What does IPTV rely on to deliver channels selected by customers?

IPTV, or Internet Protocol Television, relies on a server in the headend to deliver channels to customers. The headend is the central location where the IPTV service provider manages all the incoming content and then distributes it over the internet protocol network to subscribers. By utilizing this server-based architecture, IPTV can deliver a wide variety of television channels and on-demand content directly to customers' devices, utilizing their existing internet connections.

This approach allows for features like time-shifting, video-on-demand, and interactivity, which are not available with traditional broadcasting methods like satellite or analog systems. The headend plays a crucial role in encoding, decoding, and transmitting the video signals in a manner that is adaptable and scalable for different viewing platforms, such as smart TVs, computers, and mobile devices.