Television has become a very important part of our households and we cannot imagine our life without a TV. Technological advancement has made it possible to watch live television on any device and IPTV is the product of such advancement. A recent survey shows that most people in the US now pay for IPTV or streaming video service rather than traditional TV services. Now, here in this blog, we will try to acquaint you with what IPTV is. How does it work? And whether it is legal in 2023 or not. ⏳Short in time? Here is a quick guide for you: ⚠️Disclaimer: This guide is just for educational purposes only. Neither do I nor VPNHelpers support any kind of downloading copyrighted content.
What Is IPTV?
IPTV, also known as Internet protocol television is a type of television service which differs in the method and medium of transmission. Television is a very important part of our society that has helped in the growth and development of people and society. The services that are available to us through these traditional TVs are transmitted to us through cables, antennas, etc. But IPTV is an enhanced version of traditional TV where similar services reach us through the working of the internet protocol. Now, you might be wondering what an internet protocol is. It is basically a communication protocol that helps in the functioning of the internet. IPTV has become famous and known due to the fact that you don’t need a conventional TV to watch or stream your favorite programs, as you can now watch it on your mobile phones as well. Also, they provide you with on-demand programs and you don’t have to wait for a particular time for the program to be broadcasted. That is why IPTV is also known as video on demand (VOD) or online video streaming. IPTV services may be provided by different service providers which enables you to watch anything and everything anywhere any time!
Is It Legal To Use IPTV?
For copyrighted content, having permission from the real owner of the content to stream it on a service provider is necessary because otherwise, it faces piracy and copyright issues. And this piracy and copyright issue is what questions the legality of IPTV services. Different countries have different laws related to IPTV services. Some of the countries and their IPTV laws as of 2022 are as follows:
1. IPTV law in the US
The US introduced Digital Millenium Copyright Act in 1998 to stop illegal IPTV service providers from broadcasting and using copyrighted content without a proper license. It did put on serious punishment and fines on the distributors and the streamers of the copyrighted content. But the users of illegal IPTV services or who engaged in copyright infringement were not put through many penalties or fines. Then in 2020, the US introduced Protecting Lawful Streaming Act which stated streaming or using illegal IPTV services, a serious criminal offence, or a felony. It made sure that the users who stream the illegal IPTV services are also made to go through the same fines and penalties as a distributor. In the US using illegal IPTV services can put you behind the bars for almost 10 years and can also charge you with hefty fines. Therefore, it is very necessary to know the credibility of your IPTV service provider and have information on IPTV laws in your country.
2. IPTV laws in Canada
Canada introduced a law in 2015 where the copyright owners had permission to issue notices and warnings to the illegal IPTV service providers. This law didn’t go well because there were cash settlements seen between the parties. Then in 2019, this law was reformed and it was stated that the copyright owners can no longer issue notices, warnings, or have cash settlements. Thus, anybody accessing illegal IPTV services in 2023 may be prosecuted or fined in Canada.
3. IPTV laws in the UK
The United Kingdom follows similar IPTV laws as that of the US. The Digital Economy Act was introduced in 2017 which clearly stated strict punishments for people who are seen to be indulged in copyright infringement. And illegal IPTV service providers may face a jail term of up to 10 years. Moreover, the police have been seen issuing warnings to illegal IPTV users to either switch to the legal IPTV services or face harsh repucussions. Thus, IPTV laws in the UK are very strict and harsh.
How To Access IPTV Safely?
Since there are many strict punishments associated with using illegal IPTV services, so we can derive that the illegal IPTV service providers cannot be safe to be used or accessed. There are two reasons behind this derivation, one is that using an illegal IPTV service may land you in legal trouble. And the other is that since this illegal IPTV service provides uses pirated and promotes copyright infringement, their websites or applications may not be safe to be accessed. It might pose a threat to your cybersecurity, your data and the information on your device. There is a secure and safe method to use IPTV services and that is by using a strong and reliable VPN or having good anti-virus software. Using a VPN is a necessary precaution that you need to take to keep your data and information safe and secure. These VPNs help you in many ways by providing you privacy and making you safe from dangerous malware and virus spread by cloned websites. The important features of these VPNs are: Moreover, if you are living in a country like the US, Netherlands, China etc., where piracy is considered completely illegal then having a VPN is very much necessary for you. Some of the best and most reliable VPNs of 2022 are:
1. ExpressVPN
It is an easy-to-use VPN that comes with advanced features like a kill switch, high-quality encryption, and an adblocker. Also, the variety of protocols that it provides is tremendous, and the security and speed are top-notch.
2. Surfshark VPN
It is a highly reliable bypasser and is also a user-friendly VPN that works well with almost everything. Surfshark VPN allows you to connect all the devices simultaneously. There is a strict no-logs policy, a kill switch, private DNS and leaks protection, no borders mode, camouflage mode, and much more. Surfshark provides you with the most secure privacy tools such as supreme encryption and secure protocols, and you can also change your IP address. So, Surfshark is one of the best options that you can use to access IPTV services.
3. CyberGhost VPN
It is a VPN that protects your privacy and is considered great for bypassing geo-blocks. It is great availing the benefit of fast speed. CyberGhost has got a fleeting 8911 servers covering almost all the countries of the world. It allows you to connect to more than seven devices at the same time. The fast speed that it provides helps the users to stream videos without any hindrance of lagging or freezing. It also comes with an ad blocker that helps you to stream movies without any irritating interruption of ads. The most prominent features of this VPN are the split tunnel feature, no logs, and military-grade encryption.
4. IPVanish VPN
IPVanish VPN is the most secure VPN due to the additional privacy features that it provides. It has got almost 2000 servers spread across more than 75 countries. It comes with zero-traffic log-ins, unlimited bandwidth, and much more. This VPN offers OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols and is user efficient as it is very easy to use. It comes with military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and DNS protection. While accessing IPTV services through this VPN, you are ensured that your information is not shared with a third party. The 24/7 customer support that it provides is one of the supreme features that makes it more user-friendly.
Various IPTV Service Providers
Since Internet Protocol Television has become a need of the hour in the fast-growing and high-tech world that we live in, therefore you need to know about the legal as well as the illegal IPTV service providers. Some of the famous IPTV service providers are:
1. Yeah! IPTV
Yeah! IPTV is a very budget-friendly and reliable service provider that you can use as your mini-television. It has got more than 6000 HD channels that can be streamed on Android, iOS, or FireStick. It also works well with various VPNs like Express VPN.
2. Apollo Group TV
Apollo Group TV is considered one of the best IPTV service providers available in the market. It provides you access to more than 1000 HD channels that include sports entertainment, music, news, etc. And these channels are from the US, UK, Latino, Canada, Germany, etc. It can be used on Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, etc.
3. King IPTV
King IPTV service can be accessed on FireStick, Android, and other devices. It provides you access to more than 12000 cable channels and more than 14000 video-on-demand content which includes movies and videos. It is also a paid service that also provides you with a free trial.
4. SSTV IPTV
SSTV IPTV is also one of the best and most reliable IPTV services that provide you access to more than 8000 live channels. It also supports devices like Android, FireStick, Windows, Mac, etc. It is a paid service that is limited to Bitcoin and Paypal only.
5. Super Pro IPTV
Super Pro IPTV is one of the top IPTV service providers. It offers the users access to more than 11000 live channels which include more than 25000 movies, video-on-demand, and TV series. It supports iOS, Android, Apple TV, and other Smart TV brands. It is a paid service which does not provide any trial period.
Conclusion
🤫Pro Tip: Make sure you are always connected to the best and most reliable VPN such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN, etc. while accessing any IPTV service provider. Internet Protocol Television is just like your personal mini-television that you can carry anywhere. It works on the communication Internet Protocol, unlike traditional televisions that used antennas, cables, etc. to fetch you your favourite content. These IPTVs can be accessed through various service providers which can be legal as well as illegal. You should always ensure being connected to a VPN before streaming through these IPTV service providers.
