IPTV glossary: the key terms in one place

ABR, CDN, DRM, EPG, HEVC, multicast, set-top box and more: the most common IPTV and streaming terms explained in plain English.

Updated: 15 October 20263 min read

In short

Streaming uses a lot of abbreviations – this glossary explains the most common ones in plain language.
Terms are grouped by topic: basics, networking, picture and sound, features, and protection and rights.
Where useful, a link next to the term points to a more detailed article.

Basic terms

IPTV: Internet Protocol Television – television delivered over the Internet Protocol. See: What is IPTV?
OTT (Over-The-Top): Video and TV services delivered over the open internet, independently of the internet provider.
Linear TV: Traditional TV broadcast in real time according to a schedule.
VOD (Video on Demand): On-demand content the viewer starts whenever they like.
Set-top box (STB): A receiver connected to the TV that decodes and displays programmes. See: set-top boxes and media players.
TV Everywhere: A service model in which one subscription can be used on several screens.

Networking and delivery

Bandwidth: The data capacity of an internet connection, measured in megabits per second (Mbit/s). See: how much internet do you need?
Bitrate: The amount of data a video stream uses per second. A higher bitrate usually means a better picture.
ABR (adaptive bitrate): The player automatically adjusts picture quality to the connection speed.
CDN: Content Delivery Network – a distributed network of servers that stores content close to viewers.
HLS and MPEG-DASH: The two most common internet streaming formats; video is delivered in short segments.
Multicast and unicast: With multicast, one stream reaches many viewers at once (managed IPTV network); with unicast, each viewer gets a separate stream (OTT).
Latency: The time between a live event and its appearance on screen. See: latency in live broadcasts.
Buffering: The player downloads a small reserve in advance; if it runs out, the picture stops and loads.

Picture and sound

Resolution: The number of pixels in the picture: SD, HD (720p), Full HD (1080p), 4K UHD (2160p). See: SD, HD, 4K and HDR.
HDR: High Dynamic Range – a wider range of brightness and colour; well-known formats are HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision.
Codec: A method for compressing and restoring video or audio, such as H.264, HEVC, AV1 or AAC.
Frame rate (fps): The number of frames per second. For sport, 50 fps gives smoother motion.
Dolby Digital: A multichannel audio format for surround sound systems.

Features

EPG: Electronic Programme Guide. See: EPG guide.
Catch-up TV: Watching previously broadcast programmes afterwards.
Start-over: Starting a programme that is already running from the beginning.
Timeshift: Pausing live TV and continuing later.
nPVR: Network Personal Video Recorder – cloud recording on the provider's server.
Chromecast: Technology that lets content started on a phone be shown on the TV.

Protection and rights

DRM: Digital Rights Management – ensures that only entitled subscribers can watch content.
Widevine, PlayReady, FairPlay: The DRM systems of Google, Microsoft and Apple.
HDCP: Copy protection used over HDMI; both the TV and the cable must support it.
Distribution rights: Permission obtained from the rights holder to provide a channel or programme. See: copyright and TV broadcasting.
Geo-blocking: Geographic restriction of content availability based on licence agreements. See: watching TV abroad.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between bandwidth and bitrate?

Bandwidth is the capacity of your internet connection; bitrate is how much of it a video stream uses. Bandwidth must always exceed the combined bitrate of everything being watched at the same time.

What does it mean if a device has "Widevine L1" certification?

Widevine L1 is the highest security level, where decryption takes place in hardware. Many providers only allow HD or 4K content on such devices.

The basicsWhat is IPTV? Internet television explained simplyWhat IPTV is, how it differs from traditional TV and what you need to watch it. A plain-language introduction to Internet Protocol Television.4 min read The basicsHow does IPTV work? From broadcast to your screenSignal reception, compression, CDNs, adaptive bitrate and DRM: how a TV broadcast travels from an IPTV provider to your screen, step by step.4 min read Internet and picture qualitySD, HD, Full HD, 4K and HDR: what do the quality labels mean?Resolution, frame rate, HDR and bitrate in plain language: what makes a TV picture sharp, and what you need to actually watch IPTV in 4K.2 min read

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