A new trend has turned up on the World Wide Web: peer-to-peer streaming internet tv (p2p tv). Although streaming tv has already been on the internet for many years but what we see here now is a completely new phenomenon.
This tv streaming is based on the socalled peer-to-peer technology and is similar to the widely used Bittorrent. The special thing about p2p tv is that the picture quality improves when more viewers are watching. Let’s take a closer look and find out how this stuff works.
Most of those services are provided by streaming tv enterprises in mainland China. The most popular ones are PPLive, PPStream, TVAnts, Sopcast and TVKoo. Since the services are in Chinese most of the tv channels offered are from Greater China, Korea and Japan. It can still be interesting for those who do not understand Chinese as there are also channels like the HBO, ESPN and CNN available.
From our tests we found out that PPLive and PPStream are less stable to use. They frequently make your computer hanging. But the number of channels offered are huge. TVAnts and TVKoo however are doing a better job. They appeared to be more stable and their sound and picture quality are good. Unfortunately, their number of channels are fewer.
Another thing that we have to consider is the legal aspect. Although the main chunk of the channels offered are free-to-air channels, the Chinese services are violating copy rights as they broadcast pay tv like the HBO and ESPN without permissions.
So, with p2p tv streaming we are at the brink of a revolution when it comes to watching digital television. As yet, we have to live with Chinese tv entertainment. The enjoyment and the risks involved are for the user’s own account.
Yee Chuen Leung
Chief Editor
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