Computer Networks and Broadcast Television?

Television today now relies on so much computer and information technology that in order to understand how an image gets onto your television screen you need to understand how it travels through a traditional data network. This is the area of research I have selected for my third year television research project.

Everything from video editing, scripting, signal broadcast to equipment management needs computers. One particular area of growth in television is IPTV (internet protocol television). IPTV is the big catch word for content providers at the moment. But what exactly is it and what does it do. Basically instead of receiving the television signal through an antenna it is received through a broadband internet connection.

IPTV is available in two varieties, Video on Demand and live TV (multicasting) Video on demand is where you can select when and what you watch and live TV is exactly the same principle as free to air TV. At Charles Sturt University a multicast IPTV channel operates where television production students are able to broadcast their work to all on campus computer and even broadcast live shows and content.

With internet connection speeds increasing, prices dropping and more people being connected IPTV looks set to become to TV what TV was to radio. It is very exciting and means that the cost to broadcast is many times lower than it has ever been because no special equipment is required other than a computer. However is also means that people like me wanting to enter the broadcast job market need to have strong information technology skills as well.