An introduction to IPTV and live TV streaming.
IPTV is the service that most closely resembles cable or satellite TV. It is a subscription service that provides access to live TV, on-demand content from streaming services, and access to PPV events like boxing or UFC.
What is IPTV?
IPTV stands for Internet Protocol TV. Content is delivered via the internet instead of satellite or cable subscription services. It is a subscription service where you can watch content after installing their application onto your devices.
What laws apply to IPTV?
In the United States, laws that affect IPTV providers are the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (1998) and Protecting Lawful Streaming Act (2020).
In Canada, the applicable law regulating online copyright is called the Copyright Act,
According to the DMCA content providers (including IPTV services) must purchase correct licenses to get streaming permission. Penalties for breaking this law can result in substantial fines.
Licensed IPTV Service Providers
Providers that have apps on the Google Play Store, Amazon or Apple App stores is a good assurance that an IPTV service is verified and legal. The following services can be found on these app stores:
- YouTube TV
- Disney+
- HBO Max
- Peacock TV
- STARZ
- Amazon Prime Video
- Paramount+
- Sling TV
- Apple TV
- Discovery+
- FuboTV
- Hulu
- Pluto TV
- Plex Live TV
- AT&T TV
- XUMO
- Smart IPTV
- TUBI
- Bally Sports
- Plus many other major Networks
Why is a 3rd party IPTV subscription so cheap for the vast amount of content?
3rd party IPTV services function in a gray area of the law. Premium subscription services, like Netflix, have formal licensing agreements with copyright holders for offering streaming content from their service. Instead, IPTV services access content cheaply by purchasing end-user subscriptions and passing the content on to you as a subscriber by broadcasting and allowing you to watch it.
This is not strictly legal, as the law does not currently cover this activity. No copyrighted content is being downloaded or displayed publicly, so it is not explicitly illegal. This type of service may be outlawed in the future.
There is potential risk for encountering legal trouble for using an IPTV subscription service. Authorities tend to focus on the distributors of content instead of individual end-users. It is far more likely that the authorities would shut down the IPTV service provider, leaving you without access to all your content.
How to choose a 3rd IPTV service provider
Most 3rd party IPTV service providers offer similar content, including the popular TV channels and content available on the mainstream (licensed IPTV) streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video. They generally do not advertise these services, and the list of channels and streaming service content available can only be confirmed after paying for a subscription.
Because 3rd party IPTV services provide such similar content, reliability and performance are more important when choosing an IPTV service provider. Choose a provider that has an easy-to-use app, doesn’t lag, buffer or pause during watching, and is online consistently.
3rd party IPTV services have a common installation procedure which require you to download and install their app (commonly called APK) to your Android Media Box directly, instead of using the Google Play store. The app connects directly to their servers and provides the content you would like to watch.
Alternately, an IPTV media center application like IPTV Smarter’s Pro can be installed from the Google Play Store, to integrate any licensed or 3rd party IPTV subscriptions under one app. This is the recommended solution, especially when choosing to use 3rd party IPTV services
Final thoughts
3rd party IPTV provides access to the latest entertainment content without having to subscribe to specific streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, or Sling TV. Paying for a 3rd party IPTV subscription service brings all the content you are looking for into a single application, including live TV, premium and PPV channels, and on-demand content like movies,
Stay tuned for our future guide on Installing IPTV Smarter’s Pro and IPTV APK’s on your device
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