What is IPTV and how much does it cost in Canada?

Once considered the future of television, IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) is very much the present. Every major Canadian cable company has switched to IPTV, enabling higher definition broadcasts and next generation features for their customers. And there’s more competition than you might realize; Even telephone companies are starting to compete with traditional cable companies using IPTV.

learn What is IPTV really And how is it different from Other TV services. Discover How to discover legal IPTV Avoid shady gray market services. Once you learn the benefits Premium IPTV and value independent providersYou can subscribe to the best internet and IPTV deal for your home.

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*Prices are accurate to June 2, 2022. Plans require home internet service from the same provider.

What is IPTV?

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Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) is any broadcasting system that uses an Internet connection to deliver live television. Most Canadians see it packed with high-speed internet plans from Bell, Telus, SaskTel, and other carriers that historically haven’t offered cable TV. IPTV brings local and specialty channels to your home as traditional cable did. However, the technology supports additional features, including HDTV, 4K resolution, surround sound, interactive guides, and a cloud-based PVR service.

Is IPTV legal?

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Yes, you can legally access IPTV channels. Include your options Pay TV services and IPTV is free (with ads sometimes). Most of the telecom companies use IPTV to provide live TV channels to Canadian households. In addition, many independent internet providers offer IPTV reseller service in Canada, often at a lower price. You may also find free “channels” on your smart TV or media box.

There are some Internet TV providers on file legal gray area—what they’re doing is not outright illegal because they operate outside of Canada. At very cheap rates, these services broadcast both local and specialty channels, including TSN, Sportsnet, CBC News Network, and Discovery Channel. You may not be outright breaking the law by using these services, but there are other reasons not to use IPTV in the gray market.

Who sells legal IPTV services?

Any registered company CRTC Offering paid IPTV service is a legal process. The simplest example of legal IPTV is the service you receive from major telecom companies, including Bell, Telus, and SaskTel. Even companies that normally use analog cable signals – including Rogers, Shaw, Videotron and Cogeco – have switched to IPTV over coaxial cable offering broadband Internet service.

Independent Internet providers such as Teksavvy, oxio and Distributel also provide IPTV services. For any legitimate IPTV service to work in Canada, you must also subscribe to a home internet service with that provider.

Free IPTV channels

Many smart TVs include free internet-based channels such as CBC News, WIRED, and The Red Green Channel. In general, apps preloaded on your TV, tablet, or phone are likely to be a legitimate service with appropriate streaming rights within Canada. When downloading new apps that promise free TV channels, you might want to dig deeper into this service.

IPTV gray market

Any IPTV service that offers live channels without a proper license in Canada is doing so illegally. There is only a file Husband to Examples In the history of Canadian broadcasting as the legal system shut down illegal IPTV services. Companies outside of Canada do not need to abide by our broadcasting laws and are generally safe from prosecution.

It is very unlikely that the authorities will break into your house and confiscate your home entertainment system because you are using gray market IPTV. However, your internet provider can limit (or cancel!) your service if they reasonably suspect illegal activity.

IPTV Providers in Canada

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Long gone are the days when you would call up your local TV provider to get cable service. With IPTV, any company that offers high-speed internet to the home can sell access to network and specialty TV channels. Major IPTV providers offer most of the features and latest technology, but standalone services cost much less per month.

Major IPTV Service Providers

Today, companies use coaxial cables and fiber optic cables – the same cables that provide high-speed Internet – to provide IPTV services. Most urban and suburban markets have access to IPTV services from one or two major providers, including:

• bell
• Rogers
• what
• Telus
• sasktel
• Videotron
• eastlink
• Cogico

To subscribe to an IPTV service, you must connect it to a high-speed home internet from the same provider. You will need internet speeds of at least 50 Mbps to stream HDTV. Some service providers may require a minimum internet package with a download speed of 150 Mbps to bundle services.

Independent IPTV Providers

Just as the Canadian market opened up to independent third party internet providers, the ability to order IPTV service through many of these internet service providers followed. If you already have existing wired Internet service and own a FireTV, Apple TV, or Roku device, setup can cost as little as $0. The service is usually priced lower than the major providers, with rates starting at $20 per month on top of the internet plan.

Canadians can also get local and premium TV channels from independent IPTV providers outside of Canada. However, these companies are not required to operate within the Canadian legal framework and may pose a security risk to your bank account or home network.

IPTV alternatives in Canada

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Cable TV wasn’t the best solution for everyone, and the evolution of IPTV hasn’t changed that. Some traditional services such as satellite television and over-the-air broadcasts continue to serve a niche market. Modern OTT services like Netflix have changed the landscape of movies and TV. Read on to learn more about IPTV alternatives.

satellite tv

Although analog cable television has gone the way of the dodo, satellite television is popular across Canada. For decades, Shaw Direct (formerly Star Choice) and Bell Satellite TV (formerly ExpressVu) have broadcast local and specialty television programming across the country using a digital signal. As a result, it remains a viable option for Internet-dependent Canadians in rural areas or no Internet access at all.

Online broadcasting services

Over-the-top (OTT) is any video-on-demand streaming method that works over an Internet connection. Companies like Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and Crave have built streaming empires with a large library of movies and TV shows, along with cross-platform apps. All you need is a device with a compatible app and an internet connection to watch the latest Disney+ series.

IPTV subscription services are also available using superior methods to deliver live events such as hockey, basketball, football, baseball and soccer. You can also stream copyrighted video content directly from broadcaster-exclusive apps such as CBC Gem and the CTV app, provided you subscribe to an existing cable package in your home.

Do your research and download apps only from trusted sources like Apple App Store or google apps. Many IPTV services located outside of Canada can put your bank account or home network at risk.

High fidelity over-the-air antenna

Many couch potatoes are surprised to learn that a free, legal, and visually superior streaming format (over-the-air, or OTA) is already available. Canadian television networks have broadcast HDTV signals over the air using the ATSC digital standard for over a decade. You can’t get specialty channels this way (sorry, Sci-Fi fans), but you can watch all the major networks broadcasting within 50km of your home for the cost of a TV antenna.

Personally, I watched TV via OTA signals for 15 years. Some of the money I save goes to OTT streaming services like MLB.tv and Sportsnet, so I don’t miss out on content that’s usually limited to specialty channels.

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If you decide to switch your home to free OTA streaming, check out TabloTV. This Canadian company sells a variety of digital video recorders designed to record antenna signals. You can watch live and recorded signals on your TV, tablet or iPhone – like owning your own IPTV service!

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Frequently asked questions: IPTV

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