many of the bit-tech staff already watch more internet TV than 'real' TV, and we're pretty sure that some of you might end up the same way, once you're switched on to the world of internet video.

There are some interesting mainstream offerings to keep your eyes on too - here's a few quickies.

ABC: The American television network is running a trial project over the next couple of months, making its major shows available for free to stream, with commercials in the middle. Lost and Alias are amongst the big names on offer, with shows hitting the web the day after they air on the TV. Unfortunately for most of the world, the service uses geographic IP lookups to check whether or not you're in the United States - and you'll be out of luck if you're not (or, at any rate, if you can't work out how to IP spoof...)


AOL: Also putting out free content with adverts in the middle is AOL, who have gone all retro for their content collection. Calling the service In2TV, AOL offers top-quality shows such as Pinky and the Brain, Babylon 5 and La Femme Nikita. No restrictions on location this time, but you'll need to be running Windows - all the content is encoded with WMV DRM.


iTunes: Of course, perhaps the best known commercial IPTV service is iTunes. Whilst we've espoused its ability to connect users with free video content, iTunes does a good line in commercial content too. Most of the major TV networks have signed up to provide paid-for content, with videos at the $1.99 mark. For your two bucks, you can get premium TV content, like Desperate Housewives and Scrubs, with no ads, the day after the show airs. The downside? You're paying $1.99 for a low-res version, when the torrent is free. And, like the ABC service, you can only get the shows if you're in the States - only rather than a paltry IP lookup, iTunes requires a US credit card. Damn those worldwide licensing restrictions!


Of course, I'm sure many of you are curious as to what bit-tech plans to do in the IPTV space. All we can say is... stay tuned!