Not long ago there were only a few ways to get news and entertainment programming on private televisionsets when networks connected to their subscribers either by cable or satellite connection broadcasting both recorded and live programmed shows.Broadcast networks had the responsibility of distributing their programmed media content, and the customers tuned-in with their analog televisions to catch the broadcast signals to enjoy news and entertainment programming.They used and still use two analog systems to catch the programming signals: Cable television which used physical coaxial cables, to connect their television to the relay broadcasting location, and satellite TV, where the programming signals in the form of radio waves were beamed and relayed via a communications satellite to private satellite dish connected to home television sets.The old system is being replaced by a better digital system with the introduction of IPTV and OTTplayer platform services.The old system principally relied on broadcasting news and entertainment content in real-time from studios and relay signal distribution centers.The new digital systems of IPTV and OTT services operate by transferring curated packets of data or content, from the creator or distributer’s servers to the subscriber’s smart device at anytime or anyplace, on their request.The process is known as an Internet protocol, the same system that works great in loading website content, sending or receiving emails, and storing data or content to private database managers or data clouds.The transition from the old analog systems to digital platforms like IPTV and OTT platforms has brought about many changes, the main being the quality of programming content.The popularity of the two digital systems has brought in a revolution in the development of smart devices like high-resolution smart TVs, tablets, and phones.Since customers can consume their digital content anywhere, and anyplace of their choice, electronic device manufacturers are catching up by providing compatible hardware, software, and media server.The benefits provided by these two futuristic systems are numerous.
The main benefits being:Exceptional Quality of Digitally Streamed ContentThe development of fiber optic infrastructure has benefitted both the IPTV systems and OTT platforms.
The fiber optic technology has outperformed any other technology in the past couple of decades.
The superior and unmatched bandwidth fiber optic cables provide for the transfer of data and content outperforms the traditional copper and DBS cable system.Now, high-quality, uncompressed, and original high definition content can be digitally transmitted over long distances.
It does not take a lot of effort or expense to upgrade their existing system to IPTV systems as they just need CAT5/CAT6 or quality fiber installed for Internet protocol (IP) data transmission.The Ease of Installation and UseBoth the IPTV and OTT platforms need simple but technologically advanced systems installed at their headend.
These digital platforms are easily customizable to suit the needs of both the content creators and their core subscribers.Other than being very easy to install and use at both ends, it also brings down the cost of building and installing a reliable media content streaming system.The benefits provided by OTT platform can vary from IPTV systems as the former is a low-cost flexible model, very easy to operate and manage by content or service providers, while the latter provides better quality of streaming service, with interactive features that help to monitor and respond to their subscribers’ requests in real-time.Intuitive Platform and User- Friendly InterfaceSince the whole digital process is so designed that all the equipment at the headend and the end-consumer communicate using the digital operational Internet protocol, it is easy to control and maintain the entire streaming system.Both IPTV systems and OTT player systems are so designed, that the consumer can access all their content on their smart devices which have built-in user-friendly interfaces.At both ends, the operator and the consumer end can be easily maintained and monitored using smart digital devices.
