In our series of digging and understanding of the IPTV and OTT video streaming platforms, we have arrived at the last stage where we are going to understand the difference between IPTV and OTT platforms. Why they are different even after they deliver the content directly to the audience over the internet? What makes them different from each other? In this blog, we will understand the core differences between IPTV and OTT platforms.
Core Differences Between IPTV And OTT
Both IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) and OTT (Over The Top) platforms are used for live video streaming solutions in India. IPTV helps in streaming the content in a controlled and restricted manner while OTT has more of an open approach to streaming the content online. Some of the key differences between IPTV and OTT platforms are listed below:
Network Used
IPTV delivers the video and audio content to devices attached to the network based on the IP or the internet protocol. This makes the delivery of the content restricted. While if we talk about OTT, it delivers content over publicly accessible internet making the content delivery to a larger audience.
Content Delivery
In IPTV, content is delivered in a controlled and managed manner and therefore considered a walled garden ecosystem. On the other hand, OTT content delivery is done through an open and unmanaged network and therefore follows the open garden ecosystem.
Content Type
Content delivered through IPTV is primarily premium while using the multicast technique. On the other hand, content delivered through OTT is not premium every time and uses unicast delivery techniques.
Service Reach
The Service reachability of IPTV services is local and restricted to a certain section of the audience while the reach of OTT services is global since one can access the content from different parts of the world.
Component Requirements
The basic need of an IPTV is to have a router, a set-top box/IP-based connected TV, and an internet connection. While OTT only requires a reliable internet connection and an OTT-compatible device.
These are some of the major differences between IPTV and OTT. The choice wholly depends on the vision of the creators, their targeted audience, and their targeted area of delivering the content.
IPTV vs OTT: Which Is The Most Suitable To You?
With this series, we have tried making a clarity between what is IPTV and what is OTT and what are the advantages and disadvantages and the core difference between these two. If you are among the person who wants more security and controlled content delivery to your audience then IPTV is a great option while if you want to target a larger audience and open delivery to a larger audience then OTT is the appropriate choice for you.