| With the growing proliferation of broadband | | | | can be applied to block or limit access to certain |
| Internet in every household, it is a natural | | | | shows. |
| phenomenon for services that have traditionally | | | | There are, of course, disadvantages to broadband |
| been delivered via analog means to be | | | | Internet TV. For example, to be able to access |
| alternatively delivered via Internet Protocol (IP). | | | | broadband Internet TV, of course, assumes that |
| One of these services is the broadcast of | | | | there you have access to broadband Internet |
| television programs via broadband Internet instead | | | | with speeds of at least 256kbps. This is a |
| of radio waves. This is called Broadband Internet | | | | relatively slower speed than that which was |
| TV. | | | | required a few years ago when 512kbps was the |
| The major advantages of broadband Internet TV | | | | minimum broadband speed was needed. Better |
| are: | | | | compression technology makes streaming video |
| Broadcasters can reach a wider audience without | | | | at lower speeds possible. Nevertheless, broadband |
| having to worry about the additional cost needed, | | | | access is still a requirement. |
| since the viewer pays for the broadband access. | | | | Another disadvantage of broadband Internet TV |
| This translates to a bigger opportunity to | | | | is that it requires that you either have a |
| generate more income from advertising. | | | | computer with the appropriate decoding software, |
| The viewer need not be at home to be able to | | | | or a set-top box with decoding software. The |
| watch his favorite TV shows since all he will need | | | | latter is needed if you want to use your television |
| is Internet access. Again, because the Internet is | | | | set as the display medium. |
| so pervasive, it now becomes possible to be | | | | Also the broadband Internet TV output resolution |
| anywhere in the world and still be up-to-date with | | | | is currently inferior to that of radio broadcast |
| the latest news, sitcoms and other TV shows | | | | technology. This is because higher resolution |
| that you would normally watch at home. This | | | | requires more file storage space that translates |
| brings rise to the opportunity for broadcasters | | | | to more bandwidth to get a real-time streaming |
| (assuming that their business model does not rely | | | | video experience. Also, the bigger the image, the |
| mostly on advertising revenues) to charge | | | | finer the resolution needs to be so that it does |
| subscriptions for remote access to their shows. | | | | not "break up" during display. Again, this translates |
| Using encryption, data for shows | | | | to bigger file sizes and bigger bandwidth |
| The viewer can be selective as to the shows he | | | | requirements. |
| she wants or allows his children to watch. Filters | | | | |