Video Streaming Overview

IPTV is the "new frontier" in the video world.  As analog TV's are phased out and replaced with projectors and flat panel displays the need for digital content is growing at a very fast rate.

IPTV moves video from coax to the network environment and expands the display options to also include desktops, laptops, tablets and mobile devices thus closing the loop in the convergence of traditional television and the Internet.

Video format options have expanded as well.  MPEG2 has been the primary video format for broadcasters but moving MPEG2 to a network environment can be problematic because broadcast files are very large and will slow the network down.  Other formats that include streaming version of MPEG2, Flash, Windows Media, H.264 and Real reduce overall file size and improve quality so a better video experience is available for broadband network environments but these are still not without problems as IT Directors must balance Quality of Service issues that include the movement of data, email, telephone (Voice over IP) and other services with video.  As a result each network becomes it's own "eco-system" and finding balance is the primary goal. The other thing that happens is teacher confusion...most teachers are not technology oriented and are easily confused by systems that offer multiple video types.

IPTV lends itself to a variety of applications especially video on demand where users select and watch a video at any time.  Other applications include live events such as school announcements, athletic events, special guest lectures and cable TV conversion.

IPTV saves money and is more cost effective than in-house cable networks since it uses your existing network cabling without requiring coax with it’s associated modulators and amplifiers and every desktop, laptop and mobile device becomes a potential display device so you can reach far beyond the install base of school TV's.

IPTV is more “network friendly” today and provides controls to limit bandwidth utilization and reduce interference with data traffic.