P2PTV refers to peer-to-peer (P2P) software applications designed to redistribute video streams in real time on a P2P network; the distributed video streams are typically TV channels from all over the world but may also come from other sources. The draw to these applications is significant because they have the potential to make any TV channel globally available by any individual feeding the stream into the network where each peer joining to watch the video is a relay to other peer viewers, allowing a scalable distribution among a large audience with no incremental cost for the source.
In a P2PTV system, each user, while downloading a video stream, is simultaneously also uploading that stream to other users, thus contributing to the overall available bandwidth. The arriving streams are typically a few minutes time-delayed compared to the original sources. The video quality of the channels usually depends on how many users are watching; the video quality is better if there are more users. The architecture of many P2PTV networks can be thought of as real-time versions of BitTorrent: if a user wishes to view a certain channel, the P2PTV software contacts a "tracker server" for that channel in order to obtain addresses of peers who distribute that channel; it then contacts these peers to receive the feed. The tracker records the user's address, so that it can be given to other users who wish to view the same channel. In effect, this creates an overlay network on top of the regular internet for the distribution of real-time video content.
The need for a tracker can also be eliminated by the use of distributed hash table technology.
Some applications allow users to broadcast their own streams, whether self-produced, obtained from a video file, or through a TV tuner card or video capture card. Many of the commercial P2PTV applications were developed in China (TVUPlayer, PPLive, QQLive, PPStream). The majority of available applications broadcast mainly Asian TV stations, with the exception of TVUPlayer, which carries a number of North American stations including CBS, Spike TV, and Fox News. Some applications distribute TV channels without a legal license to do so; this utilization of P2P technology is particularly popular to view channels that are either not available locally, or only available by paid subscription, as is the case for some sports channels.[1] Distributing links to pirated P2PTV feeds on a U.S.-based Web site can result in the U.S. government seizing the Web site, as it did with several P2PTV aggregation sites prior to Super Bowl XLV.[2] By January 2009, there were about 14,000 P2P channels on PPStream.
Other commercial P2PTV applications outside China are Abroadcasting (USA), Zattoo (Switzerland/USA), Octoshape (Denmark), LiveStation (UK).
Issues for broadcastersedit
Broadcasting via a P2PTV system is usually much cheaper than the alternatives and can be done by private individuals.
No quality of service (QoS). Compared to unicasting (the standard server-client architecture used in streaming media) no one can guarantee a reliable stream, since every user is a rebroadcaster. Each viewer is a part of a chain of viewers who can all have a negative influence on the reliability of the stream (by having a slow PC, a filled downlink or uplink or an unreliable consumer grade DSL or cable connection).
Less control. If a broadcaster prefers to limit access to their content based on regions, and would like good data on viewer behaviour, such as volume, trends and viewing time, then a traditional broadcasting solution offers more control.
Professional broadcasters and distributors have used a hybrid solution for many years. Distribution servers are not centrally installed, but are rolled out in a smart, decentralized way. A central management facility manages content distribution over multiple peer servers (also known as edge servers, or caches), strategically located near user swarms (generally popular access ISP networks), manages load balancing, redirection of users, view reporting and QoS. An example is Akamai.
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations March 2010 Learn how and when to remove this message P2PTV refers to peer to peer P2P software applications designed to redistribute video streams in real time on a P2P network the distributed video streams are typically TV channels from all over the world but may also come from other sources The draw to these applications is significant because they have the potential to make any TV channel globally available by any individual feeding the stream into the network where each peer joining to watch the video is a relay to other peer viewers allowing a scalable distribution among a large audience with no incremental cost for the source P2PTV overlay network serving three video streams Contents 1 Technology and use 2 Issues for broadcasters 3 Notable applications 3 1 Compared 3 2 Branded webtv service for end users 3 3 Commercial solutions for broadcasters 3 4 Free P2P TV software for end users and amateur broadcasters 3 5 Unclassified yet 3 6 Discontinued services 4 See also 5 ReferencesTechnology and use editIn a P2PTV system each user while downloading a video stream is simultaneously also uploading that stream to other users thus contributing to the overall available bandwidth The arriving streams are typically a few minutes time delayed compared to the original sources The video quality of the channels usually depends on how many users are watching the video quality is better if there are more users The architecture of many P2PTV networks can be thought of as real time versions of BitTorrent if a user wishes to view a certain channel the P2PTV software contacts a tracker server for that channel in order to obtain addresses of peers who distribute that channel it then contacts these peers to receive the feed The tracker records the user s address so that it can be given to other users who wish to view the same channel In effect this creates an overlay network on top of the regular internet for the distribution of real time video content The need for a tracker can also be eliminated by the use of distributed hash table technology Some applications allow users to broadcast their own streams whether self produced obtained from a video file or through a TV tuner card or video capture card Many of the commercial P2PTV applications were developed in China TVUPlayer PPLive QQLive PPStream The majority of available applications broadcast mainly Asian TV stations with the exception of TVUPlayer which carries a number of North American stations including CBS Spike TV and Fox News Some applications distribute TV channels without a legal license to do so this utilization of P2P technology is particularly popular to view channels that are either not available locally or only available by paid subscription as is the case for some sports channels 1 Distributing links to pirated P2PTV feeds on a U S based Web site can result in the U S government seizing the Web site as it did with several P2PTV aggregation sites prior to Super Bowl XLV 2 By January 2009 there were about 14 000 P2P channels on PPStream Other commercial P2PTV applications outside China are Abroadcasting USA Zattoo Switzerland USA Octoshape Denmark LiveStation UK Issues for broadcasters editBroadcasting via a P2PTV system is usually much cheaper than the alternatives and can be done by private individuals No quality of service QoS Compared to unicasting the standard server client architecture used in streaming media no one can guarantee a reliable stream since every user is a rebroadcaster Each viewer is a part of a chain of viewers who can all have a negative influence on the reliability of the stream by having a slow PC a filled downlink or uplink or an unreliable consumer grade DSL or cable connection Less control If a broadcaster prefers to limit access to their content based on regions and would like good data on viewer behaviour such as volume trends and viewing time then a traditional broadcasting solution offers more control Professional broadcasters and distributors have used a hybrid solution for many years Distribution servers are not centrally installed but are rolled out in a smart decentralized way A central management facility manages content distribution over multiple peer servers also known as edge servers or caches strategically located near user swarms generally popular access ISP networks manages load balancing redirection of users view reporting and QoS An example is Akamai Notable applications editCompared edit App Fully Distributed Public Private FOSS First Release Windows Linux Mac Android iOS Comments Ace Stream Yes No No 2012 Yes Yes via Wine Yes No home QQLive No No Yes No No source peerstreamer Yes No No play only 2013 12 11 Yes 2013 12 11 play only 2013 12 11 home Archived 2011 11 24 at the Wayback Machine source Tribler Yes Yes Yes LGPL 2007 Yes Yes Yes Yes 3 No home source Branded webtv service for end users edit Afreeca based in South Korea Funshion based in China mainland Hypp TV live and non live based in Malaysia Miro non live PPLive based in China mainland Chinese only program PPStream based in China mainland QQLive based in China mainland Zattoo com Windows Linux Mac Commercial solutions for broadcasters edit Alluvium based in Texas USA CDNetworks CDN service Rawflow Free P2P TV software for end users and amateur broadcasters edit Ace Stream P2PTV software solution based in Russia and derived from BitTorrent Tribler linked to P2P Next relies on BitTorrent protocol Main article Peercasting Unclassified yet edit Pulse Windows Linux LGPL P2PTV engine with announcement portal and unrestricted access Red Swoosh Discontinued services edit Babelgum com non live used peer to peer technology until March 2009 BBC iPlayer live and non live used peer to peer technology until December 2008 CoolStreaming discontinued service Joost com non live live trials LiveStation com Windows Linux Mac based in United Kingdom Pando Sopcast 4 Streamtorrent 5 TVUnetworks P2PTV software Windows and Mac OS X and network Discontinued Service is shut down See also editComparison of streaming media systems Comparison of video services Digital television Internet television IPTV List of music streaming services List of streaming media systems Multicast Peercasting Portable application Protection of Broadcasts and Broadcasting Organizations Treaty Push technology Software as a service Streaming media Webcast Web televisionReferences edit Geoffrey A Fowler Sarah McBride 2 September 2005 Newest Export From China Pirated Pay TV The Wall Street Journal Archived from the original on March 10 2016 Alt URL Martinez Jennifer 2011 02 02 Feds seize sports websites before Super Bowl The Politico Retrieved 2011 02 02 GitHub Tribler tribler android 28 February 2019 via GitHub Archived copy Archived from the original on 2009 07 18 Retrieved 2019 04 14 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link https streamtorrentblog wordpress com user generated source Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title P2PTV amp oldid 1173578595, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
