IPTV Encoders and Decoders: What are Their Roles

When it comes to getting videos to people, IPTV encoders and decoders are crucial. Invest in high-quality encoders and set-top decoders if your company relies on IPTV for internet streaming and content viewing.

The Procedure for IPTV

A number of devices are needed for the distribution of IPTV material. So, let’s start with the video source.

A video file, a DVD or Blu-ray disc, a reel of film, or any other medium that can capture and store video could be the video source for previously recorded content. It is common practice to use a camera as the video source for live programming. The camera could be an incorporated camera within a smartphone or tablet, a high-end professional video camera, a tiny action cam, or a DSLR (mirrorless) still/video camera—any number of gadgets nowadays have cameras.

Distributing camera-captured video over the Internet is usually not possible due to the extremely large file sizes caused by the lack of compression and processing. An IPTV encoder comes into play here.

The Role of Encoder for IPTV

Internet Protocol television encoders receive video footage from a variety of sources and prepare it for broadcast over the Internet. These sources can be live camera feeds or uncompressed video files stored on digital storage devices.

To make a movie playable on many platforms, including smartphones and web browsers, the file must first be encoded. To reduce device load and increase transmission speed, video compression is typically used. This reduces the file size and quality to a more reasonable level.

The Role of Decoders for IPTV

Typically, after video encoding is complete, it is uploaded to a web server. From there, users can access and watch the video. The last step is for the IPTV decoder to take in the data and convert it to a format that your TV or other digital device can understand.

IPTV decoders stop illegal downloading and streaming of content. The video content is encoded, thus in order to see it on a computer or TV, users will need a decoder that is compatible with the content.

The most typical decoder for IPTV on a TV is a “set top box”—a little device that hooks up to your TV and helps decode the video. You may get set top boxes, like most UK IPTV devices, in a wide price range, from cheap consumer units to pricey enterprise decoders.