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The only two things you need to enjoy internet TV in your home are an internet enabled television and an internet service provider. However, if you want to enjoy fully integrated IPTV and have access to your favourite pay-per-view channels, you need to make more careful decisions. The major TV and set top box manufacturers, content providers and internet service providers are all engaged in what seems to be a life and death struggle for market share, making deals for exclusive content in order to make their offerings more appealing to customers. |
Even Australia's cable TV providers have gotten in on the act as they wake up to the fact that unless they jump aboard the IPTV bandwagon, they are likely to be left in its dust.
One thing all internet service providers need to have in common in order to offer IPTV is a stable, high speed connection service. Without this, you are unable to watch streaming video without interruption. Other than that, though, the content they can deliver is limited to their agreements with manufacturers and content providers.
Needless to say, the competition is fierce and the competitors are all trying to find an edge over each other. This makes decision making difficult for consumers, but trends have emerged that are making decision making easier. Currently, the biggest battle is largely between Telstra BigPond and all the rest:
Telstra BigPond IPTV Offerings
Telstra is pulling out all the stops in its effort to become the OTTV leader in Australia. If Telstra is your current service provider, you are automatically given the privilege of enjoying the full spectrum of OTTV offered by Telstra. If Telstra is not your service provider, you need to choose the right IPTV or set top box in order to access BigPond movies and other content, such as their popular NRL Game Analyser. Telstra's biggest drawcard for many viewers is its exclusive arrangement with Foxtel that allows BigPond users to subscribe to Foxtel and receive the cable giant's content via IPTV instead of cable.
Telstra recently announced the development of a new app that will make their IPTV services available on a wider range of devices, including mobile devices and a wider range of TV, Blu-ray player and set top brands, but until that happens, if you like BigPond and/or Foxtel, you will need to have a Telstra T-Box and a BigPond account or an LG, Samsung or Panasonic internet enabled TV or set top box.
What the Other ISPs Offer
Not to be outdone by Telstra, Optus, iiNet, Adam Internet, Internode, Westnet and Netspace have all partnered with FetchTV in order to bring the full spectrum of IPTV offerings to their customers. FetchTV was one of the first to offer genuine OTTV service in Australia and some say the company did the best job of integrating free-to-air TV with other services such as pay TV, catch up TV and social media. Like Telstra, FetchTV and its ISP partners are including apps that will allow users to use their mobile devices as TV remotes and access IPTV via a laptops, tablets and smartphones.
What the Future Has in Store
When talking about the future of internet TV, you're talking about months, not years, but one thing you can count on is that the range of IPTV services each provider will offer in the future is going to grow rather than shrink. Improvements we can look forward to include faster streaming video delivery, more stable WiFi connections and greater access to and integration with content providers.
In the meantime, all is not lost if you can't get the service provider of your choice. You can still use your television screen as you use your computer and watch catch up TV and other streaming content online. However, in order to get the full OTTV (Over the Top TV) experience, you need to hooked up to the provider that offers you the services you want the most. |
