As the use of IPTV continues to grow in the UK, more and more people are using IPTV services to access their favourite TV shows, movies and sports events.
In this article, we’ll help you understand everything you need to know about the best IPTV providers in the UK.
We’ll also discuss the legal and safety aspects of accessing IPTV content in the UK and provide recommendations for the best broadband packages from UK Internet Service Providers to access your IPTV content.
IPTV is a digital TV broadcasting system that delivers TV channels through the internet instead of the traditional terrestrial, satellite or cable systems.
With IPTV, you can watch your favourite channels on multiple devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and Smart TVs. This means you can watch your favourite shows, movies, and sports events as long as you have a decent internet connection.
The popularity of IPTV in the UK has been fueled by the rise of streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. People are using IPTV as a way to access even more content and international channels.
What broadband speed do I need to stream IPTV?
The minimum bandwidth required to stream IPTV content without buffering varies between IPTV streaming services. This is due to the different levels of compression used by the different providers.
As a general rule of thumb, a minimum download speed of 25Mbps will allow a consistent streaming service and allow you to watch content up to 4K in quality.
Is IPTV Legal in the UK?
While it is not illegal to own an IPTV box or subscribe to an IPTV service, accessing copyrighted content without permission is illegal.
Therefore, it is important for users to be aware of potential legal issues related to access IPTV content and to follow best practices for accessing IPTV content in a legal and safe way.
One potential legal issue is that IPTV services often offer access to copyrighted content, such as movies and TV shows, without the permission of the copyright holder.
This is known as piracy and it is a serious offence in the UK. If you are caught accessing pirated content, you could be fined, sued or even imprisoned. It is important for users to be aware of this risk and to avoid accessing pirated content.
- Police to visit 1,000 homes in crackdown on illegal Premier League streams and “fire sticks”
- Sky streamers ‘panic’ as police raid homes in crackdown on illegal firesticks
- Four arrested during a nationwide crackdown on illegal streaming services
- ‘Illegal’ Sky TV viewers issued serious warning after UK-wide police crackdown
Another legal issue related to IPTV is that some services may be offering content without the proper licensing or permission from the rights holders. This can result in legal action against the service provider and potentially their users. It is important that you research the IPTV service you plan to use to make sure it is operating legally.
You should only access IPTV content from a reputable and legal service provider to make sure that the content you are accessing is not pirated or otherwise illegally obtained.
Best Legal IPTV Alternatives in the UK
IPTV service providers can change their service offerings at any time, so it is your responsibility to ensure that copyrighted content is not added. Alternatively, you can opt for reputable and legal UK IPTV traditional alternatives which include:
- Sky Stream
Sky Stream is a 4K HDR streaming box that plugs into the HDMI port on any TV and provides access to all Sky TV Channels and subscriptions over your existing WiFi without the need for a satellite dish. With next-day delivery, Sky Stream offers an affordable and flexible way to enjoy all Sky TV content. You do not need to be a Sky broadband customer to use Sky Stream. - NOWTV
NOWTV is a streaming service that offers access to Sky channels which include movies, shows, and sports on demand with an internet connection and a compatible device. It can be watched on various devices, including smart TVs, streaming devices, laptops, smartphones, and game consoles. NOWTV offers four types of memberships: Sky Entertainment, Sky Cinema channels, Sky Sports, and Hayu. You can choose the combination that suits you and change memberships as often as you like. Each membership provides access to the latest on-demand movies or shows and live TV channels (except for Hayu). - Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video offers a large library of TV shows, movies, documentaries and other video content, including both licensed and original productions. Subscribers can stream these videos on-demand over the internet on various devices, such as smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and gaming consoles. Amazon Prime Video also allows users to download select content for offline viewing. - Netflix
Netflix is probably the most well-known streaming service in the UK, and for good reason. Netflix offers different plans, which determine the number of devices you can watch simultaneously, and the video quality, such as High Definition (HD), Full High Definition (FHD), or Ultra High Definition (UHD). You can change or cancel your plan at any time.
IPTV service providers in the UK
Here is a list of the 10 IPTV service providers in the UK. As previously mentioned, it is important that you research and remain up to date on any changes that your chosen IPTV service provider makes to their services to ensure that they are operating legally.
- IPTVTrends
This service offers more than 20,000 live channels with over 60,000 VOD content, offering content in HD, HQ, and 4K resolutions. IPTVTrends works with PC & laptops, mobiles, Firesticks, Smart TVs, Mag boxes, Enigma boxes plus many others. - Worthystream
This service received high ratings for several reasons. It has over 15,000 live channels and 40,000 VOD content in HD and FHD quality. It supports multiple devices and platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, Mac, Roku, Kodi, etc. It also has a 24/7 customer support team. - Typhoon labs TV
This is one of the dedicated IPTV/OTT providers in the UK. It has over 10,000 live channels and 30,000 VOD content in HD and FHD quality. It supports various devices and platforms, such as Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Firestick, smart TVs, etc. It also offers a free trial and a money-back guarantee. - TV subscription
This service provides over 8,000 live channels and 20,000 VOD content in HD and FHD quality. It works with Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Firestick, smart TVs, etc. It also has a 24/7 customer support team and a free trial option. - IPTV Gear
This service offers over 7,000 live channels and 15,000 VOD content in HD and FHD quality. It supports Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Firestick, smart TVs, etc. It also has a 24/7 customer support team and a free trial option. - TVPlayer
This is a free IPTV provider in the UK. You'll get access to BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel Four, Channel Five, Dave, More4, CBBC, BBC News, Food Network, Fashion TV, Travel Channel, and more. You can also upgrade to a premium plan for more channels and features. - Zattoo
This is another free IPTV provider in the UK. You'll get access to BBC One-Four, ITV1-4, Channel Four-Five, E4, More4, Film4, Dave, CBBC, CBeebies, BBC News, BBC Parliament, CNN International, Bloomberg TV, Al Jazeera English, France 24 English, NHK World TV, RT English, QVC UK, QVC Beauty, QVC Style, QVC Extra, The Store, Rocks & Co 1, Community Channel, S4C Digidol (Wales only), BBC Alba (Scotland only), BBC One Scotland (Scotland only), BBC Two Scotland (Scotland only), STV (Scotland only). You can also upgrade to a premium plan for more channels and features. - Sling TV
This is a US-based IPTV provider that also offers some UK channels. You'll get access to BBC America, BBC World News, EPIX Drive-In, AXS TV, Bloomberg Television, Cheddar News, Newsy, and Local Now. You can also add more channels and features with different plans and packages. - Hulu + Live TV
This is another US-based IPTV provider that also offers some UK channels. You'll get access to BBC America and CNBC World. You can also add more channels and features with different plans and packages. - YouTube TV
This is yet another US-based IPTV provider that also offers some UK channels. You'll get access to BBC America, and BBC World News. You can also add more channels and features with different plans and packages.
UK IPTV Conclusion
While IPTV has become a popular way for people in the UK to access live TV channels and on-demand content, it’s important to access content through legal and reputable IPTV service providers to avoid legal action. When selecting an IPTV service, it’s important to consider the content, channel offerings and the service provider’s reputation.
Additionally, having a fast and reliable broadband connection is crucial for accessing IPTV content without buffering or lag. We recommend choosing a broadband package with high download speeds and reliability.