IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) is television delivered over your internet connection instead of a cable, satellite or antenna signal. You watch live channels, sports, movies and series through an app on a smart TV, Firestick, phone or computer. In Canada, IPTV subscriptions start at about $9 a month, and you can try IPTVMaple free for 24 hours.
What IPTV means
IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television. Cable sends channels down a coaxial wire and satellite sends them from a dish. IPTV sends the same kind of video as data over the internet connection you already pay for. The result is the familiar TV experience (a channel list, a TV guide, live sports) plus a library of movies and series you can start whenever you like.
The name covers several different services, from the TV packages offered by telecom companies to independent subscription services, so it helps to know which one you are looking at. See the Wikipedia overview of IPTV for the technical background.
How IPTV works, step by step
- Channels are captured and encoded. The provider receives each channel and compresses it into a stream your device can play (HD or 4K).
- Servers deliver the stream. Load-balanced servers send the video over the internet to thousands of viewers at once.
- Your app connects. A player app logs in with your details, loads the channel list and TV guide, and requests the channel you pick.
- The video plays. Your device decodes the stream. Because it is just data, you can watch on a TV, phone, tablet or computer.
The three kinds of IPTV
| Type | Examples | How you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Telecom TV delivered over IP | Bell Fibe TV, Telus Optik TV | A TV package, often bundled with internet |
| Licensed streaming apps | Crave, CBC Gem, Sportsnet+ | One subscription per app |
| Independent IPTV subscriptions | IPTVMaple and similar services | One plan covers live TV, sports and on-demand video |
People searching for “IPTV” usually mean the third kind. Our guide to IPTV providers shows how to compare them, and is IPTV legal in Canada? explains why licensing matters.
What you need to watch IPTV
| Item | What to have |
|---|---|
| Internet | About 10 Mbps for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K, per screen |
| A device | Firestick, Android TV box, smart TV, Apple TV, phone or computer. See the device guides |
| A player app | TiviMate, IPTV Smarters Pro, SmartOne and others: compare IPTV apps |
| A subscription | The service that supplies the channels, such as IPTVMaple |
You do not need a special TV, a satellite dish or a technician visit. You keep your current internet provider.
IPTV vs cable vs satellite vs streaming apps
| Cable | Satellite | Streaming apps | IPTV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delivered by | Coaxial or fibre | Dish | Internet | Internet |
| Live TV | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| On-demand library | Limited | Limited | Yes, per app | Yes |
| Equipment | Rented box | Dish and receiver | Any device | Any device |
| Contract | Often | Often | No | Usually none |
| Typical cost | $80–$150+ with sports | Similar | $15–$25 per app | From $9, see IPTV prices |
What you can watch on IPTV
- Live TV with a program guide (EPG) — channels from Canada and many other countries.
- Sports — hockey, basketball, football, UFC, F1 and pay-per-view. See IPTV for sports.
- Movies and series on demand (VOD) — a large library you can start any time.
- Catch-up — replay recent programs on supported channels.
- Several screens at once — depending on your plan, from 1 to 5.
In Canada that includes the national networks (CBC, CTV, Global, Citytv), the French channels (TVA, ICI Radio-Canada, Noovo, RDS, TVA Sports), TSN and Sportsnet. Browse the channels list.
How much does IPTV cost?
IPTV plans on IPTVMaple start at $9 for one month, or about $4.08 a month on the 12-month plan for one screen. Cable with sports commonly costs $80–$150 or more a month. Full numbers are on the IPTV price page.
Is IPTV legal and safe?
The technology is legal. Whether a particular service is lawful depends on whether it has rights to the content it distributes. Read our honest explainer on IPTV legality in Canada. For safety, download apps only from official sources, avoid “modded” apps and free playlists from forums, and keep your login private.
Does IPTV use a lot of data?
It uses the same data as any video streaming: roughly 2–4 GB per hour in HD and about 7–11 GB per hour in 4K, depending on the channel. If your home internet has a monthly data cap, check it before streaming a lot of 4K.
IPTV words you will see
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| EPG | Electronic program guide, the TV guide grid |
| M3U | A playlist link that contains your channels |
| Xtream Codes | A login with server URL, username and password |
| VOD | Video on demand: movies and series |
| Catch-up | Watching a program that already aired |
| Connections | How many screens can play at the same time |
| Anti-freeze | Server technology that reduces buffering |
How to get started
- Start the free 24-hour trial (no credit card).
- Receive your login by email and WhatsApp.
- Install an app such as TiviMate or IPTV Smarters Pro. The setup guides cover every device.
- If it works for you, choose a plan. A 7-day money-back guarantee applies.
If something buffers, the buffering fixes solve most problems. Want to watch on a computer? See watch IPTV online.
IPTV, IP TV, IP television: all the same thing
You will see the idea written as IPTV, IP TV, IP television, TV IP, television IPTV, live IPTV and “IPTV stream”. They all mean television delivered over the internet. Related terms:
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Live IPTV | Channels broadcast in real time, like cable, but over the internet |
| IPTV VOD | Video on demand: movies and series you start whenever you want |
| OTT TV | “Over the top”: any video delivered over the internet without a cable company, including Netflix; IPTV is one kind of OTT |
| IPTV streaming service | A subscription that gives you live channels and on-demand video together |
| IPTV for beginners | Start with our beginner guide |
ISP IPTV vs internet IPTV
When an internet provider delivers TV over its own network, as Bell Fibe TV and Telus Optik TV do, that is ISP IPTV: it works only on that company’s connection and set-top box. Independent services such as IPTVMaple are internet (OTT) IPTV: the stream travels over any internet connection, so it works with whichever provider you already have and on devices you choose. Both are “IPTV live TV”; the difference is who owns the network and how many devices you can use.
