Satellite TV sends channels from a satellite to a dish on your home, so it needs installation, a clear view of the southern sky and a receiver, and heavy rain or snow can interrupt it. IPTV streams the same kind of live channels over your internet connection to apps on your TV, phone or computer, with no dish, no installer and no contract. Satellite still makes sense where internet is very slow; elsewhere IPTV is usually cheaper and more flexible.
Side-by-side
| Satellite TV | IPTV | |
|---|---|---|
| What you need | Dish, cabling, receiver per TV | Internet and an app or streaming stick |
| Installation | Technician visit, mounting on the building | Install an app and enter a login |
| Weather | Rain fade and snow on the dish | Not affected by weather at your home |
| Condos and rentals | Often not allowed or no line of sight | Works anywhere with internet |
| Watch on phone or laptop | Limited | Yes, on every device |
| International channels | Add-on packages or a second dish | Included in every IPTVMaple plan |
| Contract | Usually | None: monthly, 6- or 12-month plans |
| Needs internet | No | Yes, about 10 Mbps per HD screen |
Satellite TV in Canada today
Two satellite services cover Canada: Bell Satellite TV and Shaw Direct, which became part of Rogers after the Rogers–Shaw merger in 2023. Both serve many rural homes where cable never arrived. Their strength is that they work without internet; their weaknesses are the dish, the hardware rental and the price of channel packages.
When satellite is still the better choice
- Your home has no internet, or less than about 10 Mbps.
- You use a capped mobile data plan as your only internet.
Rural internet has changed fast, though. Many cottages and farms now use fibre, fixed wireless or Starlink, all of which carry IPTV well.
When IPTV wins
- You live in a condo or rental where you can’t mount a dish.
- You want TV on several devices, including phones and tablets.
- Your family wants channels from Italy, Poland, the UK or other countries without a second package.
- You want to stop paying for receivers and contracts. Compare costs on our IPTV prices page.
Using IPTV on an Enigma2 satellite receiver
If you already own a Linux satellite receiver running Enigma2 (such as models from Vu+, Dreambox or Zgemma), you don’t have to throw it away. Enigma2 can play IPTV streams from an M3U playlist, usually through a plugin that turns the list into channel bouquets. Plugins and steps differ between images, so send us your receiver model on WhatsApp and we will help with the M3U link. For a simpler setup, a dedicated IPTV box or a Fire TV Stick is plug-and-play.
Try before you cancel
Keep your dish for a day and run our free 24-hour IPTV trial side by side. If IPTV covers your channels and your internet keeps up, switch to an IPTV plan.
